TOWN OF COMMERCE NOT CONTENT TO MERELY WATCH THE RIVER RUN

COMMERCE -- The Mississippi River nearly dissolved the village of Commerce in the mid-1990s. After flood after flood inundated the town, many residents agreed to a government buyout of their properties in the flood plain. Now Dixie Jane Johnson thinks the same river can improve Commerce's fortunes.

Until about 1925, riverboats stopped regularly at Commerce on their way up and down the Mississippi River. When they brought the circus, people came from Benton and Scott City to see. But when the railroad tracks were taken out, the riverboats no longer stopped by.

Johnson has applied to build a riverboat landing at Commerce in hopes of bringing riverboats like the Delta, Mississippi and American queens along with tourists back to a town that hasn't forgotten its history.

Besides a dock for the riverboats, Johnson's project consists of a three-story building on the bank built to look like a a lighthouse. One story of the building is to be occupied by a restaurant Johnson will operate. Another story includes a dance floor with pictures of the old town. On the top will be the modest-sized lighthouse. "People in town don't want a great big light," Johnson said.

The building will be 75 feet across. Walkways would carry passengers from the docked boats to the lighthouse. The building is to located 300 feet from the river at the intersection of Spring and Water streets.

Johnson currently operates High's Lighthouse Gift Shop at 201 St. Mary's Street in Commerce. The proposed building also would house a gift shop.

Commerce is the only town left in the region that has not been cut off from the river, she says. "There is no floodwall and no levee. We've got the best view of the river. You can stay in your car and watch the river."

In Commerce, which holds an annual event called the Floodfest, a sense of humor about floods is required.

"Sometimes you can fish off your front porch," Johnson said, continuing to plug the town's advantages.

Her project is one of a number under way in Commerce.

Within the next month, the Better Community Club is putting a basketball court in Commerce City Park and has placed new swing sets in the park. Theresa Wright, the club secretary, said other projects are planned, including placing a memorial in the park and a plaque honoring the man who donated the land for Oakdale Cemetery.

"Right now we're just doing things that should have been done a long time ago," Wright said.

The approximately 100 people who remain after the buyout haven't given in, she said.

"We're on a comeback."

Joannie and Jerry Smith, who own a winery and Christmas shop in town, are planning to open a restaurant in an Arts and Crafts house in the fall. The house is located a block from the river.

She said the restaurant will be similar to the Blue Owl in Kimmswick, serving nice lunches and wine and beer by the glass and offering antiques for sale.

The Smiths also are interested in opening a jelly factory to make grape jelly from the wine grapes they grow.

Another new business being planned is a restaurant and bar to be called Velma's Place. Kay Workman's mother and father had a place by the same name that burned down in Commerce in 1982. "I have always wanted to build it back," she says.

The restaurant, yet to be built on Water Street, will serve barbecue, burgers and casual fare.

All of these projects are individual under takings with the same goal.

"Everybody's working together to promote our beautiful view of the river," Smith said.

Lin Jones, group sales director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the number of stops scheduled by riverboats at Cape Girardeau will be slightly down this year. The Delta Queen plans to stop only once, on July 3. Jones contacted the company to ask why and was told that the riverboat "wanted to spice up their schedule with different ports" because it gets so many repeat customers.

But with the advent of landings by the River Explorer barge last year, the actual number of stops this year will be almost the same, Jones said.

She likes the idea of putting a landing in Commerce and doesn't think competition between the two communities would result. "They're always looking for new ports to stop in. The addition of another port might make them more likely to stop here," she said.

James Lawson of Bowen Engineering in Cape Girardeau is guiding the project through the permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps will respond to the application by the beginning of March, when the public comment period ends. But the process could include public hearings, so no timetable for beginning the project is feasible.