Endangered history
Jail, old prison on list of theatened historic sites
By Michelle Brooks mbrooks@newstribune.com
Where once it was the standard, sheriff’s residences connected with county jails in Missouri now are endangered. Missouri Preservation announced its 2010 Most Endangered Historic Places List Tuesday. Cole County’s Jail and Sheriff’s House made the top 10, as did the Missouri State Penitentiary site. The list is announced annually during National Preservation Month to emphasize the threatened historic resources in Missouri. Statewide nominations are solicited for properties considered “at risk.” That could be defined as deterioration, neglect, encroachment, potential demolition or a combination of threats. Missouri Preservation is a statewide non-profit dedicated to saving historic resources in Missouri. A block of homes in the 200 block of West McCarty Street, razed by the city in October 2007, was listed on the Most Endangered list in May 2007. “Even in these difficult
financial times, especially with the continued attacks on our State Historic Preservation Tax Credits, the need to protect our cultural and historic heritage has not diminished,” said Marion Smith, the most endangered selection committee chairman. The two Cole County “most endangered” properties were among schools, churches, hospitals, a hotel and a railroad depot. The endangered list cited concerns for the preservation of the prison site as it sits virtually vacant and a recently announced Community Development Block Grant that will fund the removal of 11 buildings. “While ‘mothballing’ of the complex has been undertaken, the former Missouri State Penitentiary is threatened by lack of state funding for ongoing maintenance as redevelopment has not proceeded at the rate that was expected,” the listing said. In recent months, volunteers and inmate labor have helped clean up and repair the site. The city and county have dedicated capital improvements sales tax revenues to the improvement and extension of Lafayette Street from Capitol Avenue into the prison site, allowing public access to the federal courthouse, due to open next year. The block grant will make way for future infrastructure needs. The site also was awarded recently a Brownfield Grant, which will allow for environmental assessments to be conducted and possible abated, if necessary. As for the 1936-constructed Cole County Jail and Sheriff’s House, community members have rallied in support of its preservation by endorsing it for the city Landmark award this month, as well as questioning the Cole County Commission about the structure’s future. The buildings also were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Rumors and innuendo suggest the Romanesque Revival-style buildings could be razed when the new prison opens in winter 2011. However, the commission has not made a final decision as to what will happen with those buildings. The former Cole County Jail and Sheriff’s House are on the most-endangered buildings list. Stephen Brooks/News Tribune
