STATE SEEKS HISTORICAL DATA ON CAPE AREA

The State Historical Society of Missouri wants information on markers and plaques designating historically significant sites.

Cape Girardeau County is one of the counties for which the society has no information, said Ann Rogers, coordinator of the Missouri Historic Marker program.

"We're not only interested in getting the highway markers, but any local markers," Rogers said.

The highway markers, officially known as Missouri Historic Markers, were erected in the 1950s and 1960s along highways and interstates throughout Missouri. The free-standing markers stand more than 6 feet tall, with blue enamel finish and are engraved with information about a county's or specific area's history.

"I can tell you where the highway markers are supposed to be," Rogers said, but as highways are widened and development increases, the markers are sometimes removed or moved.

According to society records, 121 markers were placed around the state in a cooperative effort between the state historic society and the Missouri State Highway Commission.

The markers sometimes migrate. The society's records from 1985 indicated that Cape Girardeau County's marker was on Route 34, west of Interstate 55.

Bruce Watkins, county parks superintendent, said the marker really was on the old Wedekind Park property on Route 34 -- Kingshighway -- between Cape County Park and the Missouri Veterans Home, which is east of I-55.

Right now, though, the marker is in storage in the county park maintenance building.

The marker was removed by the state highway department to allow for work along 34, and will be moved to a new site.

"We just got it," Watkins said. "Basically it talks about the Lorimier Purchase and the founding of Cape Girardeau. It does mention the county seat is west of Cape Girardeau," Watkins said.

The Cape Girardeau County Commission will decide where the marker should go, Watkins said, adding a possible site is the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the Regional History Center at Southeast Missouri State University, said people often confuse the highway markers with markers placed by other organizations, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, local historical societies or markers designating state historic sites, such as Bollinger Mill State Historic Site in Burfordville.

Nickell and John Schneider of the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau, said there's lots of history -- and lots of markers -- all around Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Rotary Club International has placed markers on several "buildings or areas that are unique in Cape Girardeau," Schneider said, and organizations that "adopt" sites and take responsibility for refurbishing and maintaining them often post plaques or markers explaining their significance.

"So there's a mish-mash of stuff out there," he said.

Schneider said the city also has a historic preservation commission that recommends property for local landmarks designation.

Six properties have been designated local landmarks, while eight properties in Cape Girardeau are on the National Register of Historic Place.

That's just the kind of information the state historic society is looking for, Rogers said.

The State Historical Society has forms available for listing information on plaques, markers and other designations. For more information, call Rogers at (314) 882-9368, or write the society at 1020 Lowry St., Columbia, Mo., 65201.

"We have no idea what's out there," she said."There's just so many different organizations and entities that will mark historic sites, and there's been no comprehensive effort to put all the information together. There are a lot of people that really are interested in seeing some kind of guidebook who like going around and seeing these things."

Nickell said he would like to see some type of guide developed of the historic sites in Cape Girardeau. "One of the things that's always concerned me is the absence of proper signage or a uniform system," he said.

Many residents are aware of the city's history, Nickell said, but that awareness "hasn't really been developed with the idea that other people would be interested in it, and they are. We're just really kind of new to the idea of tourism."

Schneider said the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau hopes to put together a brochure with a map of the historic sites. "A brochure will help," he said. "I'm sure there will be a cooperative effort with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to put this together."