The home at 704 Westmount is up for sale, giving curious folks like me an opportunity to peek inside. Here‘s the House of Brokers’ virtual tour of the home, which is priced at $689,000. So why does the headline mention peanut brittle? Three homes were built in 1907 in Columbia that carry that descriptive name…
Author: diannaobrien
History blogger. Writer. Traveler. Curiosity drives me. I share what I learn at CoMoHistoricPlaces.com. My newest book, Historic Movie Theaters of Columbia, came out in October 2021. My 2017 book, From Melon Fields to Moon Rocks highlighted the life of Columbia resident Charles W. Gehrke, 1917-2009, a scientist and entrepreneur who founded ABC Labs, now Eurofins.
Heibel-March building at 900-902 Range Line faces demolition
Once again, the Heibel-March building at 900-902 Range Line is facing demolition. And once again, this proves the axiom that the way to save a historic building is to put it to work. Built in 1910, according to the a May 23, 2012 article in the Columbia Daily Tribune, the building faces an August 1, 2012 deadline…
June 11-13, 2012: See and hear history – Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival
On June 11, 12 and 13, 2012, you’ll have a chance to see — and hear — history. The Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival includes concerts as well as free, open to the public events. But where’s the history? What’s the historic home part of this festival? Ah, I can answer that. 1….
Money matters: Meeting on benefits of historic preservation
A billion, with a B. That’s how much historic preservation in Missouri contributes to the state’s gross state product according to a 2002 by the Center for Urban Policy Research, Rutgers University. Now, the city of Columbia is inviting the public to look over a study designed to tabulate how much local historic preservation benefits the city’s economy….
Demolition Delay Efforts
This report by KOMU notes that Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission can’t prohibit the demolition of buildings by property owners — but they can delay approving the demolition permit in the hopes of finding a way to work with the building owner and saving a historic structure. The report quotes Brian Treece, HPC chair, as saying…
May 5 concert gives history buffs a two-fer experience
On May 5, 2012, history buffs will be given a two-fold historic opportunity, according to this article by Bill Clark in the Columbia Daily Tribune. A three-hour concert (!) will be held in the Second Baptist Church at 407 E. Broadway, to benefit the renovation of the John William “Blind” Boone home, which is within…
2012 Most Notable Properties Gala, Feb. 7, 2012
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, a gala to celebrate Columbia, Missouri’s Most Notable Properties will be held in the lobby of City Hall at 701 E. Broadway. The event is open to the public. The event has been previewed in both the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Daily Tribune in articles published on Feb. 6,…
Historic home, “fairy-tale house,” for rent
The house at 121 N. West Blvd., is now a rental property — and that’s good news. As I’ve quoted historic consultant Deb Sheals saying before, the way to save a historic property is to put it to work. That’s exactly what has happened to this 100-year-old house. Built in 1911 by Arch McCard, the…
New life at Guitar Mansion, 2815 Oakland Gravel Road
By either name, Guitar Mansion or Confederate Hill, the house at 2815 Oakland Gravel Road is seeing new life as a single-family home once again. Planned for use as a bed and breakfast at one time, in 2010, the house was purchased and has been returned to its original use as a single-family home. See…
10 N. Fourth Street – Concert of J.W. “Blind” Boone
10 N. Fourth St., is a historic home, once the home of J.W. “Blind” Boone, a blind, black pianist who against all odds was a nationally known musician. He lived from 1864-1927. His home is slated to become a museum. According a notice on the blog of University Avenue Bed & Breakfast at 1315 University…
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