MYSTERIOUS BENEFACTOR GIVES WORLD'S FAIR STATUES TO COLLEGE

A mysterious benefactor brought the culture and mystique of the 1904 World's Fair to Cape Girardeau.

A collection of 58 statute reproductions exhibited by a German artist at the St. Louis World's Fair were donated in 1904 to the Third District Normal School. Today, the school is known as Southeast Missouri State University.

For several weeks after the gift in 1904, the community and school speculated on the identify of the mysterious donor.

The generous benefactor turned out to be none other than Louis Houck, who was a member of the university's Board of Regents from 1886 until his death in 1925. He served as board president for more than 30 years.

The statutes were a prized possession indeed -- having won a gold medal at the fair. They were made from a "secret substance" composed in part alabaster and part plaster of Paris. They were the same size and finish as the original works, which were made of marble, bronze and stone.

The artist himself -- Herr Gerber of Cologne, Germany, -- came to Cape Girardeau in the spring of 1905 to install his replicas of famous statutes.

Apparently Houck was taken with the exhibit during one of his visits to the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition. Houck inquired of the sculptor if his statues in the German Educational Exhibit could be purchased. The owner, not eager to transport them back to Germany, agreed.

"Just what the purchase price is could not be ascertained definitely but it would require a figure four cyphers to represent it numerically," according to the Dec. 24, 1904, edition of the Cape Girardeau Weekly Democrat newspaper.

The collection itself won high praise from the community as well.

"The Cape Girardeau Normal has a collection of statuary that for its kind is not excelled or even equalled by any school in the country," said the newspaper.

The group of reproductions were divided into four groups: 19 pieces from ancient art, 16 pieces from Italian Middle Ages; five pieces from German Middle Ages and 17 pieces of Modern Art.

The originals could be found in such far-flung places as the Louvre in Paris, the Vatican in Rome and in museums and private collections in Naples, Dresden, London, Athens, Berlin, Madrid, Florence and Copenhagen.

The statues found a new home in Statuary Hall in Academic Hall, which was nearing completion. It opened its doors to the public Dec. 2, 1905, and at least 5,000 people came to view the new school building. Especially proud was President W.S. Dearmont, and of course, regent Houck.

Academic Hall and Statuary Hall fast became a source of pride for the school and community.