STUDENTS HELP ORGANIZE LOOK AT HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Although they are relative newcomers to Cape Girardeau, John Bry and Jon Colburn see what some longtime residents never do: A rich foundation of historic buildings and sites.

The two Southeast Missouri State University historic preservation students are among the organizers of a series of events in observance of National Historic Preservation Week.

"It's your memory. It's our history. It's worth saving." That's the theme of preservation week, which begins Friday and runs through May 7.

Many times, local residents don't see the architectural gems in their communities, said Colburn, who is from New Hampshire. "Familiarity breeds contempt."

Both Colburn and Bry, who is from Ohio, said they hope the preservation week activities will fuel local interest in Cape's old buildings.

"Every town has something special and unique about it, and that's one of the things we want to show off and highlight," Bry said Monday. "We are trying to get across that historic preservation enhances the livability and appearance of any community."

The preservation week features walking tours of Old Lorimier Cemetery, the Broadway business district and the College Hill neighborhood. Also on the schedule are "Dinner Under the Dome," which includes a tour of Academic Hall and a first-hand look inside the building's dome, and a "Mother's Day Historical Home Progressive Dinner Tour," involving the Glenn House and four other historic homes.

While there have been historic preservation observances in Cape Girardeau in the past, nothing has been done on a scale this large, said John Schneider, chairman of the city's historic preservation commission.

"We are hoping that this will be an all-out assault on the senses of the community," he said. "It is an all-out attempt to make the public aware of the heritage and culture of Cape Girardeau."

Schneider's fond of a 1963 quote from the New York times. "It says, `We will probably be judged not by the monuments we build, but by those we have destroyed.'

"I think it has some relevance to Cape Girardeau," said Schneider, adding that a number of the city's historic structures have been demolished over the years.

But he said Cape residents today are more interested in historic preservation. "The neighborhood associations are catching on," Schneider said. "People are finding out the desirable qualities of living in older homes."

National Preservation Week is a time to reflect on "those who have walked this land before us and the legacy they have entrusted us to protect," said Colburn, who serves as executive director of the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau.

The local observance is co-sponsored by the Alliance for Historic Preservation, the Center for Regional History, the Historic Preservation Association at the university, the Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission, the Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau.

The alliance group is a recent addition to the preservation scene, having been founded by Bry, Colburn and others involved in the university's historic preservation program. It's focus is to unite preservation organizations throughout Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky.

Preservation week opens Friday with the "Create a Landmark and Essay Contest." Area fourth, fifth and sixth graders have been asked to create models of Cape Girardeau landmarks. The essay contest is open to junior high or middle school students. An awards ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. in the Cape Girardeau Civic Center.

A walking tour of Old Lorimier Cemetery will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday. Visitors can learn about the symbols and styles of tombstones, as well as chat with a few of the city's early citizens as costumed re-enactors portray some of Old Lorimier's "permanent residents."

Beginning at 6 p.m. on May 3, a walking tour of Cape's Broadway business district will be held. The tour will start at the Southeast Missourian building on the corner of Lorimier and Broadway, and conclude at the former "Last Chance Saloon" at Broadway and Pacific streets.

Karen Grace of the Missouri Historic Preservation office will speak about the National Register of Historic Places at 7 p.m. on May 4. The event will be held in Room 300 of the art building on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Participants are urged to bring photographs of places they are interested in nominating.

"How to hire a contractor" will be the topic of a second lecture at 7:30 p.m. in the same room.

"Dinner Under the Dome" will be held at 7 p.m. May 5. Guests will be served dinner on the main floor of Academic Hall. The dinner includes tours of the 88-year-old structure, and old photographs of Academic Hall and the building's original blueprints will be displayed.

A wooden platform will be constructed over the attic floor to allow people to view the inside of the dome.

Admission is $15 for the dinner and tour. Tickets are available by contacting the Center for Regional History at (314) 651-2555.

At 5:30 p.m. on May 6, a tour of the College Hill area is slated. The neighborhood features several architectural styles and was home to many prominent families. The tour will begin at Broadway and Ellis and end at the Johnson Faculty Centre at 530 N. Pacific. For more information, call 651-0570.

A progressive dinner tour will be held on May 7. Tickets are $25 per person. Registration, which is limited to 40 people, can be made by contacting Mary Russell at 335-1594 or the Glenn House at 334-1177.