It's hard for me to believe that nearly ten years have passed since my owners, The Foundation for Historic Preservation, began my restoration.  Hi, it's me, the Underriner House.  

Many preservation projects have been completed in the past ten years - the Berryman Cabin, One room log schoolhouse, the War Eagle Trail and most recently the opening of the Battle of Fredericktown Civil War Museum on May 4th, as well as the Madison County and St. Michael's Village Historic Districts.  And, let's not forget the three buildings that have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places - Madison County Courthouse, Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad Depot.

All of these projects have been a success because of the people of Fredericktown supporting efforts to preserve our local history.

We now have another opportunity to make another really big difference.  The City of Fredericktown has obtained a grant that will enable Ruth Keenoy of St. Louis to write the nomination of part of our downtown business district for placement on the National Register.  There are 20 some buildings that may qualify for this federal listing, if the nomination has a lot of historical documentation.

Now, I know what all of these buildings looked like from the time they were built, but, of course, I couldn't take any pictures of them.  But, many of you do have pictures, stories, documents and other information that will be of great help to Ms. Keenoy.  You see, she needs to know when each of the buildings was originally built and if she knew who built them, it would be even better.  Other information like how much the Medicate Pharmacy cost to build would be helpful.  Any type of information could be helpful- photos, copies of deeds, invoices, bank documents, etc.  She doesn't need originals, copies are just fine.

Here is a list of the buildings that may qualify for National Register listing:

Stone Livery Stable, Old Tavern Hotel 1890 or Old Johnson House Hotel (Country Real Estate), Old Ben Franklin Store, Bee's Store (Pizza Hut), E.H. Bess Furniture & Hardware 1862 & Jones Bros (Pioneer Store and H&R Block), I.O.O.F. Building, Kelley's Jewelry,  Olympic Steak House, Medicate Pharmacy, Home Health Care (Shoe Box Store), Masonic Hall, Titan Gym, Heritage Real Estate (original pawn shop), Old Sears Roebuck store & Bob Miller Insurance, Pawn Shop (Womack Hotel), VFW Building, Old Hardtack & Tumbleweed store (original telephone office), Madison County Title Company, Chamber of Commerce (old Graham Lumber Co.) and the Flower Box building that used to be the Commercial Hotel & Bank Trust Building.

If anyone has either individual pictures of the buildings or a picture of several buildings together, Ms. Keenoy would appreciate just having a copy of the photo.

Something else.  There has been a rumor circulating and even the folks at the State Historic Preservation Office don't know how it got started.  The rumor is this:  If a building gets listed on the National Register, the property owner can no longer do what he or she wants with their own property.  That is absolutely NOT TRUE.  Being listed on the National Register is strictly voluntary.  Property owners are free to do with their property whatever they want.  If a building gets listed on the National Register and the owner decides to totally modernize the exterior of the building, they can do that.  The only thing that might happen is that the building would be taken off the National Register because it no longer looks the way it did when originally built.

My owners have had many discussions about federal and state programs that help National Register property owners to preserve and restore their properties - like the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program that promotes preservation.  I've heard them talk about the fact that some property owners of National Register listed properties may qualify for grants and tax credits.

But, I guess the best part of the downtown being named as a "Historic District" is that the downtown would attract more visitors, allow additional signage and further advertise Fredericktown as a tourism destination.

If you would like more information or have pictures and documents of early Fredericktown, please call Carole Magnus at 576-8528 or City Hall at 783-3683.