Query leads to commemoration of Cape Girardeau County's founding

Sometimes a simple question can launch some unexpected actions.

In June, Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones received a message from his counterpart in Daviess County, who wanted to know how to get into the cornerstone of his courthouse.

The Daviess County and Cape Girardeau County courthouses were designed by the same architect, P.H. Weathers. Jones asked Jane Jackson, county archive director, to help find the answer and, he added, could she gather some information about the courthouse and the founding of the county?

The fruits of her labors will be gathered today when county officials commemorate the 194th anniversary of the founding of Cape Girardeau County. The 9 a.m. ceremony on the courthouse steps in Jackson will include a reading of the proclamation from 1812 establishing the county.

"We went on to how old the county is, and I said it'd be kind of neat to do something and off she went," Jones said. "She is so good at stuff like that."

At its founding, Cape Girardeau County included all the land from Apple Creek on the north to the Ohio River on the south running west to the outskirts of Joplin. Today that area includes parts or all of 24 counties.

There's nothing significant about the 194th anniversary, both Jones and Jackson said, but today's event does help tell more of the history stemming from the founding of Cape Girardeau.

The city has been marking its bicentennial with commemorative events.

"We just thought we would do it, what with the city doing the bicentennial," Jackson said. "This is just another way of learning about the history of the county."

County Clerk Rodney Miller will read the proclamation creating the Cape Girardeau County from the Cape Girardeau District of the Louisiana Territory. In addition, Cape Girardeau's Town Crier, Daryl Morgan, will announce the event and the Allen Laws Oliver Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will present the colors.

The ceremony comes two weeks after the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone for the county courthouse. That inquiry from Daviess County led to research showing that, at the time of the placement of the stone, several items were stored there, Jackson said.

There's a Bible, a copy of the charter and members list of the Excelsior Masonic lodge, newspapers -- including the German language Volksfreund -- several coins and other items.

There are no plans to open the time capsule at this time, Jackson said. The courthouse was completed in 1908.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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