Five historic Cape Girardeau homes selected for recognition

The Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission recently selected five local homes to be recognized in the second round of its newly implemented "One of Cape's Original Treasures" program.

Earlier this year, the commission decided to recognize property owners who have expended resources to restore or maintain historic properties in a manner that enhances the overall historic integrity of the property, neighborhood and community.

One of the homes chosen is at 227 South Pacific, a brick house built in 1904 by Theodore Bauermann. The present owner is Geoff Choate.

Another historic property selected is at 34 North Fountain. This Victorian frame house was built in 1890. The present owners and residents are Sarah and William Riley.

John Eck owns the 1910 frame house at 801 William, also selected by the commission.

The commission also chose the 1929 stone home at 701 Bellevue built by Judge Niehaus, owned by Donald and Carolyn Thomasson since 1966.

August Ebert built the frame farm house at 2854 Bloomfield around 1890 when that location was outside Cape's city limits. John and Ina Essner bought the property in 1954 and raised 12 children there. The second floor was added in 1939, the basement dug during the 1960s.

Yard signs designate which homes have been chosen for recognition. The commission plans to recognize homes 50 years or older on a quarterly basis.