OLD-TIME DINNER TOUR IS A TASTE OF THE PAST

The Jackson Heritage Association and the Cape Girardeau Historical Association are teaming up for a unique historic dinner tour of Cape Girardeau County on Aug. 30.

"This gives us a chance to do something more unique with well-known historic sights in the county," said John Bry, director of the Glenn House.

Antique cars will transport participants, and a different course of a meal will be served at each site.

"We're also hoping to do some unique entertainment at all sites," he said. "For example, at Lorimier Cemetery, we'll have people standing in costume by a few of the well known people's graves and talking about their lives in first person."

The tour will begin at the Courthouse Park in Cape Girardeau. The first stop will be the Glenn House, followed by the Reynolds House and Old Lorimier Cemetery.

The cars will then meet at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson, where participants will receive a "fire and brimstone sermon," said Bry.

Next stop will be Trish's Bed and Breakfast in Jackson and then the St. Louis Iron Mountain Railway. The tour will end up at the Oliver House in Jackson.

The tour is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m.

"This is the first time we have combined a historic tour in Cape Girardeau and Jackson," said Bry. He feels the combination should give the tour more appeal.

"We all have the same goals in mind of historic preservation so it just makes sense to team up and do one big event. It should be pretty fun."

He feels the antique cars will lend authenticity and fun to the tour.

"Around the turn of the century, cars were becoming popular and a lot of people did road trips and would eat along the way. That really goes along with our tour," he said.

Each site is responsible for their own food.

"At the Glenn House, we're going to have a little fun with our appetizers," said Bry. "We're going to have pickles with wheels, and set up a race track on the dining room table."

Trish Wischmann, owner of Trish's Bed & Breakfast, said the tour is a unique way to take in all the historic sites of the area.

"This will be a very special afternoon," Wischmann said. "And it's a real bargain. If you paid the admission costs to all these historic sites separately, it would cost you $17. With the tour, you're getting a very good meal to go with it."

Wischmann said at least 30 people are needed to secure the event. Reservation deadline is Aug. 27.

Tickets are $20 per person. To make a reservation, call Wischmann at 243-7427 or call the Glenn House at 334-1177 and leave a message on the answering machine.