The Thursday Doors Challenge has resumed once again after a 2-week break for our host Dan over @NoFacilities. We all deserve a break and I hope his was great! If you’d like to view other doors from around the world, feel free to click the link.

I’m beginning with a couple collages this week. These are previously featured photos from this blog that date back from 2015 to the current time. I didn’t mention their original post date because my main point is to show some of the older buildings that have survived the past 150+ years or less in our small city of 20,000 or so.

From Top Left to Right: The Trust Building, oldest surviving building in Sedalia, currently reopened and doing very well with a restaurant on the bottom floor. The Montgomery Wards Building with part brick frontage and part metal covering the exterior. Currently used as an Advertising Business. First Congregational Church originally. Used off and on since 1889 and was on ‘the list’ for awhile as a questionable save. So glad it’s still standing! Bottom Left, is back view of The Trust Building. Next is an old store front that recently changed hands but it’s very well-kept. Last is the Katy Depot. Back in my younger days, (the early 70’s to early 80’s) this building was a complete mess! Sewage flooded the basement as well as a plethora of other problems. But people stepped up and it’s now a thriving part of our town with meeting rooms, gift shop and some offices for our Chamber of Commerce. It also houses a small museum and is a Bicycling/Hiking Trailhead for the Katy Trail. It is a huge diamond that was once very rough. Now, unfortunately, we have some Unsaved places.

Again, from top left: Archias Seedhouse was once a Brewery and has been demolished due to being “unsafe and unsaveable”. I have personal opinions on that one. Next, is the Cash Hardware building that has since had change of hands and the metal facade removed. It’s got a gaping hole on the back side of the building that I last saw was unprotected. (No current pic at this writing) Middle: my late grandmother’s home that’s one of Sedalia’s victims due to an aggressive group of city officials who can’t see beyond their noses. Unofficially, since 2020, there have been over 200 homes demolished for various reasons. Bottom is a building purchased (corner portion) by our city and is supposed to be undergoing renovations. I have seen very little action. Not sure what’s the holdup there? and last is the Cash Hardware backside before the hole became a thing.

Finally the reason I’ve dived into this topic is a building at 209 W. Main. Built in 1874, it’s been compromised by heavy rains and is collapsing. Set for demolition in the near future but a date hasn’t been shared with the public as far as I can tell. There is great debate in our fair city about what started the demise of this building and since I’m no expert, all I can say is that I’m glad to see an awakening again for awareness of these old buildings. Here’s a couple pics I took:

Sources say the building has been in a state of renovation for the last 10 years, a sidewalk upgrade in front uncovered an old coal storage area and then the front support began giving way. That’s my simple summary of the events as I understand them. Not pointing any fingers. I have to live in this town. haha

But here’s what I intend to point out. The benefits of saving historical buildings is a huge bonus to any community. Here are a few points to ponder that I hope our citizens will pay attention to when purchasing one of these old structures with the intent to save them.

• Old buildings are a tangible link to our past.
• Saving them gives a sense of pride in our community.
• The preservation of these places can create jobs in the construction and restoration trades
• Added spaces to visit attracts tourism and boosts local businesses.
• Improvements to these buildings adds value to other nearby properties and revitalizes neighborhoods.
• Reusing old spaces reduces the need for new construction materials. Notice I said ‘reduce’, not eliminate.
• Reduces urban sprawl. That keeps walkable spaces intact. You know, that lovely park or field area where you enjoy viewing nature?? Or would you prefer another apartment complex?
• They can help alleviate housing shortages. Do people really prefer to live in cookie cutter apartment buildings?? No. They’d like spaces with character and history.
• I should have listed that last part here. People are attracted to cool buildings.

This has become one of the longer posts I’ve written and I’ll finish up here so I don’t wear out my welcome. Hope you can share with someone of importance who can make a difference whether it’s financially, in a committee setting or on a social media post.