Old Lorimier School celebrates new musical legacy with inaugural Kellerman Concert Series

People in Cape Girardeau know the place well, the Old Lorimier School.

It was built in 1937 and became the City Hall Building in 1978 several years after the school closed in 1975.

The site is now in the hands of Mary Ann and Bert Kellerman. The Couple’s Historic Preservation Foundation now works to showcase the building as a museum. But that’s not all. Now a new collaboration will give the building a new music legacy as well.

“Each building has a group of people connected to it,” said Mary Ann.

As she walked us down the halls, you can almost hear the sounds of the children who learned within the walls.

“We’re thrilled, we love it and it’s a wonderful building,” said Mary Ann.

“It gives us more space, we have have more variety at the same time,” said Bert Kellerman.

Now a community effort, donations are coming in to ease the burden of the estimated $600,000 cost to renovate.

“Cleaning and painting and beautiful things and artwork make a major difference,” said Mary Ann.

Kellerman Lorimier Hall will feature exhibits from the civil war, the Oliver House, the Rhinehart artwork and the Frank Nickell archive.

But it’s the new musical mission that has the Kellerman’s and another well know Cape Girardeau couple – Larry and Jean Underberg – locally famous for two and a half decades of their house concert series especially energized.

“This is a great next step,” said Larry Underberg. “This is a much larger venue than we’ve had in the house and we’ve been able to get in a really amazing band for this.”

February 2nd will mark the first show of the Kellerman Concert Series in collaboration with Underberg House Concerts.

From 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm The Kelli Baker Band will perform in what was once city council chambers.

“The Kelli Baker Band is a New York based band and all four of them are so good. The guitar player is phenomenal,” said Jean Underberg.

Mary Ann and Bert say this is only the beginning.

“We are hoping it becomes a place where we can have festivals on the lawn and much more,” said Mary Ann.

The couples say it all seems mean to be.

“With the museum and the art gallery it’s going to be just phenomenal,” said Jean.

All true, especially considering the Kellerman’s actually had a view of the building from their iconic Fountain House home for years.

“The view of city hall was a wonderful view — but it never dawned us that we would own this place,” said Mary Ann. “The buildings lead you to the people and to the stories.”

Grants and donations make the renovations possible. Donations and sponsorships also make it possible to bring new bands to Cape Girardeau.

To learn more about the Kellerman Concert Series inaugural show this Sunday and how you can donate or attend go to The Kellerman Foundation for Historic Preservation and The Underberg House Concert websites.

Both welcome sponsorships, volunteers and new collaborations.

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