HOMES WITH A HISTORY

Anyone interested in period architecture, antique cars and the occasional ghost story should be sure to attend the Historic Home Tour Sunday in Cape Girardeau.

The Greater Cape Girardeau Historical Association is sponsoring the event, which will include walking tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. of historic buildings. Deanna Cotner, president of GCGHA, said the annual event features three historic private homes at different levels of restoration this year. Also included on the tour is the Alliance Building, which currently houses Mollies and Klosterman Gallery.

"That building is on the National Register (of Historic Places)," Cotner said. "We included it to show how these old homes can be saved by a business as well as a homeowner."

Two of the private homes are rarely open to the public, said Cotner. Reynolds House, a National Register of Historic Places designee, and the home of Deborah Wendel, which once served as a Civil War smallpox hospital, are both included in the walking tours this year.

Guided tours of Glenn House will be conducted by GCGHA members, and refreshments will be served. John Bry, a graduate of the Southeast Missouri State University Historic Preservation Program who is director of commerce and development for the city of Flora, Ill., will conduct guided tours of Old Lorimier Cemetery.

There will also be a display of vintage cars sponsored by the Capaha Antique Car Club.

"The tour is especially exciting because two of these houses haven't been on a tour in a long time," she said.

Cotner said all of the homes have served a number of purposes over the years. The Alliance Building has been used for various commercial purposes, she said, and the Reynolds House was a private home dating back to 1857.

The history of Deborah Wendel's home is especially interesting, she said. The house was built in 1846 to serve as a boarding home for girls. During the Civil War it was occupied by Southern officers and later became a smallpox hospital. Shortly after the hospital closed, ghosts were said to have taken up residence in the home.

The house also served as the meeting place for the first classes for Normal School, now known to all as Southeast Missouri State University.

"There are a lot of interesting features in this house," Cotner said. "It's always been rumored that a tunnel for the Underground Railroad was but, nobody's been able to find an entrance."

In all, said Cotner, the tour has a lot to offer the history buff or curiosity seeker. Preservation of local historic sites is important, she said, and people should take the opportunity whenever private historic homes are open to the public.

Tickets for the tour are available at any of the sites and are a $10 donation. For more information, phone (573) 334-1177.

HISTORIC HOME TOUR

This year's tour places emphasis on local restoration projects, the use of historic buildings in the business community and Cape Girardeau's heritage.

3 FULLY RESTORED HOMES ARE ON DISPLAY

Timothy and Loretta Dodd home

319 N. Middle St.

Simple German Brick

Built by Frederick Ruesseler between 1900-1908. The home was given to his daughter Lydia and her husband Dr. J.J. Schneider, a graduate optician who conducted business at the house. Patients were seated in a reception area on the first floor and eye examinations were conducted on the second floor.

Michael and Rebecca Richey home

125 S. Spanish St.

Turn of the century Queen Anne

Built in 1906 by Edith Timb, who sold it to the Thompson family. Mildred Thompson was born in the house and lived there her entire life. it was restored five years ago by Lori and Joe Schneider.

Deborah Wendel home

444 Washington Ave.

Federalist Style

Built by a minister as a boarding home for girls in 1846. Shortly thereafter, it was occupied by Southern officers and became a Civil War smallpox hospital. The house also hosted the first classes for the Normal School, now Southeast Missouri State University.

1 COMMERCIAL BUILDING WHICH HOUSES MOLLIES AND THE KLOSTERMAN GALLERY IS ON DISPLAY

Alliance Building

7-15 S. Spanish St.

Italianate Style

National Register of Historic Places

Currently houses Mollies Cafe and apartments

Built by Louis F. Klostermann in 1905 for rental purposes. The lower floors were rented for various commercial purposes. Some of the occupants included the Water Office, Power's Advertising Company, the Tribune newspaper, a car dealership, a bottling operation and Bluff City Distributing. The upstairs rooms served as a hotel for approximately 50 years.

This building is the only remaining example of pressed metal ornamental siding in the city. Included in the design are Corinthian columns, rosettes and scrollwork.

A RESTORATION IN PROGRESS

Reynolds House

623 N. Main St.

French Colonial

National Register of Historic Places

Built in 1857 by two prominent Cape Girardeans: Joseph Lansmon, a native of Alssac-Lorraine who came to the city in 1834; and Edwin Dean, a pioneer architect and builder who came to the city from Kentucky and began building here in 1839.

The home was occupied by the James Reynolds family. Mr. Reynolds was a prominent flour miller and became a partner in the Union Mills, which was regarded as one of the first of the town's manufacturing establishments.

CAPE GIRARDEAU'S HERITAGE

Old Lorimier Cemetery

corner of N. Fountain and Washington streets

designated Local Landmark of Cape Girardeau

No ticket required, walking tours conducted 1:30, 2, 2:30, 3 p.m. by John Bry

Antique cars on display

Knights of Columbus parking lot, 318 S. Spanish

No ticket required; showing presented by Capaha Antique Car Club

The Glenn House

325 S. Spanish

Refreshments served