USA > Illinois > Alexander County > Alexander County profiles, a compilation of essays on Alexander County history > Part 8
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Two of the first men to realize the need for bridges at Cairo were E. A. Smith, a merchant-farmer, and John C. Fisher, the editor and publisher of the Cairo newspaper. During the early 1920's, Smith sought to have the federal government build a Y-shaped bridge to connect the states of Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri at Cairo. Fisher, in turn, gave strong support to Smith's idea through his newspaper by arousing the interest of the people in the Cairo area. Finally, a bill for the bridge was proposed to Congress but the federal government flatly turned it down because of the great cost. Consequently, Cairo's hope for the Y-shaped bridge was slowly and relunctantly abandoned.
Beginning to make headway, however, was a new idea; to build a bridge across one river, then later build another over the second river.
The memorable Florida and Gulf Coast development, which caused thousands of motorists to move from the North to the South through the natural gateway of Cairo, greatly helped gain support for a bridge at Cairo.
Harry E. Bovay, who had once constructed a toll bridge in Ar- kansas, one day crossed the ferry from Missouri into Illinois and saw the need for a highway bridge across the Mississippi River at Cairo. Immediately, he went to see the Cairo Association of Commerce, whose officials quickly approved the idea. With the cooperation of local bankers, who financed $2,500,000 of the cost, and the citizens of Cairo and the surrounding area, who raised $600,000 for the project, the Mis- sissippi River Bridge was finally completed in 1929. Dedicated by Governor Louis L. Emmerson of Illinois on October 18th of that year, this was the first toll bridge at Cairo.
From its beginning, however, the Mississippi River Bridge met with continual bad luck. The first blow came when the Florida and Gulf Coast boom ceased, thus decreasing the revenue from tolls. The stock market crash of 1929, however, delivered the knockout punch. Many local investors in the stock of the bridge lost all but a small per cent of their invesment. But, a least, Cairo had a bridge across the Mis- sissippe River.
In the late 1930's, however, revenue from tolls steadily increased, and it seemed that the bridge would succeed at last. Thus, the Cairo Bridge Commission, established by Congress in 1934, received authority from the federal government to purchase the bridge from the local investors so that it could be freed after the remaining debt was paid. The commission was also given authority to build a bridge across the Ohio River at Cairo.
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Thus the Ohio River Bridge was completed on November 11, 1938. Cairo's dream of two bridges was finally realized!
The Ohio River Bridge always carried heavier traffic than the bridge over the Mississippi River. Thus, it paid off its indebtedness of $3,115,000 in the remarkably short time of ten years, and it would have been freed before that had not World War II caused a great decline in traffic. Consequently, the Ohio River Bridge was opened free to the public in 1948.
The Mississippi River Bridge, however, did not fare as easily. Al- though the freeing of the Ohio River Bridge added to its traffic, the bills still could not be paid completely. The Cairo Bridge Commission worked diligently to increase movement over the bridge. They per- suaded shippers to route their trucks over the bridge; even the federal government helped the fate of the bridge by giving it support and ac- claim. Consequently, the bills were finally paid, and in May, 1954, Governor William G. Stratton of Illinois and a representative of the governor of Missouri jointly cut the ribbons which freed the Missis- sippi Bridge.
Today, the two steel structures, Cairo's dream for 40 years, are crossed daily by 15.000 to 18,000 cars and trucks. Each with its shiny silver surface adorns the last bit of Illinois ground which a person sees going south and the first bit of Illinois land which a tourist sees proceeding north. From either, a traveller can also see two of the mightiest rivers in the nation flow together to form an even mightier river; the black, muddy waters of the Mississippi and the clearer, bluer waters of the Ohio.
Cairo is proud to be the site for the meeting of these two powerful rivers, but it is even prouder to be one of the few cities in the nation to have such excellent bridge service for the public's use.
CAIRO PUBLIC LIBRARY-GIFT OF CULTURE AND INSPIRATION By DENISE WATKINS
Introduction
Occupying its sixteen lots with pride the Cairo Public Library stands tall and stately amid a shady, restful, tree-filled lawn as if it somehow realizes its grave importance explained so well in the words of John M. Lansden in his History of Cairo: "It would be hard to find an institution which has been more useful to the community in which it exists."
History
This fine library is situated at 1609 Washington Avenue in the A. B. Safford Memorial Building in the city of Cairo at the southernmost tip of Illinois. As early as February 9, 1877, the Woman's Club and Library Association of Cairo organized it. In the beginning it operated in a one room building on the Ohio River levee. Then in July, 1877, Mrs. Alfred B. Safford, the daughter of a prominent citizen of Cairo and a member of the Woman's Club, bought the present site and had the building erected as a memorial to her deceased husband. The half block on which the building was erected was formerly a part of
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Lake Edwards during high water. The Woman's Club gave its collec- tion of books (about 1,500) which now number some 31,000 volumes In return, a room in the building was given to the Woman's Club to use for their meetings. Mrs. Safford specified that the library should be governed by a board of directors composed of four men and five women (the latter being members of the Woman's Club).
Growth
Since its founding, the Cairo Public Library has grown enormously. Following the death of Mrs. L. L. Powell, the first librarian, her friends gave money for the erection of a bronze tablet. the addition of a chil- dren's room (the Powell Memorial Room); and the remodeling of the entrance. Then after the death of the second librarian, Miss Effie A. Lansden, in 1941, another bronze tablet was erected and the reference reading room (the Lansden Memorial Room) was added. During its
eighty years of operation only four librarians have served: Mrs. Powell, Miss Lansden, Miss Elizabeth Hilboldt, and Mrs. Evelyn J. Sny- der, the present librarian. Through the years bequests ranging from $100 to $5,000, historical documents and pamphlets, and shelves of me- morial books have been given. This is evidence that the citizens of Cairo are extremely proud of their highly rated library. The Cairo Public Library is credited by the library authority in Illinois with hav- ing one of the finest collections of books south of Springfield, and they compare favorably with any library of its size in the state. The books are of two major types: reference and circulating. Its file of local newspapers dates from 1848 and has been microfilmed. The library purchases new sets of encyclopedias periodically and replaces its Atlases as soon as new editions are available. Bound volumes of many magazines such as Harper's Atlantic Monthly and National Geographic date back to their first issue. By cooperating with area schools the li- brary has certain colleges using its wealth of material for the assign- ment of term papers, and its large circulation leads the region.
Description
The construction of the A. B. Safford Memorial Building began il 1882 by Lancaster and Rice Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, Mis- souri, and was completed in 1883. Few changes have been made in the lovely Queen Ann Architecture. Its exterior on the north, east, and south sides consist of two-toned glazed brick. The west side, of much cheaper brick, allowed for growth of the city and enlargement of the building. The windows, quoting from the Cairo Bulletin of July 22, 1884, "are broader than they are long," unique for the period. The niches on either side of the entrance doors hold bronze statues of Cleo, the Greed muse of history, and Concordia, a Roman goddess; which were presented to Mrs. Safford by citizens of Cairo in gratitude. The building now contains an "unfinished" basement; the first floor with the vestibule, the hall, the wide staircase, the reading rooms, the charge desk, the stack room, and the librarian's office; the second floor with a large square hall, the Woman's Club Room for meetings which is also an art gallery, a Woman's Club kitchen, an auditorium with a high ceiling of walnut, oak, and gum Paneling, and a historical reference room; and a small attic. The reading rooms are done in cheerful yellow and white with rubber tile floors. The children's read ing room contains small shelves, and small tables and chairs in Chi- nese red decorated to please the taste of the "Junior patrons." Miss Mary Halliday, formerly of Cairo, gave the lovely Janet Scudder bronze statue fountain "The Fighting Boys" which frames the en-
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trance of one of the most beautiful spots in Cairo. Some twenty-five paintings and much lovely statuary completes the picture and the cost is sustained by a municipal tax.
Remodeling
At the present time, 1963, the building is undergoing a fine re- modeling. A large fireproof addition has been added to the west side of the building as the new stack room, and will contain all the adult books. It is made of brick, concrete, and steel with beautiful lighting, movable shelving, and a vault for valuable maps and books. The old stack room is being remodeled into a reading room for adults and of - fice and workroom for the staff, but the furnishings and shelving will be of the same period as the building.
Conclusion
In the words of Mr. Rendleton Herring, president of the Social Science Research Council: "The public library in the United States is taken for granted. Predominantly local in character, both in support and management, it is deeply rooted in our national heritage. The community stands for much that is cherished in our tradition of equal educational opportunity and freedom of thought and communication. It takes its place along side the courthouse, the school, the church. and the town hall as an integral part of the American scene." The Cairo Public Library is the center of inspiration. Although all th ideals and ambitions of its founders haven't been realized yet, its his- tory is one of honorable service to the community for nearly eighty years.
THE LAST LINK By DARYL LYNN WATSON
Shortly after the Civil War General Clark E. Carr wrote "Someday Cairo will be the largest city on this continent, and the time is sure to come when Cairo will be the largest city in the world." This obser- vation was based on Cairo's location at the confluence of the Missis- sippi and Ohio rivers. But with the coming of locomotion, river trade lost much of its value and this prediction failed to materialize.
Since pioneer days the people of Cairo-"The Gateway to the South" dreamed of the time when their city would be connected to its neighboring states, Kentucky and Missouri, by bridges. Part of this dream was realized in 1929 when a bridge was constructed over the Mississippi River to join this Southern Illinois peninsula with south- eastern Missouri. Yet to come was the link with Kentucky. This would be quite an undertaking for the "Beautiful Ohio", usually serene and peaceful, could become a raging torrent when fed with rains and snow from its northern shores. During severe winters its channels were choked with ice floes that could damage a bridge immeasurably. Any structure spanning its waters must be built to withstand its fury.
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But the people were determined, and on a fall day in 1933, a group of Cairo and Kentucky citizens gathered among the cottonwood trees that lined the Illinois shoreline, and turned the first earth for what was to become the magnificent Ohio River Bridge.
It took years of labor, but when completed in 1938, the Ohio River Bridge was decidedly a success. It was a massive structure the total length being 5,865 feet. The length of the Kentucky approach was 2,464 feet, the Illinois approach was 571 feet, and the length of the main river spans was 2,830 feet.
The piers sunk 60 feet in the sandy river bed and made of rein- forced concrete were 183 feet high. The tallest pier, 290 feet-was equal to the height of a 30 story building. All piers had openings or windows for appearance, to lighten the weight, and lessen resistance to floating ice.
Clearance under the bridge was 57 feet, with the highest known water in 1937, and 116 feet at low water.
The total weight of concrete used in construction was 56,400 tons and weight of structural steel was 6,700 tons.
In case of violent temperature changes, provision was made so that it was possible for the bridge to expand or contract 4.9 feet length- wise, in accordance with the weather conditions.
The cost of this long anticipated link between Illinois and Ken- tucky was approximately 3,000,000 dollars. This expense was shared by the Public Works Administration and the states of Illinois and Kentucky.
On November morning in 1938 officials of Illinois and Kentucky participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, thus opening the bridge to traffic. With this action a silent farewell was bid to the now unneeded ferryboats which had been the source of transportation across the river for many years. An estimated 80,000 persons congregated in Cairo for the dedication festivities.
The bridge was successfully operated on a toll basis for 10 years. Then on Armistice Day, November 11, 1948, bridge-freeing ceremonies were held in Cairo, and toll charges were removed from the Ohio River Bridge. Now the people of Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri were united in friendship and commerce through Cairo-the City of Bridges.
EARLY SCHOOLS OF CAIRO By BILL WINTER
Introduction
During the existence of the Holbrook administration from 1836 to 1842, when the population ranged from less than a hundred to two thousand people, there were, no doubt, one or two schools in Cairo. There is no real record about these schools; but in 1864 a short history
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was written which named one or two individuals who taught school here then. To understand this better we will have to know a little more on the history of the schools.
In 1853 the first trustees of schools were elected. At the begin- ning of the year they had no school-house, and their first step was to apply to the legislature for money obtained from the sale of school lands for the erection of a school house. On the 10th day of February, 1853, the Legislature passed the act they requested. Under this act the Trustees had to have the vote of the people before they could build a school. The voters assembled on the 21st day of May, they voted for a new school not costing over 500 dollars. On May 31, 1853, a contract was given to build a new school, twenty-five by forty-five feet and twelve feet high.
Charles T. Lind was the first to teach at this school on September 1, 1853. The building was used for sixty-five years. This first school has been gone for some time.
Two of the schools of Cairo are Douglas, which was located on Walnut Street between Douglas and Fourteenth Streets, and was erected in 1864. The other is Safford School, erected in 1867.
It was not until the year 1865 that the Trustees chose a superin- tendent of schools was Mr. E. A. Angel, who was in charge from 1865 to the summer of 1866.
Three of the older schools of Cairo are Douglas, located in the down town area; Safford, midtown, and Lincoln, which served the up town area. Douglas was built in 1864, Safford in 1867-Safford was first used as a combination grade and High school. It was located in the middle area of town so it could be easily reached by high school students from all parts of town and grade school children of the im- mediate area.
There were also a number of private schools in Cairo during early times. The Catholics maintained a "Female Academy of the Sisters of Loretto" known as the Loretto Academy. The academy was built on the western side of Cairo, opened in October, 1864, and patronized largely by the people of Cairo, however it did draw students from nearby areas. Later the school was discontinued and the Catholic schools, from primary including high school, were placed in the Church itself. A second private school was operated by the Lutheran Church. German was taught in this school. These schools were open to any who wished to attend. This school was also discontinued and no provision was made for those attending other than public schools.
This essay has attempted to provide a brief glimpse of education in the past years of Cairo and to give some idea as to the growth of the Cairo school system. Truly, Cairo has tried through the years to give its people a better and more liberal education.
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CAIRO SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION
Mrs. H. N. Thistlewood Chairman
Rev. Bascom Hopkins
Co-chairman
James Bourland
Herman Hirsch
Fred E. Lehning Dr. Robert Williams
Carl Worthington
Note: All members of this Commission have received awards from the Illinois Sesquicentennial Commission for their interest and effort.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.3999AL27 C001 ALEXANDER COUNTY PROFILES CAIRO
3 0112 025400901
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