Rotary Club helps mark Cape history with new signs

Cape Girardeau's Downtown Rotary Club has implemented the first of several projects in observation of Rotary International's 100-year anniversary in 2005 by enhancing 15 historical markers throughout the community.

The club's 50-year tradition of providing historical markers for the community continued with the presentation of a new historical marker for the River Campus. It reads: "This site has been dedicated to education since 1838 when Father John Brands founded St. Vincent's Male Academy on land purchased from Ralph Doherty. St. Vincent's College operated on this site from 1843 until closing in 1979.

"The generosity of Cape Girardeau resident B.W. Harrison enabled Southeast Missouri State University to purchase the property and buildings in May 1998. The groundbreaking for the university's new school for the visual and performing arts was held May 27, 2003."

A new booklet identifying Cape Girardeau's historical points of interest will be published in advance of the city's bicentennial in 2006.