Tag Archives: John W. “Blind” Boone

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Roots N Blues, ragtime and historic homes

It is no wonder Columbia is once again hosting the Roots N Blues N BBQ festival. This city has a long history with music.

Until 1927, J.W. “Blind” Boone lived at 10 N. Fourth Street. At the time, Boone was one of the world’s most famous musicians, according to the website of the J.W. “Blind” Boone Heritage Foundation. “Along with Scott Joplin and James Scott, Boone made up Missouri’s Big Three, the most influential musicians in the state known as the home of ragtime, the precursor of jazz,” the site states.

Hear Boone’s music by going to this link. Today, the home is being preserved with plans under way for a garden and interior work. To help fund the project, go here.

Along with the music of this weekend, Columbia is filled with historic homes. Here’s an interactive map you can follow to see all of Columbia’s historic homes from the J.W. “Blind” Boone home on Fourth Street to the historic home sometimes called Confederate Hill or the Guitar Mansion at 2815 Oakland Gravel Road, once slated to become a bed and breakfast, but now once again a private home.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&num=200&start=122&msa=0&msid=208147865224315146382.0004a1d2b04445d800e6b&ll=38.955137,-92.331333&spn=0.109863,0.188828&t=h&z=13&iwloc=0004a1d36c15bdfc42b51

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Two homes saved, others in danger?

An article in the Columbia Missourian’s August 11, 2011 issue of Vox magazine highlighted two historic homes that were saved.

One of the houses featured is the John W. “Blind” Boone House at 10 N. Fourth St., set to become a museum.

The other is the Taylor House at 716 W. Broadway. Today it is a bed and breakfast.

In the case of the house on Fourth Street, the home was saved because it was the home of the famous ragtime musician John W. “Blind” Boone. Supporters saved the house for historic reasons. In the other case, the function of the house at 716 W. Broadway was changed but the home was saved. No longer a single family home, the beauty and integrity of this house lives on.

However, some homes do not survive. For example, where the Missouri Theatre now stands once stood a house occupied by the cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln. Few would argue we should have kept the house to forgo the development of downtown with a beautify movie palace such as the Missouri Theatre, which has recently been leased by MU.

Yet, a phone call tells another story. Curtis Stafford called me and identified himself as the owner of 303 St. Joseph, outraged that a nearby house at 308 St. Joseph is slated for demolition. I went to see the house. I don’t know whether it should be razed or not, but the loss of homes in the area could endanger the streetscape — the feeling — of the street. St. Joseph street is just a few blocks from Orr Street, where as Stafford put it, and the street has an “art vibe.” Stafford said, “These are great single family homes,” and he’d like to see the area remain as it is.

But not all old homes are worth saving.

I don’t know if this home is worth saving or not, but I do know that in Columbia, demolishing a historic home is not easy. All demolition requests are routed through Columbia’s Public Works Department. Requests to demolish an older home, older than 50 years old, are reviewed by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and if the house is deemed a significant property, the Commission works with the owners of the property to see if it can be saved.

For now, the house still exists. Should it be saved?

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National Register Listings

Columbia has 19 properties listed on National Historic Register and on the Columbia Notable Properties list.

For example, the David Guitar House, also known as Confederate Hill, is on the list.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources web site also has detailed information for many of these properties.

The properties on Columbia’s Notable Properties List and on the National Register include:

  • John W. “Blind” Boone House, Fourth Street
  • Central Dairy Building, 1104-1106 E. Broadway
  • Columbia Cemetery, 30 E. Broadway
  • Columbia National Guard Armory, 701 E. Ash St.
  • East Campus Neighborhood Historic District, bounded by Bouchelle, College, University and High Streets.
  • Sanford F. Conley House, 602 Sanford Place
  • Samuel H. and Isabel Smith House, 315 N. 10th St., now Koonse Glass.
  • First Christian Church, 101 N. 10th St.
  • Greenwood Heights, 3005 Mexico Gravel Road
  • Hamilton-Brown Shoe Factory, 1123 Wilkes Blvd.
  • Maplewood, Nifong and Ponderosa Drive
  • Missouri State Teachers Association, 407 S. Sixth St.
  • Missouri Theatre, 201-215 S. Ninth St.
  • Second Baptist Church, 407 E. Fifth St.
  • Senior Hall at Stephens College
  • John N. and Elizabeth Taylor House, 716 W. Broadway, now a bed and breakfast
  • Tiger Hotel, 23. S. Eighth St., which is now a special events venue
  • Virginia Building, 111 S. Ninth St.
  • Wabash Railroad Station and Freight House, 126 N. 10th St., now the bus depot for the city of Columbia.