Old Stuff and Ancient Paths
In writing about our recent trip to Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, I have mentioned what a great job its citizens have done to preserve their heritage.
They have even restored the monuments and markers in their Memorial Cemetery.
This work must be ongoing because Ray and I saw our first ever cemetery engraving and restoration trailer.
Buildings all over the historic downtown area have signs telling the age of the building. Some are special signs with additional information, such as the Old Brick House which is now a restaurant. Constructed in 1785, it is one of the first brick buildings built west of the Mississippi River.
Many buildings have matching wooden signs that tell when the structure was constructed and who was the first owner. Obviously someone made an organized effort to do this at some time in the past. Many were built after Americans and German immigrants began moving into Sainte Genevieve. Here are some examples.
1850 Home and Clinic of Dr. Charles Hertich, now an Airbnb
1849 Home of Dr. Anton Klemmer
1865 Home of John Hael
Even Sara’s Ice Cream Shop was built in 1851. Its owner was Firmin Rozier. Rozier is one of the old French surnames of Sainte Genevieve, . . .
. . . as is Sara’s last name which is Menard.
Sara said she has run the shop for 41 years. Then she corrected herself. She guesses it is really 40 years because downtown businesses were closed in 1993 because of that year’s devastating flood. We heard about the 1993 Mississippi River flood again and again during our trip. Even that flood wasn’t enough to stop the citizens of Sainte Genevieve from taking care of their heritage.
Sara’s Ice Cream Shop is packed with fun old stuff.
I guess every book about home organization advises that we throw out lots of our old stuff. It’s wise advice in many circumstances. Still, I’m thankful that not everyone has done that with everything since the beginning of world history. We can learn lots of lessons from those old things. Ray and I certainly enjoyed the old things of Sainte Genevieve.
Sometimes it’s the oldest things that matter most. God inspired Jeremiah to warn the Israelites of the great danger of leaving the ancient paths He had lovingly provided for them. Thank you for warning your children about that, too.
Thus says the Lord,
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you will find rest for your souls.”
But they said, “We will not walk in it.”
Jeremiah 6:16
“For My people have forgotten Me,
They burn incense to worthless gods
And they have stumbled from their ways,
From the ancient paths,
To walk in bypaths,
Not on a highway . . .”
Jeremiah 18:15