Historic Preservation in the Wake of Disaster
October 23, 2025 | Chris Johnston and Karen Bode Baxter
Main Street communities can face a number of disastrous circumstances that cause damage to properties in their districts. Whether fire, flood, high winds, tornadoes, or even a building collapse, preparing for and responding appropriately to the situation can make or break a community.
Several Missouri Main Street communities have experienced these situations. They have learned from those experiences and have plans that prepare them for the next circumstance that would arise, which we hope never arises. Jackson, Clinton, and Cape Girardeau have shared the stories of what happened in each of their districts and how they rose to the occasion.
Jackson
A 911 call was made during a Sip and Shop event in June of 2025, with many people in attendance, when smoke was seen from a commercial building. The local fire department responded to the scene, but the fire consumed the Sweet Heart Florist building. This two-alarm fire resulted in the complete loss of the florist shop, while other buildings suffered extensive smoke damage. Kaci Hubbard, executive director of Uptown Jackson, shared that following the fire that damaged their historic district, “The community pulled together to help. In less than a week, the bakery reopened thanks to volunteer clean-up. Other affected businesses moved to vacant spaces, and others moved online or to a pop-up store or food truck. Uptown Jackson served as a communications hub and assisted with media.” Rallies took place to support the businesses affected and the district, along with connections made to find space and keep people coming to shop.
Being flexible, ready to pivot, and creative to serve their customers helped get the businesses back up and running. In Kaci’s words, “Uptown Jackson responded well to what could have been a long, drawn-out recovery as efforts were made to organize volunteers to clean up, which helped the bakery open in less than a week. The future looks bright.”
Clinton
In the evening of June 26, 2006, an early 1900’s three-story building on the central square in Clinton, Missouri collapsed. The building housed retail on the first floor, with the Elks Lodge using the 2nd and 3rd floors. The collapse happened following the failure of a crumbling brick foundation, and it resulted in 10 people being trapped. Nine of the 10 were rescued, and unfortunately, one person died. Diane Hannah, former Executive Director of Clinton Main Street, shared about the community’s experience following this tragedy, “It was a defining moment for their downtown.” Along with the Elks Lodge building being lost, the two buildings on either side were also lost.
Following the loss of these three buildings on the Clinton Square, the Elks Lodge was rebuilt with an appropriate infill building using a sketch from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) staff. Additionally, one individual stepped up to buy and rehab many buildings when most of the community was frightened.
Diane also shared some of the lessons learned from the event. Timely cleanup is important. Leaving debris on streets and sidewalks hampers momentum. The city’s involvement is critical. Deferred maintenance on buildings should be discouraged, and timely inspections are needed to prevent future problems.
Cape Girardeau
Missouri saw an increase of tornadoes in 2025, impacting many communities across the state, including several Main Street communities. As a result of an EF1 tornado in the spring of 2025, many large trees were downed, causing live wires, damaged store fronts, roofs, and broken windows. Liz Haynes, Executive Director of Old Town Cape, shared how Old Town Cape and their community reacted to being hit by the EF1 tornado, “I contacted the Mayor, city staff, and council to ask for help. The immediate need to board up windows came first, then working with the media to educate the public.” Old Town Cape became the boots on the ground, coordinating volunteers, gathering supplies, and equipment. Their efforts included a walking tour where photos were taken to assess damage and develop a list of needs. Additionally, Liz and her team connected people with resources such as grants from the city, MMSC, and provided a resource database to share for disaster relief.
Among the takeaways from the situation was the value of Main Street. Photos were shared of the Old Town Cape team and volunteers helping, which strengthened their visibility as the go-to organization. If you want more information on what to do when these events happen, Liz offered this suggestion: “Start with conference sessions and webinars that share experiences and information.”
Who Can Help You in Your Time of Need
The Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation (SAVE) Coalition is a state organization that can help when buildings in your district are damaged. The SAVE Coalition works with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) post disaster to assess buildings for their safety. The volunteers come onsite to do a visual inspection and recently helped the St. Louis area after a tornado in May of 2025.
No Main Street community welcomes disastrous events, but learning from others’ experiences can be helpful. MMSC has tools and grant resources that can be accessed when the need arises.
