HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OF RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES IN WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI 1983

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