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Pavement Ends
James Baughn

Cape Girardeau might have the nation's oldest handball court

Posted Tuesday, January 1, 2013, at 11:30 PM

Comments

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  • I hope that the handball court can be saved. Far too many historic structures have already been destroyed.

    -- Posted by tuffoldbird on Wed, Jan 2, 2013, at 12:27 AM
  • why do they want to tear it down, to build some white elephant project I guess.

    spend and tear down is all they know...

    -- Posted by bagman on Wed, Jan 2, 2013, at 4:40 AM
  • SAVE THE HANDBALL COURT!

    -- Posted by TommyStix on Wed, Jan 2, 2013, at 10:09 AM
  • James I think you should list all of the historic structures SEMO has demolished over the years.

    -- Posted by Cap_Anson on Wed, Jan 2, 2013, at 11:08 PM
  • Great research into the history. This structure must be saved !!!

    -- Posted by jacksonjazzman on Mon, Jan 7, 2013, at 11:47 AM
  • The University should recognize the importance of it. I think they did a good job with the rest of the old seminary - why not this too?

    -- Posted by Danno1 on Tue, Jan 8, 2013, at 6:51 AM
  • Is there anything that can be done? I am appalled at this. I am an alumnus as is my wife and one daughter and another to follow. I can't believe a university with such an outstanding Historic Preservation program can let greed step in the way of sound judgement. I have the 1880 Cape Girardeau lithograph in my office. This may soon be the only way to see the handball court. Incidentally this article and the one featuring Joseph Landsman are impeccably written and I can tell you did a lot of research on this. Please keep up the fight!

    -- Posted by VoiceofCape on Tue, Jan 8, 2013, at 7:31 PM
  • There is something that can be done. St. Vincent's Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the 1843 double handball court is listed as a contributing structure. The University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office that construction would not adversely affect the handball court. But this new construction will adversely affect it. If the University is using any federal funding for this project, the SHPO must review and comment on their plans -- and has the right to require mitigation. I will bring this matter to the attention of the Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation during our meeting on February 8 in Jefferson City. In the meantime, citizens are welcome to contact the State Historic Preservation Office in Jefferson City.

    -- Posted by bstepenoff on Thu, Jan 10, 2013, at 10:16 AM