Much Needed Work Continues to be Accomplished with Critical Funds through MMSC’s Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program
Marla Mills | December 22, 2025
Two more of the thirteen projects have completed their rehabilitation projects as part of Missouri Main Street Connection’s (MMSC) Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program. The program has now successfully supported the rehabilitation and protection of four historic properties, with nine more to be completed.
To recap, MMSC partnered with the National Parks Service (NPS), U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Historic Preservation Fund to provide funding through a low barrier subgrant program to work on the exterior of selected buildings on or eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The work funded by this subgrant program will increase the sustainability of each building, which leads to economic development of rural communities and allows the properties to welcome people inside for businesses, living, and experiences well into the future.
Completed Projects
In June, contractors in Warrensburg completed extensive masonry work to preserve the 319 N Holden building. Lost and damaged brick was replaced and repaired along with necessary repointing and stone repair.
The Kellerman Lorimer Hall, an old elementary school in Cape Girardeau, received much needed masonry work around the chimneys and painting around windows and doors. The project was completed in November.
Projects Starting
In Excelsior Springs, the Colonial Hotel is receiving necessary repairs and restoration for its original wood porch elements along with a new porch roof and a complete overlay roof system.
Ozark’s Venue on Brick project is working on needed masonry and brick replacement and repair on its front and side facades.
The Bailey Building in Chillicothe is working on part two of their project that includes extensive brick repointing and repairs to the building’s façade to address years of neglect and deterioration. They have completed part one of their project, which was a new roof and gutter system.
311 S Thompson, another Excelsior Springs property, prepares to undergo masonry, stucco, and window work, repair, and/or replacement as needed.
Clinton’s Glasscock Jewelry building is working to repair and/or replace the existing, deteriorated, and missing sandstone engaged column units at the masonry openings on either side of the existing window heads of the entire building.
In Pleasant Hill, the Willow Boutique building project prepares to restore and repair the original brick and masonry on its side exterior brick wall.
Projects Working on Project Submissions
Three projects are still working on scope clarification and documentation to submit their projects to the NPS. Once submitted they will go through a required review process at the NPS level before starting physical work on their projects. Two of these projects involve roof replacements and the third replaced windows that were inappropriately sized and not historically accurate for the building.
Overall
This subgrant program continues to provide each project the critical funds to do the much-needed work. In each case, the project goes way beyond aesthetics and is a critical piece in helping each of these buildings survive into the future, which was the goal of the grant from the very beginning!
Another component is the education and awareness that comes from the facilitation of this grant. From contractor to business and building owners, this has taught them about historic preservation best practices while they interact with MMSC, SFS Architecture, and our historic preservation specialist and consultants. We have high hopes that future projects will be positively impacted from this subgrant.
More good news is still to come as the remaining projects move into their review, implementation, and preservation agreement phases.
