Preservation in the News — September

September 2020

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This #TransformationTuesday is the Berry Wholesale Grocery building in downtown Columbia, MO! This rehab project received a Preserve Missouri Award in 2011. … "The Berry Wholesale Grocery building is one of the largest historic warehouses left in downtown Columbia. The two story mass expands to three stories as the lot slopes down to the old Wabash railroad tracks. At the start of the project, the building was nearly empty and in very poor condition. Roof leaks made the upper floor unusable. The rehabilitation revitalized the building, installing chic loft apartments in the upper floor, a prominent local art gallery at the street level, and a full-service fitness center in the lower level. Paint was removed from the brick walls, exposing an original painted sign. The long-obscured storefront was carefully reconstructed to restore the historic character of the building. The result is sure to spark more revitalization in this growing Columbia arts district." … #ThisPlaceMatters #stcharlesmo #missourhistory #historicstcharles #historicrehab #savingplaces #oldbuildingsmatter

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September 4
Missouri Preservation’s Executive Director, Bill Hart, speaks on historic preservation advocacy for Virtual Cultural Heritage Workshop series hosted by Missouri Humanities Council. View video here.

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This #TransformationTuesday is the Commerce Building in downtown Sedalia, recipient of a 2012 Preserve Missouri Award. "During the depths of the recession, the Commerce Building underwent a dramatic rehabilitation that transformed the building, created affordable housing for families, and brought a shot of vitality to downtown Sedalia. For over a century following its construction in 1896-97, the building was home to a variety of retail tenants and professional offices. An expansion in the 1920s nearly doubled the frontage on Ohio Avenue, but matched the height and architectural features of the original building. Storefronts and interior finishes were modernized over time, most notably in the 1920s and again after World War II. Despite the various upgrades, the Commerce Building retained many unique historic elements that were sensitively preserved during the rehabilitation. Some apartment units have pressed metal ceilings and cast iron columns; distinctive tile floors, windows and doors were retained in the upper story corridors; and historic stair cases were retained. State and federal historic tax credits helped restore vitality to this building, which in turn has sparked interest in renovating other buildings in the Sedalia business district." #thisplacematters #sedaliamo #oldbuildingsmatter #historicrehab #savingplaces #historicmainstreet

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September 10
Daniel Boone Bicentennial in Defiance.

September 10
Graham Cave State Park hosts archaeology day.

September 10
Petition to save the 1900 Block of Olive in St. Louis

September 15
Missouri Preservation’s Executive Director, Bill Hart, to speak on Places in Peril program for “Archaeology Around the World” series with St. Louis Public Library. Registration is free but required. Click here to register.

September 15
“The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is encouraging stakeholders along Route 66 to consider taking advantage of two different grant opportunities offered via the National Trust for Historic Preservation.Access the attached press release from The Road Ahead for details. Funding for projects is available, so check out these opportunities.”


September 16
Poster sale to sustain the historic Gillioz Theater in Springfield

September 16
110-year-old building, former home of Rose Bed Inn, demolished in Cape Girardeau. When asked why he would tear down a historic building, the owner replied, “Why not?”

September 16
Said to be the tallest Corinthian column in the world, the Grand Avenue Water Tower is being preserved in St. Louis

September 21
Front and Center: The Historic Marceline Depot

September 21
Looking for Diversity Scholarship Applicants in Missouri for the National Trust’s PastForward Conference!The Diversity Scholarship Program (DSP) introduces new preservation leaders to the historic preservation community each year at the PastForward conference. Learn more here https://savingplaces.org/diversity-scholarship…
At the PastForward Conference (https://savingplaces.org/conference#.X2jFDmhKjIV), scholars will hear from expert speakers who will provide practical, relevant information to meet their evolving needs in the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Featuring the themes Resilience and Relevance, PastForward Online 2020 will feature more than 32 sessions on topics such as racial justice and equity, dealing with the effects of the pandemic, climate change, the challenges facing America’s main streets, and many more. Scholars will be inspired to think through what these changes mean for you as an individual, and for organizations.

September 23
Missouri Joins Historic Marker Program

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This #TransformationTuesday is the Wilhoit Building in Springfield, recipient of a 2008 Preserve Missouri Award. … "Since 1926, the Wilhoit Building has been one of the largest commercial blocks in downtown Springfield. Built for local oil magnate Edward M. Wilhoit, the Wilhoit Building housed his company for decades. Other early tenants included the Draghoun Business College and the Dillon Brothers Packard Automobile Agency. By 2005, the ground floor automobile service bays had low, dropped ceilings and small rooms, while the upper floors contained a maze of partitions. That year, the Matt Miller Company began a major rehabilitation of the building. The project restored, and in some cases reconstructed, all of the commercial storefronts and carefully replicated an early vehicular door on the north wall. Original terra cotta was cleaned. New windows installed on the north elevation complement the original fenestration. On the rear elevation, construction of a new brick retaining wall and stair structures redefines the elevation and provides better access to the second-floor apartments and to parking. The ground floor now houses retail shops, restaurants, and a large office tenant, while thirty-two spacious apartments fill the second floor. The rundown, partly vacant property is once again a vibrant element of Springfield’s revitalized downtown." … #springfieldMo #oldbuildingsmatter #thisplacematters #historicrehab #savingplaces #missourhistory

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September 24
The Hall of Waters in Excelsior Springs, Missouri was built as PWA Project #5252 in 1934. In 2019 it was listed as a Missouri Place in Peril. It has been included in this year’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places announced by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Read more here.

September 24
Public invited to Defiance to celebrate Daniel Boone on 200th anniversary of his death.

September 25
Arrow Rock State Historic Site hosts Santa Fe Trail encampment Oct. 10-11

September 28
Did you miss Bill’s talk at the St. Louis Library on our Places in Peril program? View the video on the library’s Youtube!