Cape preservation commission releases list of endangered buildings

The Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday announced its list of the city's most endangered buildings in hopes of raising awareness about the buildings' uncertain futures.

There are 11 properties on the list, all in varying degrees of disrepair. According to Bill Eddleman, a member and previous chairman of the preservation commission, the "endangered" title given to these buildings does not mean they are beyond restoration.

"These buildings may be on the list because they've not been used in many years and have fallen into a state of disrepair, or they may have structural problems," he said. "However, there are several buildings that, with a little effort, could come off the list in the future."

One building that Eddleman expects to soon come off the list is the Fort D Blockhouse, 920 Fort St. Built in 1936, the building is primarily used for Civil War living history demonstrations.

The Cape Girardeau City Council recently approved funding to repair the blockhouse and construct a new roof. Eddleman said this improvement alone is enough to bump the property off the endangered list.

Other features the commission takes into consideration when creating the list is the uniqueness of a building's architecture and its location.

Kage School - 3110 Kage Road (Laura Simon)

"These old buildings are part of what makes Cape unique," Eddleman said. "Many of them also have a historical significance or their location may convey an important time in history."

The Esquire Theater, 824 Broadway, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, is among those properties with "unique" architectural properties. The theater was in operation from 1947 to 1984 and featured an Art Deco design with more than 1 mile of neon lights, according to the preservation commission news release.

Eddleman said many people may not be aware of the significance of buildings like the Esquire, which is part of the reason the commission began the endangered list.

"Our major goal is awareness and education," he said. "When people are aware that these buildings are here and that they're in dire straits, hopefully they'll want to make more of an effort to rehabilitate them."

Of course, not all buildings can be saved, Eddleman said. While it is unfortunate to see a building demolished, he said he and the other members understand some are beyond repair. Hopefully, the list can prevent other buildings from reaching such a deteriorated state, he said.

"I think we have seen some success in saving buildings since we put out the list," Eddleman said. "Look at the old Hanover school, for example. People really stepped up to save that building and the church put forth a really great effort there to restore it."

The Hanover Lutheran School was saved from demolition last year and preserved as an original school house museum in Cape Girardeau. It remains one of only a few Missouri one-room schoolhouses remaining in its original state. The building was on the preservation committee's 2012 Endangered Buildings List but removed after its restoration.

Eddleman said he hopes to see these types of success stories become more common.

"I'm a third generation Cape Girardian," he said. "There are still many parts of town where these buildings are located that still look the same as they did when I was a kid, they just have new life breathed in to them. It wouldn't be the same if they became parking lots or the modern square buildings you see everywhere today."

The 2013 Endangered Buildings List:

• Broadway Theater, 805 Broadway
• Esquire Theater, 824 Broadway
• Fort D Blockhouse, 920 Fort St.
• Kage School, 3110 Kage Road
• Lorimier Apartments, 150 S. Lorimier St.
• P.H. Dempsey Buildings, 127 N. Water St.
• Sturdivant Bank, 101 N. Main St.
• Woolworth's Store, 1 N. Main St.
• 635 Good Hope St.
• 15 S. Frederick St.
• 127 S. Lorimier St.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

920 Fort St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

824 Broadway St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

805 Broadway St., Cape Girardeau, MO

3110 Kage Road, Cape Girardeau, MO

150 S. Lorimier St., Cape Girardeau, MO

127 N. Water St., Cape Girardeau, MO

101 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO

1 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO

635 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, MO

15 S. Frederick St., Cape Girardeau, MO

127 S. Lorimier St., Cape Girardeau, MO