DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS AUCTION IS SET

There'll be some pieces of downtown history at the Downtown Merchants Association Auction this year.

An old plate available at Excelsior Music Company during the early years of the century features a picture of the Common Pleas Courthouse, and will be sold at the 10th annual auction.

Excelsior Music was founded in 1914, and was located on Broadway.

Also placed for sale will be a 1970s photograph of the courthouse, in a homemade frame of lumber from the old tupelo of the courthouse. These two items were donated for the auction by Verna L. Landis, who served as city clerk for Cape Girardeau a number of years before retirement.

These items and many other are among the more than 100 items which will be offered for sale at a fund-raising auction to be held April 25 in downtown Cape Girardeau.

The auction will be held at the River City Yacht Club above Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the auction starting at 8. A silent auction of several items will continue throughout the evening.

"An Olde Time Railroad Party" is the theme of the event this year. The Thespian Theatrical Club at Cape Central High School is preparing decorations for the event, which will be reminiscent of an old train stations.

Janie Ervin is chairman of this year's event.

The association raised more than $12,500 last year. The auction has raised more than $100,000 over the past nine years, highlighted by the $18,000 years three years ago.

Proceeds of the auction help fund downtown restoration and beautification projects and special events such as the Christmas parade, the brick crosswalks, flower planting, benches and maintenance of the areas.

Additional information, and tickets, are available by calling 334-8711.

Among the more than 100 items available this year will be clothing; jewelry, rings and other items from jewelers; furniture gift certificates; $500 advertising packages; savings bonds, restaurant certificates, art prints, and more. The items are auctioned through the donated services of Chug's Auction Service.