Celebrating and Preserving History in Engaging Ways Through the Main Street Approach™
September 30, 2024 | Logan Breer
As a kid, history can be boring when you read it in a textbook. For me, history was one of my least favorite subjects with all the dates that I had to memorize, but that is not the true reason history matters. In college and through working for Missouri Main Street Connection, I learned why history really matters. It connects us with the places we live and visit as well as providing us with information to answer contemporary questions. That is why today, I enjoy hearing and experiencing the unique local stories that Missouri’s Main Streets have to tell as it allows me to learn about the places and people I meet and what influenced them. These historic commercial districts utilize the Main Street Approach™ to share their unique stories in interesting ways.
Design: Murals, Statues, & Physical Improvements
Following the Design point of the Main Street Approach™ guides local Main Street programs to infuse their history into the ways they enhance the visual appeal of their historic commercial districts. Improving downtown through physical improvements allows for spatial and visual storytelling that celebrates and preserves the stories that are told.
Murals are a great way to depict and celebrate local history, historic figures, and more through the arts. Those familiar with the street artist ARCY, know him for his paint-splashed style of large-scale street art. He has installed in his work in several Missouri communities including Independence, Marceline, Sikeston, El Dorado Springs, and St. Louis. In El Dorado Springs, his mural focused on Sally Liston who inspired many people as a long-time teacher. The young girl in the mural is depicted as dreaming of the infinite possibilities she has available for her future in honor of Sally.
ARCY’s work goes beyond Missouri as a world traveler with an international portfolio including hundreds of live murals and permanent large-scale works throughout North America, Australia, and Europe. As he travels the world, ARCY continues to demonstrate his growing desire to leave his mark wherever he goes, giving back to humanity through public art. He shared that,
“Creating art is not only my passion, it is my method of connecting with the world. Whether visiting large cities, or small-town communities, I am able to use my art as a platform to educate, inspire, and provide a sense of belonging.”
ARCY is currently developing a collaborative body of work for The Walt Disney Company as a Disney Fine Artist.
Statues are three-dimensional representations of local history, historic figures, and more. These can be honorific for certain people from the community from generals and soldiers to beloved animals like Old Drum. They also can be more aesthetic and representational of time periods, moments, or events. In the case of Prince Truxton II in Jackson, MO, he is the latter.
The Prince is a 5 foot six inches tall and weighing about 600 pounds, papier-mâché, dapple gray horse standing in the large front windows of 131 W Main Street. It has stood in the large window as a consistent icon for the different businesses who have occupied the building since 1898.
The Prince’s story starts with Mr. Wolters who purchased him to fit and display his harnesses. It was mounted on wheels so it could be placed outside. However, after being attacked by an angry bull he was moved inside. He received his official name, Prince Truxton II, after a competition in 1965 to honor the favorite horse of President Andrew Jackson, the town’s namesake. Erin Ressler shared that “Prince Truxton II is a beloved icon of our community.”
Through façade grants and the gumption of a building/business owner, improvements on the façade and other maintenance keeps historic buildings in tip top shape. In Lebanon, Jude’s Cafe now occupies the late 1800s historic building located at 116 W Commercial Street, which originally served as a bank. The bank played a significant role in downtown Lebanon’s commercial heritage and the building has been thoughtfully updated over time while preserving its key elements. The original vault is now a unique space for baristas to craft coffee utilizing the vault doors as a striking decorative feature.
The current owners of Jude’s Cafe have invested substantially in the property by restoring the facade, including replacing windows to closely match the building’s original design. Through their efforts, the building maintains its historic charm while giving it new life as a vibrant community gathering spot.
Promotion & Economic Vitality: Events & Activities
The Promotion and Economic Vitality point of the Main Street Approach™ work together to promote the historic commercial district as a hub of activity using activities that highlight local history where people can live, work, shop, and play. Attracting residents and visitors to patronize downtown allows for economic growth while exposing new people to the community’s history. Each amazing experience leaves a lasting memory that draws people to return year after year for vacation or patronize a business again and again.
In Cape Girardeau, Old Town Cape conducts an ongoing Clock Tower Scavenger hunt to promote downtown businesses and provide a way for people to engage and connect with Old Town Cape. Each month a 3D printed Clock Tower is given to a business owner and then throughout the month in Old Town Cape’s weekly newsletter there are hints on where to find it. The Clock Tower was chosen as the icon for this scavenger hunt as it is a quintessential Cape Girardeau icon standing in the center of where Main and Themis Street intersect. The story of this iconic clock starts with its dedication on June 19, 1986, by the Cape Girardeau Downtown Redevelopment Authority, where Marla Mills shared that, “The clock symbolizes one of the first successful revitalization projects completed by downtown merchants.” Its story continues through the years, with its central location placing it in the background of many photos of Downtown Cape Girardeau. It can be seen everywhere you look, including when you look west towards the Common Pleas Courthouse or east towards the Mississippi River. With this being a beloved icon of Cape Girardeau, community members who follow Old Town Cape’s weekly newsletter eagerly visit local businesses to find the Clock tower where it is hidden. This provides businesses with the opportunity to showcase their products and services to new customers.
In Marceline, the Downtown Marceline Foundation celebrates the 4th of July with its annual Patriotic Pie War. This annual, two-day online pie auction fundraiser turned four this year. Thirteen bakers make the pie of their choice. Each baker provides a picture of themselves and some history about their acquired baking skills or favorite pie. Every year is a great success thanks to the volunteer bakers! Chris Ankeney shared that, “this year stirred up abundant interest. As always, towards the end of the allotted time, it gets cutthroat. It is a load of fun with bragging rights for the bakers.” One special note, 52 different pie bakers have volunteered over the past four years for the Downtown Marceline Foundation’s Patriotic Pie War. This means every year there are new bakers, which is a testament to this small community’s support for the Downtown Marceline Foundation’s mission to revitalize Main Street USA.
In Cameron, The Cameron Municipal Band performs a 10-week concert season every summer at 8 p.m. on Thursdays from June through August. The concert takes place in beautiful McCorkle Park, the town square in downtown Cameron. Since 1866, children have danced to the concert band’s music on the apron at the front of the pavilion and people of all ages have partaken in a pleasant small-town tradition of music and community. Gina Reed shares, “We are proud of Cameron’s musical history and we delight in the beauty of our parks.”
In Independence, they celebrate their pioneering history with the SantaCaliGon Festival. This year was the 52nd annual SantaCaliGon Festival. The festival pays homage to Independence’s role in westward expansion as it is the trailhead to three trails, the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon. During the festival, hundreds of thousands of people can step back into the pioneer era with interactive exhibits such as gold panning, visit a one-room schoolhouse, and meet first-person interpreters in period clothing.
In Campbell, the 4th Annual Campbell Main Street Festival will take place in conjunction with the multi-year Campbell High School Reunion on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. The “Cotton and Camels” festival is full of authentic character and lots of fun that visiting alumni and residents can enjoy including local food, craft booths, and live music. Downtown businesses will participate in heralding in the Cotton & Camels event with brightly decorated windows, which call back to the traditional crop still in the memories of those who grew up in Campbell and the school mascot.
As part of Missouri’s “Bootheel” region in the southeast with deep alluvial soil and a warmer climate, Campbell has a long agricultural history. They are known for peaches, rice, melons, soybeans, corn, peanuts, and of course cotton. Out of the crops they picked cotton to emphasize for this festival as it is the areas traditional crop, which is still in the memories of generations who grew up here, and everyone has stories – cotton fields, cotton sacks, cotton boll fights, cotton vacation from school.
Organization: Campaigns
Following the Organization point of the Main Street Approach™ leads local Main Street programs to develop innovative fundraisers based on their history and historic assets. Securing financial support from donations is important for Main Street programs seeking accreditation to show that their community and surrounding area supports their organization as well as demonstrates they have the funding to implement preservation-based economic development initiatives that foster vibrancy and resilience.
In Liberty, Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. (HDLI) has an annual tradition of offering collectible ornaments featuring iconic historical buildings or landmarks. Danelle O’Connell shares that “this year marks the second installment of our ten-year plan to showcase historic churches in our annual ornament collection.” Ornaments that showcase iconic buildings and landmarks are an amazing way to add some local, historic charm to one’s holiday decor. The proceeds from the ornaments supports HDLI’s efforts to preserve the history of their beloved downtown.
I hope you have learned more about the fascinating history of Missouri’s communities of all sizes and how local Main Street programs are celebrating and preserving their history. If you want to support our mission to empower more communities in Missouri to celebrate and preserve their heritage through activities and initiatives like the ones you just read about, support MMSC through a contribution to Heritage Circle. Your donations go directly to programming that trains communities to identify and celebrate their stories in engaging ways.
