On the Street

A downtown landmark is returning to its glory days. Four-foot-high lettering on the rear of Landers Theatre, identifying it as “Landers Orpheum Theatre,” is being restored. The sign designated the building as part of vaudeville’s preeminent Orpheum Circuit and represents Springfield’s place in the evolution of American theater. The Landers opened Sept. 18, 1909, with the production of “The Golden Girl.” The restoration is made possible by a donation from Tom Baird and through the efforts of William Brandon Bowman. Painting was slated to be complete by the end of May.

Slouching Bass Pro sales

The Associated Press reported May 18 that Bass Pro Shops’ Oklahoma City store sales were down 7.3 percent in the first four months of this year, compared to the same period in 2004. The store reported $9.56 million in sales through April, versus $10.3 million a year earlier. For the month of April, the store sold $2.1 million in merchandise, down from $2.4 million in April 2004. Under its lease arrangement with the city, Bass Pro is required to report monthly sales to the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal District. Bass Pro leases the $19 million store from the city, which funded its construction.

Johnson Education Center

St. John’s/Southwest Baptist University named its College of Nursing building, 4431 S. Fremont, the J.F. Johnson Education Center May 19. Johnson was a longtime supporter of St. John’s and an advisory board member. When Johnson died in 1999, he left the hospital a generous bequest dedicated to nursing education. The earnings from that fund, now in St. John’s Foundation for Community Health, have provided more than $1.6 million dollars in financial assistance to nearly 300 nursing students. Johnson grew up near Marshfield and worked for years for MFA, running the Springfield mill on Boonville from 1935 until his 1974 retirement. He then focused his energies on cattle, real estate investments and community activities.

Slice of Nice

The city of Springfield received honorable mention from the League of American Bicyclists for the city’s efforts in becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community. Only 16 U.S. cities received Bicycle Friendly Community awards during national Bike-to-Work Week May 16–20. Although Springfield was not among them, the committee was impressed with the city’s bike parking ordinance, the growth of the Safe Routes to School program and the development of a bicycle plan, which outlines 110 miles of roadway with bike lanes or shared lane symbols. The city promises further biking advancements.

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