FLOOD FEST HERALDED AS REBIRTH OF COMMERCE

COMMERCE -- Rodney Holloway is already working on a faster outhouse for next year's Flood Fest.

Holloway of Scott City built an outhouse that Terry Hadley of Scott City drove in the Outhouse Race at the first Flood Fest Saturday. Edwin LeDure of Commerce built and drove the other outhouse. Each won a heat. They were the only entrants who braved the rain for the afternoon race.

The vehicles were similar to go-carts, but with all the accoutrements of outhouses. Each three-man team featured one person at the wheel and two more to push the vehicles about half a block down Washington Street.

"We're working on next year's model," Holloway said. "It's going to be a Cadillac."

Commerce lost a good portion of its population after the 1993 and 1995 floods. Many of the people living along the Mississippi River took advantage of federal buyout programs and headed for higher, dryer ground.

But the residents up the hill stayed put, and they're hoping the Flood Fest will be the first major step toward making the little Scott County town a big tourist attraction.

"The whole idea of Flood Fest is to celebrate Old Man River instead of moaning and groaning about it," said Joannie Smith, who along with her husband, Jerry, owns River Ridge Winery, River Ridge Christmas Tree Farm and the Yule Log Cabin.

Smith was philosophical about Saturday's bad weather. "Of course it had to rain," she joked.

Three organizations in town -- the Commerce Community Tourism Organization, which Smith represents, the Commerce Historical Society and the Commerce Community Betterment Club -- teamed up to help organize Flood Fest and what they hope will become the community's renaissance.

"The momentum is here," Smith said. "We realize that we have got the best view of the Mississippi River between Memphis and St. Louis."

The winery, The Anderson House, a bed and breakfast, the Commerce Museum and the historic St. Paul United Methodist Church are all core components of what organizers hope will become a tourism district.

"We kind of look for it to be a touristy little place, like Kimmswick," she said, adding she hopes to see "lots of little shops" and antique stores open on the hill.

City hall now serves as a tourism information center, and people wandered through Saturday to look at quilts on display and pick up informational brochures about the community.

The floods were devastating for many, Smith said, "but we realized we can move up the hill and still have Commerce thriving."

During the floods people in Commerce pulled together to stack sandbags in an attempt to hold back floodwaters.

Remaining residents have teamed up in the last few months to mow weeds and clean up debris in the buyout areas in preparation for the Flood Fest, Smith said.

Sonnie Michael, who has lived in Commerce for 26 years, helped sell refreshments at St. Paul Saturday afternoon.

"It's good to see all the cars and activity," she said. "It's nice to see the busyness."

John Ramsey, who was serving up bratwurst and hot dogs, and his wife, Lois Lee, are "about halfway" through building a new house on Crowley's Ridge on the west side of Commerce.

Lois Lee Ramsey grew up in Commerce and the couple decided to move back from Iowa, John Ramsey's home state, after the floods.

"There's still a viable town here," Ramsey said. "We're one of the first families to start a new home here. We're not going to be the last."

Dixie High moved to Commerce in 1995 with her husband, Jack, who grew up in the community.

"We moved here before the flood, and we made it through the flood and plan on staying," she said.

The couple live on Cape Girardeau Street. Floodwaters made it to the driveway in 1995, "but it didn't get up under the house," she said.

Saturday's festivities included the outhouse race, performances by the Northern Cherokee Nation Dancers, June Benson and the Semo Red Rockers square dancers, along with a sandbagging contest.

The Flood Fest continues today, with crafts and refreshment booths opening at 9 a.m. in the city park. June Benson will perform at 1 p.m. and the Assurance Southern Gospel Singers will perform at 2 and again at 3. The Kirkwood Station Blue Grass Singers will perform at 3 p.m.