By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri's Historic Preservation council has nominated 15 buildings and districts to be added to the National Register of Historic Places.
They include adding more buildings to the Locust Street Automotive District in St. Louis, one of the early centers of the auto industry in America.
Karen Bode Baxter is an independent historic specialist who helped secure the district's expansion.
"St. Louis was one of the regional national centers for the automobile, prior to the Depression...this is where the automobile industry in St. Louis began, and so these buildings are very reflective of that part of our history," Baxter said.
Over half of the nominations are for sites in the St. Louis area. They include the old Immaculate Conception Church and Rectory just south of downtown St. Louis, and the Saratoga Lanes bowling alley in Maplewood.
A special tax credit from the state is making it easier to preserve historic sites.
"It's been very instrumental in encouraging property owners (and) developers to rehabilitate these historic buildings...for every dollar they give out in tax credits, we get at least $1.50 back in revenue to our state government," Baxter said.
Sites outside the St. Louis area include the Vitagraph Film Exchange in Kansas City, the Wallendorf House in Jefferson City, and Trinity Episcopal Church in Kirksville.
The nominations will be forwarded to the National Park Service, which maintains the National Register of Historic Places. All 15 are expected to be approved.
The full list:
1. Saratoga Lanes, Maplewood
2. Hammerman House, Ladue
3. Locust Street Automotive District, St. Louis (increase of existing historic district)
4. Old Immaculate Conception Church and Rectory, St. Louis
5. 4011 Delmar, St. Louis
6. Weber Implement and Automobile Company (old), St. Louis
7. Bennett Ave. Historic District, Richmond Heights
8. McBride Catholic High School, St. Louis
9. Parnell House, Branson
10. Ponder House, Cape Girardeau
11. Vitagraph Film Exchange, Kansas City
12. Trinity Episcopal Church, Kirksville
13. Wallendorf House, Jefferson City
14. Moberly Junior High school, Moberly
15. Gary Hunter House, Kansas City