As the Celebration of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Mississippi River Tales Mural continues to approach, we want to give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it was like getting this project off the ground and running. We chatted with local artist and original mural committee member, Don Greenwood, to learn more about that process.

"Back when the River Tales Mural planning committee was being formed, I got a call from Tim Blattner, the startup leader, asking if I would be interested in joining the group and helping bring this project to fruition. As the only artist in the mix, I was excited for the opportunity to share my insights because my input was going to be completely different than that of an engineer, a downtown stakeholder, a community member; I was looking at this as an opportunity to have a large-scale canvas that could serve as a community landmark for many years to come. As an artist, that’s exciting.

"Not long after planning started and we knew this project was going to get off the ground, I was asked to pull together an initial concept. What did I think it should look like? What was going to be meaningful for downtown and what would be representative of our community?

"The wall is so big and, at the time, almost looked like a prison wall, so I wanted to brighten it up. My initial sketch included four stone archways that served as windows to the river. What was on the other side of the wall is what would be depicted, with the addition of seasonal changes. One section would portray the river in the winter, one in the spring, one in the summer and one for fall. I took the idea to our committee and they were on board.

"Now that the initial design idea was fermenting, it was time to figure out who would be able to carry out this process. One person can’t do it alone; it takes a team. Our initial call for artists reaped in about 25 submissions. As a committee, we were able to initially par the list down to 17 seemingly qualified candidates. Years of research into each of these artists/companies styles, previous works and really figuring out if they would be a fit for this project, allowed us to narrow the selection field to three. These final groups were brought to Cape, each for three days, to experience our community, see the flood wall and the area they could be working in, and provide a final concept and estimate for the project.

"One company flew in two executives from New York; they brought their power team. However, neither of those individuals was an artist. So when we had questions specific to the design and how it could be carried out, they were unable to provide any answers. At that point, a red flag was raised. We weren’t comfortable going with a company whose artists we didn’t know and didn’t know if they were a good fit for our community. Group #2 came armed with an incredibly detailed, intricate design plan complete with etched marble, scroll work and fancy frills. While it seemed they produced fantastic work, it didn’t fit with our Southeast Missouri, heartland feel.

"The last artist to visit was Tom Melvin, from Chicago, Il. It was almost like something out of the movies when two characters meet and they just know they’ve found the one – we had that experience with Tom. His personality, style and vision for the mural were exactly what we were looking for. He understood where we’ve come from and what all it’s taken to get to where we were at that time.

"A few of us traveled to Chicago to learn more about him and his team. I stayed at Tom’s home while the other guys stayed with some of his friends; we almost felt like family. As we walked with him in their busy streets, locals would shout ‘Hey, Tom!’ and give him handshakes. There, in the windy city where we blended in with the rest of the hustle and bustle, Tom was well-known. He was experiencing in Chicago what we felt when we walked the streets of Cape Girardeau, where we knew our neighbors and ran into familiar faces quite frequently. Another link that he isn’t that different from us, he was relatable and personable.

"A collection of photographs lined the walls in one of his bathrooms. After closely examining them, I realized they were all images of Tom’s work; some were of him actually creating pieces. One really stuck out to me. Tom was hanging onto the edge of some scaffolding with one paintbrush in his mouth and another in his hand, working precariously to finish up a large piece. It was fantastic! After traveling around the city checking out Tom’s work and really getting to know him, our decision became more and more concrete that this was the right guy for the job.

"Upon settling on a contract, Tom took my initial concept and ran with it. He did a fantastic job of meticulously depicting our history and captured the essences of each time period so beautifully. The months he and his team spent creating in downtown were a true joy to experience.

"I love how great this mural turned out. It was a pleasure helping bring this to our community and I look forward to the many more years of joy it brings to Cape Girardeau."

To learn more about this project and to meet some of the original artists and planners, plan to attend the Mural Celebration sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old Town Cape, on Thursday, July 30, at 2pm in the parking lot at the corner of Water and Themis Streets. Help us celebrate this beautiful downtown landmark!

This post was co-written by Don Greenwood, guest blogger, and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

As the anniversary of the dedication of the Mississippi River Tales Mural continues to approach, we want to give another peak into what this landmark means to panel sponsor Kent Zickfield of Zickfield's Jewelry & Gifts. Kent paid tribute to his father's legacy by sponsoring the section from 1880 titled 'The Coming of the Railroad'.

"My dad, William August Zickfield, started what would eventually become our family business, Zickfield’s Jewelry & Gifts, in 1939, right here along this river. He was an integral part of the downtown business scene for many years. Making it through the initial startup phase back in the early 1940’s, during the height of World War II and on the heels of the great depression, was quite a feat. He knew downtown Cape Girardeau was where he needed to be.

"Upon his passing while I was still in college, I took the business reins and, along with my mother, started the family tradition. Many of the main business principles my dad taught me are still in practice at Zickfield’s today. As my kids are becoming more involved and I see their vision and passion for what our family has built, it makes me incredibly proud.

"When this opportunity arose to sponsor a portion of the floodwall mural, it seemed the perfect tribute to my dad for the many contributions he gave to downtown.  I chose this section because the conductor that’s prominently featured along the right side of the mural is holding a pocket watch, an iconic symbol of this time period and an accessory we’ve helped supply since our store’s inception. It was also the prefect location. In the old days, downtown merchants could purchase a spot in the parking lot at the corner of Water and Themis Streets. My dad’s spot was in the very front corner; the corner that almost directly faces this section of the flood wall. This mural captures the history of our community, a history that runs deep within the Zickfield family. I couldn’t think of a better tribute."

This post was co-written by guest blogger Kent Zickfield and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

As crazy as it is to believe, it has already been almost 10 years since we dedicated the Mississippi River Tales Mural. This landmark attracts people from around the area who are interested in art, the river, our history and heritage, and serves as a landmark for our downtown. A celebration coordinated by the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old Town Cape is set for Thursday, July 30, at 2pm to commemorate the anniversary and celebrate everything it has brought to the community. This event is open to the public, so please plan to join us.

Did you know there are 25 panels that make up this mural? Each section depicts a significant event in Cape Girardeau's history, dating back to 900's when the Native Americans explored our area. To help cover the monumental cost of planning for and creating this masterpiece, sponsorships of each panel were offered to the public. Our community rallied around this effort and all 25 were sponsored.

Jim and Teresa Maurer stepped up to the plate when the sponsorship opportunity presented itself. Their sponsored section depicts a scene from the flood of 1927. Read below to find out why they decided to invest in this project and what the mural means to them.

"We wanted to be a part of it, and the sponsorship of a downtown mural seemed a very fitting opportunity. Apparently the rest of the community agreed because there were only a few panels left by the time we decided to definitely participate. But what a commemoration of an event that shaped our community – The Big Flood of 1927.

"We love the details that helped make up this section. From the flapper dresses and period-specific vehicle, to the marking of the actual water level with the fish swimming at the bottom. It’s such a historic moment of our past that’s beautifully captured, this was the prefect section.

"We often drive down Water Street and observe people studying the panels, and I am again reminded of the unique history - told in the panels on the flood wall - that Cape Girardeau has given us. We have the origins, growth, successes and heartaches of the history of Cape Girardeau told in pictorial fashion all along the flood wall. The wall is a legacy to all the people who have lived, are living and who will be living in Cape Girardeau."

This post was co-written by guest blogger Teresa Maurer and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

I guess now that I've made it a year, it's time for you to learn a little more about the lady behind the keyboard. Hey - I'm Christa Zickfield, your friendly Old Town Cape Project Manager. Our organizations marketing, social media, events and various other odd jobs are my responsibility. I love downtown and I love Cape Girardeau, so this job seemed like a good fit. Boy was I wrong...

Cape Girardeau is my stomping ground; I've lived here my whole life (actually 28 years, but to those of you gracious individuals who swear it's only been 25 - thank you!). A Cape Public Schools alumni, I'm proud to call myself a Central Tiger. After high school, I thought I wanted to go off to college and do the 'big-city thing' at the University of Kentucky. I moved into my dorm room one Friday evening around 5pm, moved out and was gone by 8am the next morning, and was enrolled in Southeast Missouri State the following Monday. After 3.5 years of projects, papers and exams, I received a little sheet of paper granting me a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a major in Integrated Marketing Communications - wow. All that hard work for a piece of paper!

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I met the handsome guy that I would one day get the honor of calling my husband, William. We thoroughly enjoy making memories together and can't wait to see what our future holds. Yes, the Zickfield in my last name is relation to the downtown jewelry store. If you stop by, he'll be the good looking salesman ready to chat about cut, color and clarity with you. He is my everything and I am truly blessed to have him as the co-pilot on this crazy journey we call life.

My family ranks right up there at the top as well. I can't even put into words how much I love them. My dad, mom and sister, and the dog - anyone who knows us knows how head-over-heels we are for Harley! This also includes my extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, my cousins children and second-cousins that we consider first-cousins, their extended families - if you can't tell, we're really close, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

At the very top of my food chain is my relationship with Christ. Someone that I never met loved me so much that he sacrificed his life to save me from my sins - how cool is that?! I can't even begin to fathom where I would be today with this guiding force. As much as I love life and try to be as positive an influence as possible, it isn't always easy; there have been water leaks. However, I know what my future holds because of Jeremiah 29:11 - 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.' I'm excited to see how the rest of my story will play out.

What are my hobbies? Favorite things? First off, I'm terrible at sports, anything that requires the coordinated use of an object, really. That summer I played softball - phew! I do, however, love attending sporting events with my loved ones and friends. St. Louis Cardinal and Blues games rank up there at the top of the list. It's a dream of mine to attend the Australian Open, preferably before Rodger Federer retires from the game (he's pretty dreamy). I love food, however am terrible at preparing it. Coming from a long line of family cooks, sometimes I'm convinced I look like the mailman. Evening walks with the dog and traveling are additional pastimes I thoroughly enjoy. Also, it's really hard to beat warm towels out of the dryer - seriously, it doesn't take much!

Idiosyncrasies? Well, if you ask my peers I'm sure they have plenty to tell you. I only eat pickles the day after Thanksgiving. Toenails kind of give me the creeps. I'm thoroughly convinced that every time I hear a creak at home, there's some ninja-assasin hiding under the bed waiting for me to hang my foot off and, you know the rest... Typically the inside of my vehicle is impeccably clean, yet I can't seem to get my desk organized.

My love for downtown started blossoming at a young age. My Grandma Kinsey was the long-time seamstress for Hecht's clothing store. Chances are she's altered something for either you or someone you know. My dad has worked downtown at Cape Paint & Glass since, I'm pretty sure, the beginning of time. My uncle used to own a bakery on Main St, My Daddy's Cheesecake, that my cousins and I often frequented, especially on cake decorating days because we were almost always guaranteed a bite of the extra icing or cake scraps! The Christmas Parade of Lights has always been a family tradition that is something I hope to continue with my kids one day. Walks on the railroad tracks, yes on the tracks, and heading to the riverfront to check out the riverboats were typical occurrences. Up until a few months ago, my grandparents owned a farm just on the other side of the river, so trips to and from would often times warrant a detour downtown. Downtown has been a part of my life since before I can remember, and I'm better person because of it.

Each of these roads led me to this juncture in life. So when I mentioned at the beginning that it seemed I had found the right job, but boy was I wrong - I didn't find the right job, I found the perfect opportunity. I get to work downtown amongst some of our area's richest history almost everyday. I get to work for and with some of the coolest entrepreneurs and business-people in the community. I get to represent one of the greatest downtowns in the nation.

I am truly blessed!

April showers bring May flowers - and flooding. Our Mighty Mississippi River is full right now. Flood stage here in downtown is 32 feet. The projected crest, which is the highest level the river is projected to reach, is 43 feet. Unfortunately, for heartland residents this is nothing new.

1937
The flood of 1937 caused $20 million in damage, the equivalent of more than $300 million in today's dollars. Thousands of people were left homeless and displaced for months, some forever. Tent cities, areas of high ground where people congregated to seek shelter, popped up across the area. For the first time since its construction in the early 1930's, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided it was necessary to open the Birds Point Levee and help alleviate flooding pressure along the river. Cleanup throughout the Southeast Missouri area lasted for years and historians refer to this event as one of the greatest natural disasters in the country's history.

 1943
Like the major flood six years prior, the flood of 1943 was huge. The Mississippi crested at 42.4 feet in May of that year; 10.4 feet above flood stage. Just like before, thousands were displaced from their homes, WWII efforts were disrupted and livelihoods were ruined. In response to the widespread devastation, Congress passed the Flood Control Act in 1944 authorizing numerous flood control and water development projects to aid in the management of these efforts down the road.

1993
Crazy events culminated in the Flood of '93 because our area really didn't receive that much rain. Snow melt combined with an excessive amount of rain to the north caused our waters to rise excessively. The river first crept above above flood stage on March 7 and remained above this level for 126 consecutive days. Sandbaggers and pumps worked tirelessly for weeks trying to keep water out of our area. The entire affected area included the states of: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois. Approximately fifty flood deaths occurred and damages approached the $15 billion mark.

Our immediate forecast is iffy on the chance of rain. We'll just have to wait and see what Mother Nature decides to pass our way.
Photos courtesy of Chris Shivelbine, Southeast Missourian and UMSL