DOWNTOWN ARCHITECT BOARDMAN DIES AT 73

Cape Girardeau architect John L. Boardman, who over a career of more than 40 years designed hundreds of buildings and supervised renovations of scores of other historic structures, died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Boardman, 73, had imprinted his distinctive architectural style in Cape Girardeau particularly in the downtown area since opening an architectural firm here a number of years ago.

Among survivors is his wife, Evelyn, who shares his interest in architecture and the arts. That interest evolved into Madder Rose Antiques, which opened in downtown Cape Girardeau in 1988.

"If there was a Mr. Downtown Cape Girardeau, it would be John Boardman," said C. P. McGinty Jr., owner of C.P. McGinty Jewelers Inc.

"The downtown area was a perfect venue for John," said Cape Girardeau architect Tom Holshouser. "John had a real gift at taking older spaces and designing contemporary quarters. He was a master at tying the old with the new, bringing buildings back to the architectural promise they deserved."

Boardman designed scores of distinctive homes in Cape Girardeau. He was the architect for the original Rust & Martin building and the Cape GMC-Pontiac building, both on South Kingshighway, and industrial sites, including the ABC building on Nash Road.

Boardman also designed the shrine to Princess Otahki. Located at Trail of Tears State Park, the shrine is a quiet tribute to the legendary Otahki Princess and the tragic migration of the Eastern Cherokees to Oklahoma in 1838.

Boardman was responsible for church designs throughout Arkansas, Kentucky and Missouri.

He received an architectural award for his design of Clippard School in Cape Girardeau, the first school in the city to follow the new concept of "pod" design of educational structures .

At the time of his death, Boardman was in the midst of several major projects, including the Aquamsi Bluff Townhouses on South Spanish Street, a new bank building at Portageville and an expansion at Chateau Girardeau.

Longtime Cape Girardeau businessman Martin Hecht said the Aquamsi condominiums project "will be John's crowning glory. He was totally sold on downtown Cape and it certainly showed in his work. Downtown Cape is fortunate to have had a friend like John Boardman."

Boardman, who made a practice of renovating old downtown buildings, renovated three venerable structures in the 100 block of Independence on the southwest corner of Independence and Spanish that now houses the gallery of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Earlier, he remodeled the historic Hoche House at William and Spanish and the structure that now houses Celebrations Restaurant on Bellevue.

When the Boardmans moved to downtown in the late 1970s to undertake their first renovation project, Boardman called the decision to work and live in the heart of Cape Girardeau "a vote of confidence in the downtown area."

Boardman's vote of confidence and his influence on the development of downtown have over the past two-plus decades made a positive and significant statement about Cape Girardeau's most visible area.

"John was a dear friend and a consummate professional" said Dennis "Doc" Cain, Port Cape Girardeau owner. "He dedicated an enormous amount of time to architecture and to the downtown area. He will not easily be replaced."

Boardman's office was in a building that at one time housed part of the Montgomery Ward complex at 113 Independence.

Boardman, a Sikeston native, graduated cum laude in his architectural class at Iowa State University. He entered the Iowa school following discharge from the Navy. His early career included association with a major Houston, Texas, architectural firm. In Cape Girardeau, Boardman was actively involved in the Downtown Merchants Association and had also served as commissioner of the Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission.

Cape Girardeau City Councilman and neighbor Tom Neumeyer said: "People of John's caliber are rare. We need more visionaries like John who not only can see the potential but also will invest in renovation projects. John was an action-oriented man, not one to wait for someone else to pick up the ball. He was a working member of the downtown community who was respected by all who knew him."

Holshouser said: "John was always buying and renovating property and moving on to other projects. I always thought that if John stayed in business long enough he would have all of downtown Cape renovated."

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Sally Owen contributed to this report.