Cape tour points out architectural highlights of downtown

About 85 people gathered in front of Old St. Vincent's Church Wednesday evening for the Historic Preservation Walk downtown.

The Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission held the walk in recognition of National Preservation Month, and this year's theme for the monthlong celebration, "This Place Matters!"

Led by Dr. Frank Nickell and Hallie Fieser of Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Regional History and Scott House of the Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission, the walking tour highlighted the historic structures and storefronts along and near Main Street.

Nickell began the tour at old St. Vincent's Church.

"This is one example of a superb restoration and preservation project and an absolute treasure for Cape," he said.

House said the magnificent church came close to being torn down when the new St. Vincent's Church was opened in the west part of town in 1976. A small core of dedicated parishioners saved and restored the church.

"We kind of take some of these buildings for granted," House said. "Someone worked to save these buildings; that is why this church is still with us."

Nickell explained the history of the B'Nai Israel Synagogue and its unusual location next to the Catholic church. The story caught the interest of some residents, such as Harvey and Lea Hecht.

"I was often curious about the juxtaposition of the church and the synagogue," Harvey Hecht said.

Nickell said that in the early 20th century, the Jewish community met in various locations, including a pavilion at Capaha Park. In the 1930s, local resident Isaac Becker went back to eastern Germany, where his father passed on to him a 450-year-old Torah.

But he left the Torah at the park one night when the pavilion burned down, destroying the Torah. Nickell said the event scared the Jewish community so much that they had to seek out a "steady place of worship." St. Vincent's Church, he said, sold the adjoining land and let the Jewish community build a synagogue.

"It was a wonderful demonstration of fellowship from this church," Nickell said.

In 1937, the synagogue was constructed based upon a picture of a Middle Eastern synagogue. Fieser said the building features strong Moorish and Islamic influences, demonstrated by the "ogee arches" and "onion dome."

Paul Giebler, a retired history professor at Southeast, said he enjoyed learning more about the architecture.

"By looking at old buildings, especially in old river towns, you can learn a lot about the people, too," Giebler said. "Cities like New York don't have the same communal feel."