
Haarig Commercial District
Bird's Eye View of Cape Girardeau, 1880.
Individual drumming in Haarig Commercial District, c. 1900s.
A view into the Haarig Commercial District, c. 1928.
1874 advertisment for Charles Kaempfer's store in Cape's only German newspaper.
Charles Kaempfer and his son, William, c. 1880s.
The Weekly Tribune; January 7, 1916.
The Weekly Tribune; January 28, 1916.
The Weekly Tribune, December 13, 1918.
Inside the Miller and Kinder Drug Store, c. 1900s.
Five men pose for a photo in front of the Good Hope Saloon, 1910.
Price list from the Haas Bros. Saloon, located at 635 Good Hope.
Cape Girardeau Democrat; February 11, 1893.
John Sciortino and unnamed daughter, c. 1900s.
Sciortino with his cart, c. 1910.
The Weekly Tribune; May 8th, 1914.
Cape County Democrat; August 29, 1918.
Location of the bank along Good Hope Street.
The employees and officers of the bank in the 1920s.
Farmer and Merchant’s local ownership and family values drew customers and workers alike from Cape’s other banks. Throughout periods of wealth, war, and depression, the bank put the community first. They financed many milestones of adulthood; memories of the institution held by the present-day community range from opening their first checking account, getting their first job post-graduation, and cashing their first paycheck. Others remember visiting doctors, photographers, and other businesses occupying the bank’s upper floors.
Farmer and Merchant Bank's second location at 701 Good Hope Street.
The Farmer and Merchants Bank held several superlatives for Cape Girardeau. At the time of completion, its second building was named the largest bank in the city. It operated as such for 62 years until the Salvation Army acquired it in 1985. They destroyed what was at that point Cape's oldest surviving bank structure a decade later, despite major community opposition. Many saw the building as a landmark of Haarig, and were deeply saddened to see it demolished in 1995.
Nussbaum Merchandise
633 Good Hope Street
He retired from his businesses three different times; however, always returning shortly into a different line of business venture.
Henry Nussbaum Jr. was among the first generation of Nussbaums born in the United States after moving from Switzerland. His father owned and operated a furniture store in the district, which later encouraged him to follow in his father’s footsteps. After receiving little enjoyment from furniture, Nussbaum opened a general mercantile with his father at 633 Good Hope. Eventually, his father's portion of the business was taken over by his brother-in-law, Charles Stehr. Over the years, Nussbaum Jr. became connected with several different businesses; on three separate occasions, he served as owner of a grocery store, general mercantile, and advertisement agency.
Henry A. Nussbaum, c. 1905.
His business ventures in Haarig allowed him to support further economic development of the neighborhood. Nussbaum was heavily involved in establishing Farmer and Merchants Bank, serving as a board member until his death in 1942. Outside of Nussbaum’s professional life, he participated in many community organizations, from the Rotary Club to the Chamber of Commerce, that allowed him to develop connections throughout the area. For over a decade, Mr. Nussbaum served as a member of the school board, Retail Merchants Association, and Cape Girardeau Special Road Commission.
Cape Girardeau Democrat; September 3, 1892.
Riding Down Good Hope
On New Years Day 1894, the people of Haarig watched as two mules slowly made their way down a dirt road, hooded wagon in tow, led by a grumbly old man - this picture captures Cape Girardeau’s first attempt at public transportation. The streetcar began at Good Hope Street, trotting along the “Big Square” that was Sprigg, Broadway, and Spanish. Housed in a barn just south of Good Hope, it's no surprise that the Haarig Commercial District contained several wagon shops in its heyday, servicing the route’s four wagons.
Invoice from Ferdiand Stimle's wagon shop, which also served as the area's polling location for city elections.
Mule-pulled wagons slowly faded away after the 1904 World’s Fair, which brought electric streetcars down from St. Louis. The trolley was a symbol of progress, showing visitors the best Cape Girardeau had to offer - the fairgrounds (Capaha Park), Southeast Missouri State University, a thriving downtown, and finally, Haarig. Popular for many years, the trolley lines were paved when cars took over the American landscape. Good Hope Street’s proximity to the 1928 traffic bridge helped bring new business from across the river, but could not save the district from falling into disrepair.
Looking east on Good Hope Street, c. 1915. Trolley can be seen within the 600 block.
Preservation and Awareness
As Cape Girardeau's businesses clustered around interstates, Haarig's growth came to a standstill. It didn't completely fade away though - many former residents attest to the vibrant culture on Good Hope in the mid 20th century. The wealth created from these German-American business owners between 1890 and 1930 made it possible for their children to become doctors and lawyers. Little by little, family businesses closed or relocated. It wasn't until the early 1990s that people began to worry; years of neglect had taken its toll on the 600 block, and buildings had begun to collapse.
Demolition on Good Hope.
Initial attempts to revitalize the area led to national recognition of its importance. In 1999, the block was added to the National Register of Historic Places, a list of locations significant to American history, due to its association with Cape Girardeau's German heritage. For the next two years, students from Southeast Missouri State University's Historic Preservation program brought more awareness to Haarig's historic resources. But these efforts could not prevent further destruction – in the last decade alone, seven buildings have been destroyed.
Demolition on Good Hope.
Twenty years on, there is a renewed interest in Good Hope Street. In 2022, historic preservation students worked together to create business proposals for the current owners of the Meyer Supply Building at 620 Good Hope that retain its historic features. Their ideas are supported by Old Town Cape, a non-profit organization revitalizing downtown Cape Girardeau. Old Town Cape sees a future for this long-neglected part of town, and offers many economic and financial tools to assist new property development within existing historic resources.
Historic Preservation students touring 620 Good Hope Street, led by Dr. Steven Hoffman.