Cape's Original Treasures bring retirees to relocate in the area

~ Cape Girardeau's historic homes have many attractive features.

Yard signs regularly placed on properties with historic value by Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission give property owners recognition for the time, effort and resources they have spent restoring or maintaining their property to enhance its overall historic integrity and that of the neighborhood and community.

Cape's original Treasures selected for spring 2006 include:

* Our featured home, 207 S. Louisiana Ave., owned by Jerry and Joan Kissel since November 2004. Built in 1923 by Albert and Alma Kempe, the Kissels are the fourth owners of this home. Alma Stein Kempe, 78 when she died, left the home to the Lutheran Church. She was also the great-great granddaughter of Louis Lorimier according to her aunt, Paula Kempe, still residing Cape Girardeau, soon to reach 100 years old.

* 648 Sylvan Lane, owned by Dr. Craig Williams and Robin Craig; previous owners were Dr. Herbert and Dr. Nelson and Karole Brewer. Tudor style home built in 1936.

* 321 N. Ellis St., owned by Centenary United Methodist Church. Used as parsonage for music director's family. Built in 1917.

* 1409 N. Sprigg St., owned by Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, used as Sigma Nu Fraternity House. Previous owners were Leland and Dorothy Shivelbine. Built in 1908.

* 835 Alta Vista Drive, owned by John and Nancy Hale. Previous owner was Bauerle. Built in 1936, Tudor style.

'Most opportunities'

When Jerry and Joan Kissel of St. Louis County, bought their 207 S. Louisiana Ave. home, they didn't take up residence until renovations were complete in May 2005. It took a new furnace and central air, drywall work and transformation of the attic to a family room to make the seven rooms work for them.

Joan Kissel said, "My husband and I retired from St. Louis County and wanted to start a new phase of our lives in a smaller town. We wound up in Cape because it offered the most opportunities for remaining active and still is not a far drive to St. Louis." They'd always lived in a ranch style environment and wanted something with character, an older home.

Sought-after features

Typically retirees work in reverse, going from a two story or large home to a ranch. But the couple wanted to continue to be active and Joan even feels that with the older home, she's in on the latest trends. "We've got hardwood floors, six panel doors, 7-inch baseboards, all features currently sought after," she said.

One of the added attractions include three Craftsman style features. Joan Kissel explained that in Sears homes the garage door design was patented. The original three pieces slide on an overhead rail to the sides of the garage, a real novelty in 1923.

The kitchen's built-in ironing board, enclosed in a skinny, little door, folds down to a fully functional device conveniently located in a room where moms of yesteryear might be hurrying to prepare breakfast, pack lunches and press a garment for members of her family beginning a day of work or school. The tools for multitasking were already in place almost a century ago.

Directly above the built-in ironing board lies a trouble-free spice rack. A little cabinet with three narrow shelves, just 2 1/2 inches deep, makes for neat storage of similarly sized spice containers that ordinarily fall out into the mixing bowl when you open the cabinet they're stored in.

One of the factors in deciding to purchase the home was that the couple's furniture coordinated perfectly with the home. Joan Kissel said, "Just about every piece of furniture, except for our sofa and breakfront, had been given to us by relatives. For instance the kitchen table was one we had when I was in second or third grade."