Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
1880
The Coming of The Railroad
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
1. 1880 Marker
Inscription.
1880. The Coming of The Railroad. After earlier attempts to build a railroad to Cape Girardeau failed, local attorney Louis Houck made an arrangement with creditors to bring a railroad into the city by midnight of January 1,1881. If he could do so, he would acquire clear title to the properties of the failed railroad. Running short of rails and time, Houck divided men into two crews - one building from the west, the other from the east. His men borrowed rails and ties form the abandoned rail line to the north and were able to build sufficient tracks to connect with the crew coming from Delta. Slowly the engine move forward. Te last rail was put in place one hour before midnight, and the engine arrived in a sleeping Cape Girardeau at 2 a.m. on New Year's Day. Cape Girardeau had a railroad!, Panel Sponsor: , Kent Zickfield , Zickfield's Jewelry and the Zickfield family, a part of the Downtown Cape Girardeau business district and supporter of community activities since 1939, sponsored this panel in memory of William August Zickfield.
After earlier attempts to build a railroad to Cape Girardeau failed, local attorney Louis Houck made an arrangement with creditors to bring a railroad into the city by midnight of January 1,1881. If he could do so, he would acquire clear title to the properties of the failed railroad. Running short of rails and time, Houck divided men into two crews - one building from the west, the other from the east. His men borrowed rails and ties form the abandoned rail line to the north and were able to build sufficient tracks to connect with the crew coming from Delta. Slowly the engine move forward. Te last rail was put in place one hour before midnight, and the engine arrived in a sleeping Cape Girardeau at 2 a.m. on New Year's Day. Cape Girardeau had a railroad!
Panel Sponsor:
Kent Zickfield
Zickfield's Jewelry and the Zickfield family, a part of the Downtown Cape Girardeau business district and supporter of community activities since 1939, sponsored this panel in memory of William August Zickfield.
Erected by Mississippi River Tales, River Heritage Mural Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1881.
Location. 37° 18.279′ N, 89° 31.063′ W.
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Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. Marker is at the intersection of North Water Street and Themis Street, on the left when traveling south on North Water Street. Marker is located along the Mississippi River Tales Mural covering the downtown floodwall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19 N Water St, Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Mississippi River (a few steps from this marker); Filburn & Sloan Commission House (a few steps from this marker); Justice for the Common Man (a few steps from this marker); 1875 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1870 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1863 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1861 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1838 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 172 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on August 31, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
