RESIDENTS DETERMINED TO REBUILD COMMERCE

COMMERCE -- In its 206-year history, Commerce has seen both the good and bad that the river can bring. After the latest bout with the river led to a government buyout of flood-prone homes, residents who remain are determined to preserve and build on what is left of the town.

A group of citizens has formed a Commerce Better Community Club to help attract businesses and new residents. The group meets again July 9.

And one couple is preparing to open a new bed and breakfast.

During the late 1880s, Commerce boomed with businesses and river trade. Now Scott County's oldest town is constantly flooded by the Mississippi, and it has no industries and few businesses.

When this spring's Mississippi River floodwaters receded, 25 families had left the town's riverfront view permanently, accepting the city's offer to buy their homes through a state buyout program.

Demolition of the buyout homes is due to begin as soon as the State Emergency Management Agency approves bids for the work.

Because Commerce has few remaining businesses, the residents want to preserve what they have, says John Steel.

"After the buyout, we want to turn the ground into a park or conservation area," Steel said. "We are all hoping for an influx of commercial activity."

Steel and his wife, Susan, want to boost the local economy when they open a bed and breakfast at 39 Water St. The inn should be ready for guests by mid-July.

Although the house, which sits atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, was built by a riverboat captain, no captains have lived in it since until John Steel moved back to Missouri.

The home was built by Ignatius Wathen in 1847, but was owned by the Anderson family for 90 years. It is the oldest home in Scott County and was valued at $1,600 in 1880.

Steel, a shrimp boat captain who spends most of the year aboard a boat, is originally from Cape Girardeau. He and his wife, Susan, were living in New Orleans until about eight years ago when they returned to Missouri.

"We were lucky enough to see it in the paper and decided to go look at it," he said of the house. "We bought it the next day."

But the three-bedroom brick house is really Susan's. "It's my baby," she said, adding that she's still trying to find furniture for all the rooms. "It takes time and money."

Several of the rooms have been renovated, and work in the kitchen should be finished this week. Most of the renovation was done by professionals because neither Susan nor John had done any major home repairs before. "If we do buy another house, it will be something smaller," Susan said.

Since moving up river from New Orleans to Commerce, plenty of people have stopped to take pictures of the house or have asked if they can pay to spend a night there. So Susan decided to try the bed and breakfast business.

"A lot of people down South try bed and breakfasts, so I decided to do the same," she said. "This is the perfect place -- it's out in the country. People don't want to come from one city and go to another."

With a fantastic view of the river, the house is situated in an ideal spot. It's only a half-mile from the River Ridge Winery. With a home-based seafood business, Susan plans to coordinate her menus with the winery for parties and receptions. "We'll work hand in hand," she said.