OWNERS DISAGREE WITH PLAN, HOPE HOUSE IS REHABILITATED

Before moving away from Cape Girardeau two years ago, Doris and the Rev. Jimmy Dace bought and began restoring a house at 218 S. Frederick St.

Doris Dace, a former president of the Greater Cape Girardeau Historical Association, estimates the house was built about 1882.

It is an example of the city's dwindling supply of German-style houses. Last week, another German-style house at 323 Themis was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Daces were rehabbing the house when her husband, a United Methodist minister, was appointed to a church in Centralia, Mo.

They are aware that the parish wants to buy the house and could decide to tear it down. They have decided to sell the house to a carpenter who is interested in continuing the rehab work. Doris Dace said closing is expected by the end of August.

She opposes the parish's plan.

"I don't think tearing down houses is a way to rehabilitate neighborhoods," she said.

"I think it's a big loss for Cape Girardeau when they starting tearing places down.

"You're losing history and character."

But Dace said nothing in the sales contract would prohibit the new buyer from selling the house to the parish.