Any DIYer or carpenter can tell you the importance of the adage measure twice, cut once. That applies to demolitions, too. In 2013, several buildings were demolished, including a 1905 historic home, to make way for the Hagan Scholarship Academy, a residential college preparatory school for rural students. Three years later, despite the worthy plan,…
Tag: Dianna Borsi O’Brien
True losses from demolitions
Once again, historic houses look like they are slated for the wrecking ball, and the public has little recourse. Both Victorian houses at 1312 Bass Ave., and 1316 Bass Ave., have had demolition permits applied for, according to this May 6, 2016 article in the Columbia Missourian. So what can the public in Columbia, Missouri…
Civil War to today reflected in Second Missionary Baptist Church
A historic building helps society recall its history, as demonstrated by this magazine article on the 150-year-history of Second Missionary Baptist Church, now at Fourth and Broadway. Why say it is now at Fourth and Broadway? At one time, Fourth Street was called River Street for the Flat Branch waterway that now runs under Fourth…
You can save history – or at least a piece of it
If you live in Columbia, Missouri, you’ve probably heard a 1903 former hotel is coming down. But you might not know that you can help save pieces of this historic building for salvage, even, perhaps for installation elsewhere downtown in the future. Here’s a look at what can be saved and how you can help. Here’s…
Demolishing James Apartments: More than the loss of one building
Why should we care about one building being demolished? One building older than 100 years doesn’t seem like much to lose. We have lots of buildings, right? Yes and no. This Feb. 16, 2016 article by Brittany Crocker with photos by Mikala Compton published in the Columbia Missourian explains why the loss of one building…
121 Tenth St., historic building slated for demolition
The James Apartment building is slated to be demolished to make room for more student apartments. Yes, today, the James Apartment is a slightly seedy looking apartment building, but it wasn’t always. And contrary to what the developer says in this Columbia Tribune Feb. 7, 2015 piece, that buildings can’t be repurposed, indeed, the James…
Why historic homes matter
Why should we save historic homes? Why do I care about historic homes? Because those walls of wood or brick encapsulate the stories of the people who lived in them, stories which could become lost without those nail and mortar reminders. How do I know this? A recent article headlined “Ceremony celebrates black Union veteran,”…
Mystery ghost tour of MU in photos
Did you have to miss last night’s ghost tour? Here’s a photo/text peek at the tour which was hosted by Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission. The tour discussed the ghosts and mysteries associated with the Residence on the Quad, the Columns as the remains of Academic Hall, where the Shack once stood, McAlester Hall, the Conley…
Horsey history here
Were you too busy to take in the Boone County Stables Tour this past weekend? Not to worry, the Columbia Historic Homes website has you covered. Here are links to information on the Stephens Stables with photos and history about these stables which were built in 1939 and 1952. This history is important because first it…
Scary history on display Oct. 28, 2015
There’s more to history than old buildings — there are the tales within. Those tales, scary and otherwise, will be on display in a history tour set for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. The Columbia Historic Preservation Commission holds historic tours periodically. The most recent was Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. Several more are scheduled…
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