Read more: Local, State, Economy, Business, Community, Kirksville Courthouse Square Historic District, National Register of Historic Places, Missouri, Kirksville Historic Preservation Commission, Todd Kuhns
KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Kirksville officials recognized some of the history that's still alive and well in the city Monday.
The Kirksville Courthouse Square Historic District is now included on the National Register of Historic Places. The district includes the north side of the downtown square and the Adair County Courthouse.
Kirksville Mayor Todd Kuhns and resident Cole Woodcox submitted the application to the State Historic Preservation Office. Kuhns says having officially recognized historic property in the city benefits tourism and the economy and helps boost local pride.
He tells KTVO that Kirksville is ahead of the game.
“If you look at some of the new trends that are happening with shopping malls people want open air spaces that look historic. People are spending millions of dollars to build these shopping centers that look old and historic and are outdoors when we have the genuine article right here downtown. So we need to really capitalize on that,” Kuhns said.
Organizers originally hoped to include the entire downtown square in the historic district. However, since a majority of the buildings on the square don't have historical features exposed, they were unable to do so.
“Because the north side of the square is more than 60 percent original facade that's exposed and out there and available, and of course the courthouse that is standing there like it's stood almost unchanged since it was built, those were good candidates for inclusion in the register,” Kuhns said.
The Masonic Temple on Harrison St. was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Kirksville Historic Preservation Commission will be able to expand the historic district to include additional downtown businesses. As more business owners remove the metal slipcovers and 1970s-era awnings on their structures and expose the historic features, they'll become eligible as contributing buildings.
