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John Schneider is a resident of Cape Girardeau and has been active in local historic preservation efforts. He is a member of the Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission.

Twenty-five years ago the National Historic Preservation Act created the agency which recognizes sites and structures worthy of national preservation. The agency, the National Register of Historic Places, is administered by the National Park Service within the United States Department of the Interior. This 25th anniversary is being remembered nationwide under the slogan "Celebrate Your Heritage" during the week of May 12-18th. What is this heritage we celebrate and why do we do it?

Through Sieur Jean B. Girardot the first recorded white settler and Louis Lorimier the founder of our city, to the present and newly built Show Me Center the traditions of our past are visible, waiting to be appreciated and cherished for what they have brought and are bringing to us. It is the role of historic preservation organizations to insure the perpetuation of the visible signs of this past buildings, sites, districts through vigorous programs of identification, maintenance, and rehabilitation.

The city of Cape Girardeau has recognized the need for an active program of preservation of its historic resources by adopting a specific ordinance to serve as a guideline in determining courses of action in these matters. A Historic Preservation Commission has been created through this ordinance with the purpose of promoting the protection and enhancement of buildings, structures, or land improvements of special historic, aesthetic, or architectural significance, all in the interest of promoting the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the city of Cape Girardeau.

In recognition of the attention given preservation by the city, the state of Missouri has designated Cape Girardeau as one of sixteen communities to be included as a "Certified Local Government." The benefits of this designation include possible special funding to complete identification programs, great accessible to the state historic preservation training programs, and an acknowledgement of the commitment of the city to preservation principles.

Cape Girardeau has six properties on the National Register of Historic Places:

D.A. Glenn House (1883),

Thilenius House (1873),

Hanover Lutheran Church,

James Reynolds' House (1857),

Oliver-Leming House (1898),

and St. Vincent De Paul Chruch (1853).

A partial listing of additional sites numbers 56 properties. This number will be significantly increased with the completion of surveys which begin this summer. In addition to the National Register of Historic Places as a designation of historic significance, the present Cape Girardeau ordinance provides for the awarding of Local Landmark Status to sites and properties. This designation has not been utilized during the initial year of the ordinance but the process for determination has been formalized and applications are now being accepted for granting of this status.

With the organizations in place to assist in cataloging our "old places," what seems to be the benefit to me, the citizen of the community? For me, the sense of wonder created by visiting our National Register properties is always present! From visiting the Civil War battlefields to having assisted in the preservation of one of our local National Register properties, there has been a personal sense of awe at what has gone before. What sacrifices and acts of courage; what ponderous sermons or deliberations of consequences were conducted within the walls of these places? The effect the settlers of our city had on us should always be remembered and cherished.

This memory is more easily brought into focus by seeing the buildings and walking the paths of those who have gone hundreds of years before us. Our beautiful Lorimier Cemetery, with the history of Cape Girardeau wrapped within it, is in need of much consideration by our citizens and we should act before the gravestones of such individuals as John Schneider, Civil War Drummer Boy, are lost and no one will ever wonder at what he did or even think about the way he lived! Historic preservation and Cape Girardeau are inseparable if we of the community are to have the pride and joy of our past!

Celebrate Your Heritage.