Masonry workshop set for Friday in Cape Girardeau

With the recent efforts to revitalize some downtown buildings in Cape Girardeau underway, St. Louis preservationist Bill Hart said the timing has never been better for a masonry workshop in the city.

On Friday morning a conference will be held for those interested in repair, restoration and graffiti removal from historic masonry surfaces, which are constructed of brick or stone. The workshop will feature consultants Gary Keshner of Cathedral Stone Products and Peter Wollenberg of Wollenberg Building Conversation in St. Louis.

"We feel that we can support attendees with additional information, especially on masonry restoration, as there is a substantial portion of the historic district constructed by brick," said Hart, a field service representative with Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation and National Trust for Historic Preservation. "The gentlest means must always be employed when caring for historic masonry, much like you would care for a piece of antique furniture."

Old Town Cape executive director Marla Mills said interest in a masonry workshop has increased over the last several years because of downtown buildings defaced by graffiti.

In December 2007 Cape Girardeau police charged three teenagers for a series of profanities that were spray-painted across an overpass of Cape LaCroix Recreational Trail, private property and area businesses.

Three months later a Cape Girardeau man was charged with felony property damage related to several incidents of using graffiti to deface murals on the flood wall in downtown Cape Girardeau and two concession stands in Arena Park.

In September vandals hit Capaha Park with the second graffiti incident in six years, spray painting images and expletives across the green tin wall, large white stadium doors and across several signs.

In November, three teens were charged with using spray paint to deface walls at various locations in Cape Girardeau.

"This started as an attempt to give property owners information on graffiti removal," Mills said. "And it grew out of that to other things about historic masonry. If we don't address these issues than it can cause issues for buildings in the future."

The corporate sponsors for the conference are St. Louis preservation specialist Karen Bode Baxter and Rust Communications. Other sponsors are the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, Old Town Cape and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The conference will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the First Presbyterian Church at 235 Broadway. The cost of the workshop is $20 and can be paid at the door. Participants may attend without registering beforehand, though registration is encouraged by calling 334-8085 or 314-691-1941.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent address:

235 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO