Cape church considering razing former one-room schoolhouse

Watching Viola Medley drive up Perryville Road in her Ford Model A, a few of her students riding shotgun in the rumble seat. The potbelly wood-burning stove. The bell Mrs. Medley would clang to drag them from a makeshift baseball field back to the classroom.

More than five decades later, Gerald Kelpe's memories of his time at Hanover Lutheran School are vivid.

"I'm kind of sentimental about it, I guess," Kelpe said. "I have a lot of memories of that place."

Now, the future of the building where those memories were made is in question, as Hanover Lutheran Church weighs whether to bring the old one-room schoolhouse back up to city code or to tear it down.

The school was built in 1924 and educated students from first through eighth grades for more than 30 years before closing in 1957. Twenty-five to 30 students were enrolled at the school at one time.

In the years since, the building -- listed along with the adjacent Old Hanover Lutheran Church on the National Register of Historic Places -- has served as a Lutheran heritage museum, a meeting hall and a workshop for high school students.

It still houses historic memorabilia, including mimeographs from the 1890s, turn-of-the-century school desks and Bibles written in German.

But today, the old school building has fallen into disrepair and even came to the attention of Cape Girardeau building inspectors. A routine inspection of the exterior revealed that the school's roof, fascia, soffit and gutters are beginning to deteriorate, said city planner Ryan Shrimplin.

The property, which was inspected Dec. 5, was found to be in violation of three city codes, meaning it doesn't meet the city's minimum property standards. The city sent a letter to church leaders, asking that repairs be made.

Pastor Anthony Kobak said the 22-by-50-foot building really hasn't been used for anything in recent years. Right now, the church is exploring its options. Kobak said the church congregation will vote at its next quarterly meeting in April. He emphasized that, as pastor, he does not have a vote.

"But the bottom line is 'how much is it going to cost?'" he said. "Whether we restore it or destroy it, it's going to take money."

At its January meeting, the congregation voted to continue to explore options, he said. Options range from restoring it to tearing it down for things like a parking lot or to expand the church cemetery.

Kobak said he has an opinion but declined to share it.

"If the congregation votes to restore it, I will work hand in hand to do that," he said. "If they vote to tear it down, I'll be there helping them pick up the rubble."

The church congregation so far is split about what to do with the building, Bonnie Kelpe said. Kelpe, who is Gerald Kelpe's wife, is on the church committee that oversees the schoolhouse and the church. Both sit across the street from the new church.

Bonnie Kelpe would like to see the old school saved. She said she's even got enough in pledges from church members to make up to $15,000 in repairs. Kelpe said the building's main problem is that it needs a new roof.

"But that's no reason to tear it down," she said. "I just love history. This building isn't just a building. There's history behind it."

Kelpe said that old one-room schoolhouses are rare and should be saved. It could still be a Lutheran heritage museum and a place where modern students can come to see how far schools have progressed.

"I'd be very disappointed if they tore it down," Kelpe said.

So would Frank Nickell, director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University.

Nickell has been asked by several church members for his thoughts. Nickell's view is that the building should be restored.

"I think it's important in the preservation of Cape Girardeau's history," he said. "I think it's important to maintain these one-room schoolhouses. We don't have many left."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

2949 Perryville Road, Cape Girardeau, MO