Portrait of a young city

Editor's note: This letter written by the Southeast Missourian's Vanessa Cook might have been exchanged between a Cape Girardeau resident and a friend in 1904.

Oct. 3, 1904

Dearest Anna,

It has cooled quite considerably since your visit in June and winter is surely around the corner. The almanac says to expect snow, but not before Christmas. I think the men at the boats are apt to agree since they are not looking forward to a winter like 1902.

Do you remember how the Mississippi froze over and some of the crazy boys were walking across to Illinois? I was terrified they'd fall in at any moment, but the ice was thick enough to hold many a heavy and adventurous boot.

The local fair has come and gone since my last post. This year's festival was the greatest I've seen. Fairgrounds Park was christened and the most magnificent Flora Hall erected. A pond was dug in the center of the park and around it a track built so that revelers could enjoy the weather before entering the Grandstand for events, including Young's Wild West Show.

You wouldn't recognize that part of town anymore. On your next visit we'll have to take a trip to the park. It's a great legacy of the fair that one can enjoy the beauty of the park year-round and anticipate the fun of next year's fair.

But our fair pales in comparison to the big fair up north. Once the local fair was over and done, conversation around town went right back to the St. Louis World's Fair. At least 12.5 million have attended so far, and many local residents have traveled by train and riverboat to see all the wonderful exhibits from around the world. National Guard Company K from Jackson is attending as a group and the ladies of the Limbaugh family, along with young Rush, recently returned and told stories of a waffle holding ice cream. I don't quite understand all that they described, but plan to attend the exhibits soon and see for myself what they're talking about. Missouri day is coming up and I would like to support my state by breaking attendance records.

Actually, I won't even have to leave the city to see one of the gold medal exhibits from St. Louis. I've heard plaster reproductions of famous statues have been purchased to stand on the Normal School campus. An artist out of Germany named August Gerber created them and the town is a buzz over who the mysterious donor is that bought the 58 works and gave them to the school. It's our own part of the fair brought back to Cape Girardeau.

As to the Normal School, you'll be glad to hear the new academic building is under construction. Though quite expensive, state and local officials were anxious to get it rebuilt after the 1902 fire. I've heard the building may reopen next year. There is also a primary school building springing up on the outskirts of town. Jefferson School is being built on Jefferson Avenue with plans to open at the turn of the year.

The Riverview on Water Street burned last month. Though not a grand establishment like the St. Charles Hotel, the Riverview was a landmark for those who stopped in Cape Girardeau on their way down the Mississippi. There are plans to rebuild it, as well, but it can't be too soon for those looking for an inexpensive room.

This photograph of Main Street in Cape Girardeau was taken around the beginning of the 20th century. The scene looks north on Main Street toward the intersection with Broadway. The building in the upper right of the photograph is on Broadway. The crowd probably was congregating for a circus parade.

I did my shopping around town today. Shoes and a winter wrap were on my list. The oil grain shoes at Harlan P. Peironnet's store were 75 cents, but I decided to purchase dull-top patent shoes for $1.08. They aren't as fancy as what you wore on your visit, but I like to think styles are becoming more cosmopolitan as our little town grows into a great city.

Though the river was high at 13 feet there was still a lot of action on the shore. The riverboat Cape Girardeau was unloading as I shopped at Ladies Bazaar and Millinery and Wm. H. Bohnsack Jr.'s place. They had nice goods, but I was unable to find any wraps that played to my fancy and looked grand enough to wear to church this fall.

Signs are up around town for the presidential race. I've heard that women of the West have been swayed to politick for Roosevelt, but sentiment goes back and forth for the men in town. One woman that you must meet when you return is Miss Emma Shulz. She is a dentist of great influence in the community and I've come to know her quite well. Her practice has taken off nicely and I'm happy to play patron to a woman of such knowledge.

And no trip to the river would have been complete without a visit to I. Ben Miller's store. His ice cream can be compared to no other, even if it isn't served on a waffle. I had to purchase some candy to bring home and I had a soda with friends before I realized how late time had gotten.

The men were already singing "We're headed for Bootsies" before I had made it up Broadway to the Cape Girardeau Ferry Co. stop at Sprigg Street. Though I doubt I'll ever visit this famous Bootsies they sing of -- I've heard it's a rather seedy alcohol establishment up the river -- I can't help but smile when I hear them loading the last boxes and all singing together as they get ready to shove off.

Before I left town, though, I did pick up a newspaper. I purchased the Daily Republican for 2 cents. It's also new to town since you've visited and was full of information on local business as well as national and international news.

I learned by reading the local pages that scoundrel John Clark was thrown in jail for disorderly conduct Saturday. I estimate the drink has lot to do with his untameable state, but he was given a stiff fine regardless. He had to pay out $8, with $5 going to repay his fine and $3 to cover court fees.

And have you heard what they're doing with dogs in Paris? One article in today's paper said the profession of giving dogs massages has taken over the whole of the city. Can you conceive letting someone rub on your dog like that? And paying good money for it? Honey, I think, is quite happy with scraps from the table and a warm blanket in her house in the back yard. But I suppose that's because she knows no better, unlike the spoiled French dogs.

I will end with another highlight from the newspaper. At the end of one column today I read the following: "A young lady with fair education can get a good position by applying at the Daily Republican." I don't know who these Naeter brothers are that are running the show down there, but I think I've found the answer to their request.

Give your mother and father my best. I hope to be able to visit in the spring, and you must make plans to come back soon. So much is happening that by the time I get this in the post a whole new town will have sprung up to write about.

With sincere wishes,

Carrie-Ann