by Erin Eddins, Source Publications
Earlier this week I sat down at
by Wayne Jensen, Independent writer.
With the high price of gas, I had decided to hang around St. Joe this summer, but then the kids started to drive me crazy. What’s a guy to do?? So I grabbed a cup of Joe and got to thinking about my dilemma. Then it hit me!
I remembered a couple good ol’ Joes who had discovered a solution to this problem when I was one of those over-energetic kids. Joe Detheridge (sp) and Joe Welty’s Garage wizard mechanic, Marshall Harlow, had led a parade of Joes up the highway to a place called
by Erin Eddins
Signs of summer are everywhere. It seemed a long time coming this year. Realistically I knew it would eventually happen but each day the concern grew that maybe I would never again feel the gentle burn of a 95-degree sun on my shoulders. But alas, it came. Maybe not quite to 95 just yet but 90 feels just as good.
With the trees full of leaves and the air full of the familiar scent of lavender it is certain….summer is here.
Those of you recalling my upbringing in
By Jay Kerner
I always enjoy Erin Eddins’ Old Joe pieces. It’s interesting to a local like me, how a relative newbie like her can dig out the history and little known facts that I never knew before. We’ve also heard from a lot of readers who have flipped the calendar more times than I have. I like to think of those folks as 
our historical watchdogs. They’re the ones who let us know when we get a date wrong or place a building on a wrong street corner.
They’re also quick to respond with info when we put out a request on a certain subject. A perfect example was when
Posted by: admin on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
Filed under: Jay Kerner, Old Joe, General | no comments
Filed under: Jay Kerner, Old Joe, General | no comments
by Mary Maker, Independent Writer
I was eleven years old when we moved to the house behind our restaurant. Directly across the street was Patee Park. On the corner was the “Park” Bank, next Grunwald’s pharmacy, Perry’s Grocery and our restaurant, “Bake’s Chili Parlor.” The main post office was located at 8th and Edmond but the closest neighborhood postal facility was housed in the old train station on 6th Street. It was a beautiful old brick station, nice waiting room; I seem to recall that the floors were tiled with small octagonal white tiles. There was a restaurant, today we might call it a snack bar, situated on the east wall, and rows of wooden pews for waiting travelers. The railroad station faced 6th Street, but I approached it from the rear which was paved with brick, where many hand pulled wooden baggage carts set high on iron wheels, were loaded or waiting to be loaded with luggage and freight. (Full story)
By Anne JohnsonPhotographs byNigh Johnson
Driving up behind the St. Joseph Law Enforcement Center you come to a large Beaux Arts, red brick house at 520 North 5th Street. There it stands, high on a hill overlooking the Missouri River and the surrounding areas of the city. Its flat roof is surrounded by an elaborate balustrade. The quoins on the corners of this four square building are sure to catch your eye. The symmetrical front is topped, above the center second floor window, by what appears to be a white stone block with the carved letters “U S W B”. The U and S are intertwined and the W and B share a common line. It is not obvious but the roof, balustrade and decorations are all white painted pressed tin; not stone, after all. Surely there is a story to go with this striking symbol of a by-gone era. (Full story)
by Erin Eddins, Source Publications
The city is buzzing about the school district. It has been for a while now. And it seems the buzz is not about to die down. Everyone has something to say regarding the plans to rebuild, relocate, renovate and raze a variety of the school houses we know here in town. As I mentioned last issue, I have spent some time asking a variety of folks their opinions, and more importantly for our purpose, their memories of our school district and the school houses that are no more. The most fruitful of these conversations was shared with Mr. Don Lentz, former principle of
by Erin Eddins, Source Publications
I spent a very long time thinking about what historic treasure to hunt for this edition of The Regular Joe. There were several great stories that started to unfold on the blank pages I see when I close my eyes. I began mapping out how I would tell the story of old school houses that are no longer here. Some very great contacts have been provided to me but I will need more time to further develop this story. Don’t worry, it is coming. But for now, there is a little taste of this history in this week’s feature. Still I didn’t think I was quite ready to tell that story; maybe next issue. (Full story)
by Ed Gentry, Independent Writer
The
The plug on this electric railroad was pulled in 1933 as
by Erin Eddins, Source Publications
I have to confess that writing Old Joe has really been a labor of love.The interest that I have in history, specifically that of, St. Joseph has made writing this column very entertaining for me. But it has alsoproven to be fairly difficult at times. Our city is rich with historybut not all of it is readily available information via the internet. Sothe nice folks at the St. Joseph Public Library have provided muchassistance. But what to do when they have little material on a subject? Theeasy answer is just change the topic. Hey, I’m a college graduate; Iused this philosophy to survive an awful lot of term papers. The thingis what if I like the topic I am trying to learn about? (Full story)