HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OF RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES
IN WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI
Prepared for Office of Historic Preservation P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102
Prepared by Show-Me Regional Planning Commission P.O. Box
348 Warrensburg, Missouri 64093 December 1983
HISTORIAN'S OVERVIEW: THE DEVELOPMENT OF WARRENSBURG
Warrensburg is rather unique in several ways. The original town was settled in
1836 on what is known today as "old town hill. The town developed
around a square lined by many businesses. Several hotels were built and the
town began to ·thrive. Housing construction started in this area but most of
the early homes have disappeared. Two antebellum houses which remain have been
greatly altered. The best early building that survives is the old courthouse,
which was built in 1838. Subsequently used as a school, a church and as a
residence for many years, it has been restored to its courthouse design. When
the Pacific Railroad (Missouri Pacific-Amtrak) was completed to Warrensburg in
1864, it came through at a lower elevation than the original settlement. As a
result, many of the businesses moved off the hill. A rivalry existed for some
time between the two factions but eventually the lowlanders prevailed. Quoting
from the 1881 History of Johnson County, 11 The present new town is crouched
away among hills and dales as if hiding from the sight of the once thrifty
little city on the hill. 11 Warrensburg also is rather unique in that many of
its nicer early homes have been destroyed. Three of the major reasons are (1)
college expansion, (2) shopping mall construction and (3) downtown parking lots
and buildings. When these are added to the natural progression of remodeling
and modernization, the total loss is extensive. Some photographs 1/1 of these
"lost architectural tributes" have survived and serve as testimony to
their existence. But they also are painful reminders of loss. During the survey
process, one often wonders how many architectural examples have been
represented but are now irretrievably lost. Warrensburg should have a Second
Empire style house, but does not. It does have an example of a Prairie School
type, but evidently this style did not become popular in Warrensburg for there
seems to be only the one. Warrensburg has its share of architectural
duplications. Some 11 twin 11 houses exist side by side while others of similar
design are across town from each other. This trend is not restricted to any one
era; there are examples from the 1870s as well as from 1910 and 1930. Others,
such as the Bradley brothers houses (Inventory Nos. 37 and 38) are of
completely different styles but have something else in common: similar roofs.
The tile for the roofs was ordered at the same time from the same source.
Others are of identical style but different materials. Where one has stucco,
for example, another of like style will have stone or wood. Information about
early architects and builders has been hard to find. County histories give
little recognition to this aspect of the town. Early newspapers sometimes
reported that a house was being built, but omitted the location. The city
directories which ordinarily would be useful in this aspect are sorely lacking,
as few people saved them for posterity. The earliest directory available is for
1895-96, although earlier ones possibly will yet be discovered. Two architects
listed in the 1895-96 directory were F. C. Hubbard and John C. Miller, but no
mention is made of specific houses they designed or built. In a 1900-01
directory, J. W. King, Daniel Hout, William Johnson, James N. Suddath and
Anderson Williams are listed as builders but again one is left wondering who
built what. One of the earliest architects and builders about whom we have
information is discussed in the biographical section of the 1881 History of
Johnson County. William Lowe started constructing houses and buildings soon
after 1866, according to the publication, and is credited with building more
than 300 structures in the county by 1881. Again, specific structures are not
mentioned. Reactions from the residents of properties surveyed vary. Some
people have been anxious to learn all they can about their homes. On the
opposite end of the spectrum, some of the nice early homes in Warrensburg are
literally ''falling in 11 around the owners, who couldn't care less about
repairing, much less preservation. Several are being used as rental units and
have been altered accordingly. Most older rental homes are not in good repair
nor does their immediate future look bright. The survey has brought out one
other noticeable fact and that is of the importance of the rock quarries just
north of town. Quarry products were used extensively locally, regionally and
nationally. The sandstone was used for foundations, retaining walls, curbing
and sidewalks and was carved for decorations; sometimes buildings and houses
were constructed totally of Warrensburg sandstone. The quarries were opened in
the 1860s and soon were among the largest in the state. Warrensburg sandstone
was one of the first stones to be extensively quarried in Missouri, and for a while
constituted one of the principal building stones in St. Louis. (See article
excerpted from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri in Section 2.) The Pickel
house was constructed in conjunction with the opening of the quarries north of
Warrensburg, and is an impressive historic house meriting special recognition.
It has been altered little and the present 1/3 owners are enthusiastic about
retaining and restoring it to its original state. Of all the homes surveyed, it
is by far the most promising for National Register eligibility and could easily
be combined with the quarries due to its close proximity. (See Pickel House
section, immediately following, for inventory survey, maps, photographs and
excerpts from journals.) A small filling station, constructed in 1928 of
Warrensburg sandstone, is adjacent to the quarries and the house and could
easily be included. In retrospect, Warrensburg still has many interesting
houses but many have been lost. Many of those which are gone were associated
with famous people. Decorative gingerbread is still well represented and is of
varied types. Some enthusiasm toward preservation is noticeable and good
examples are being set in several instances. For special recognition, the
historical importance of the quarries needs to be further investigated for
nomination possibilities.
W. T. (Tom) Christopher, Historian
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