Written by Southeast Missouri State University Student Guest Blogger Laura Williams

This blog series is presented through a partnership between the Historic Preservation Commission of Cape Girardeau, the Historic Preservation Program at Southeast Missouri State University, and Old Town Cape.



       When Cape Girardeau County residents visit the Tax Assessors Office, located behind the Court of Common Pleas at 44 N. Lorimier St., they probably do not realize they are also visiting the original Cape Girardeau Carnegie Library. In 1914, shortly after the City opened its first public library in the Ellingood Building on the corner of Spanish and Themis, new conversations began about how to best fund and construct a bigger and more accessible building that would be able to accommodate the needs of the quickly growing town. Ideas became more substantial plans in 1916 when the Women’s Council of Clubs was the recipient of a $20,000 construction pledge from the Carnegie group for a new library building.  After WWI temporarily interrupted progress, the Women’s Council was able to retake the torch, and in 1921 the Carnegie Corporation reaffirmed its financial support for the project through a $25,000 donation, with the stipulation that the citizens must contribute the remaining $5,000 needed for the project. The residents of Cape Girardeau did more than just affirm their support for a new library building, but also proved their enthusiasm by raising $11,000, more than twice the necessary amount. 

            The original structure, finished in 1922, was one of the last libraries funded by the Carnegie Corporation. Costing $30,000 to construct, the Collegiate Gothic Style building features a flat roof with a limestone cornice line and window surround and red brick laid in the English bond pattern. In 1959, a new foyer designed by prolific architect and Cape Girardeau native John Boardman, was added onto the main entry, significantly altering the physical appearance. This addition had a much more modern architectural style, with a distinctive and prominent curved wall, made from rough-cut ashlar limestone. As the needs of the community continued to grow, the Public Library moved to its current location on Clark St. in 1980 and Cape Girardeau County took over the old building for offices.

            The old Carnegie Library building served the City of Cape Girardeau as a vital source of information and a repository for educational materials for almost 60 years and continues to serve the public’s needs today.

This post is written by guest blogger, Lydia Ness, Student Worker at Old Town Cape.

A few weeks ago some of my friends and I made the decision to spend our Friday night checking out Tunes at Twilight. So, after work we packed our lawn chairs, picnic basket full of cheese and fruit, and a bottle of wine and headed down to the Common Pleas Courthouse Gazebo in downtown Cape.

We arrived around 6:45 and I was immediately blown away - people of all ages, including couples, families and friends filled the lawn surrounding the gazebo. It was clear to me that this event was loved by many and it was sure to be a great night! We scoped out a spot near a large shade tree, planted our chairs and got ready for Coles Whalen, a Tunes at Twilight regular, to take the stage. Whalen is from Denver, CO and has toured all over the country with big names such Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and Kellie Pickler. A few minutes later she took the stage and I immediately fell in love.

My friends and I cracked open the wine and got out the snacks and settled in for a nice, relaxing evening. As I sat there, I thought to myself that this very moment is the reason I love downtown. The weather and atmosphere was perfect, the crowd was fun, and Whalen was just as good as I expected her to be.

I also couldn't help but to think of how perfect of an example of Placemaking this is. Old Town Cape has been really strategic in creating and designing places downtown for people to go and has transformed the area into a destination. Tunes at Twilight is a creative event that invites and encourages people to enjoy all that downtown Cape has to offer. I learned that many people visit the downtown shops and restaurants before or after the event and we did just that once the concert was over. We took the short walk to Broadway Biergarten to grab some dinner and drinks before ending the night.

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a Friday night that was as relaxing as this one was. I was fortunate enough to spend it with great friends while enjoying excellent music. If you haven't had the chance to check out Tunes at Twilight, I highly encourage you to do so! Wil Maring is the performer scheduled for tonight, but there are two more spring concerts after this one and the fall season will begin on August 15. For more information about this event, click here.

I have never intentionally watched a sunrise. I told some friends this over frozen yogurt this summer, and they were all astonished. Apparently it’s a must, and shameful to have not participated in this activity after twenty-seven years of inhabiting the Earth. So we went on bantering about how we would all watch one together soon.

Well… life as it does, passed by quickly and plans were never made; that is until yesterday when I had the bright idea to watch my first sunrise in the deep cold of winter. I convinced my friend, Jessica, to get up with me this morning, and when she agreed I told her she just earned the Friend of the Year Award.

I picked Jessica up at 6:15 this morning. She met me at my car with two thermoses full of fresh hot tea called “Comfort & Joy”. How cute (and needed for 7 degree weather)! We drove towards downtown, so we could watch the sunrise come up over the Mississippi River and decided the top of the county courthouse stairs would be perfect. We hopped out of the car around 6:20, and the freezing began.
 
At first I was so excited to be outside waiting for the sun. There was a line of orange on the horizon, but aside from that it was still a dark, blue-black outside and all of the streetlights were still twinkling. As minutes passed, the sky became lighter and brighter, but still no sun. After 15 minutes the truth set in: 7 degree weather is COLD. Our spirits were still high though. We ran around to stay warm and enjoyed the sounds of a band practicing for the Slapowitz party in a bar below for a KFVS12 Breakfast Show segment.

Come 7:00 we were ready for the sun. I was yelling, “Come out sun” with some serious authority and almost thought it would listen. Our fingers were starting to hurt from the cold, and when 7:03 passed (the time Google said the sun would come up) we decided to go watch the sunrise from the car.

As soon as the decision was made we started sprinting for the car – frozen fingers and all. On the way, Jess dropped her phone and when she picked it up she accidentally pressed something and her phone began playing, “Your Love is a Song” by Switchfoot. We turned around a couple of seconds later (before we reached my car), and the sun was rising. We rushed back to our original spot to get photos, and Jess let the song play on through the sunrise. At the time, I thought she played it on purpose because it was so perfect, but later she told me it was a total accident.

We scurried around, listening to the perfect song on accident and captured some beautiful photos from the tippy top of downtown. It was the perfect way to start the morning, and the perfect place to do so. We stood with a courthouse that had seen many beautiful sunrises, and for the first time I enjoyed one with it.