History of the Kirksville Arts Center

Related links: Third Floor of the Kirksville Arts Center, You can always go ... Downtown ..., Pickler's Famous, Kirksville, MO

I've mentioned the Arts Center in several posts, so I decided it was fitting to post the journey of research and the evolving history of the building.

In talking with Dr. Cole Woodcox, Chair of Lang. & Lit. at Truman State, and historic architecture guru, we knew it was an old building built by Valentine Miller, and had narrowed its construction to between 1906 and 1914 with Sanborn Fire Maps. A look at the City Directories further narrowed that to around 1910 or 1911. In scouring the local newspapers, I found ads for businesses in the building, but nothing on its construction.

Images from Sanborn Fire Maps. Left: 1906. Right: 1914. 

The area in question is in the lower left quadrant of each.

A building that size -- three stories -- not related to government, medicine, religion, or education would be news. Having perused the microfilm of the Springville New Era while in high school, I was certain such construction would be reported on.

So, I started to work backwards. The Kirksville Journal was a weekly paper, thus easier to search through. I would (hopefully) be able to put together a time line that could be expanded upon when going through the daily paper. (Hopefully.)

One of the first images collected in our search. This postcard came

from Special Collections at Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University. 

I began with 1908. Well, that was a good year to start. In the February 20 issue of the Kirksville Journal, a notice on page one announced the sale of the V. Miller lumber yards. The sheds would be torn down to make way for a "fine four or five story brick structure." I thought, "Yikes! We're having trouble with getting three floors renovated." The rest of 1908 was void of news, so on to 1909.

There were a few ads of businesses having moving sales before heading over to their new location in the Miller building. But nothing more on construction until October 7, when a man was injured unloading plate glass windows. November 4 reported the Ladies of the Cemetery Association held a Halloween party there.

I finished out the year before moving to the Daily Express. This is where I found the purchase price of the lumber yards (about $50,000), and how fast the building went up. The February 5, 1909 issue reported clearing of the site of the former lumber yard would begin soon. Excavation of the site was still going on as of May 5. The Owl Drug Store was the first to open, towards the end of October. Jeweler Charles Sands was next, followed by Kerns & Lorton, a meat market and grocery.

Huzzah! The building was built in 1909! Having solved that part of the mystery was a relief. Plus, another piece of the downtown puzzle was officially put into place. Dr. Woodcox has spent the past several years dating each structure (existing and past) to create a time line for Downtown Kirksville. The North Side has already been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Back to our story ...

In looking at the first image, you'll see white enameled or glazed brick on the first floor. This was the new construction. The unshaded portion -- as seen below -- was built 10 years earlier.

In another interesting note, the City Directories listed the Northeast Missouri Loan and Abstract Company as having offices at 115-1/2-117-1/2 South Franklin. That would be this section:

There is no evidence of a connecting doorway on the 117 side. There may be on the 115 side; that theory has yet to be explored.

A postcard from 1910. To the left of center, partially hidden 

by the tree is the Miller Building, the future Kirksville Arts Center.

The upper floors were rented out to lawyers, physicians, dentists, but by the 1920s, those offices had become apartments. Owl Drug remained in the south section for over 20 years. Kerns & Lorton was replaced by Bigsby's Clothing by 1913.

After 1911, I hit 1922, 1933, 1944, etc. until the present time. Robb's Cue Room co-sponsored the weekly listing of church services in January 1955, and a used furniture store had made its way into the Owl Drug location. 1966 saw Baldwin's Biz Mart, an office supply store, and the beginning of the building's greatest changes.

The Miller Block in the early 1960s. The transom windows and stairwell 

are now boarded up. While hardly energy efficient, these old storefronts are amazing.

 At the far left, you can see an earlier location for Baldwin's.

The Baldwins had taken over the south storefront before ripping out the wall dividing the main floor. Now the spaces that once were a meat market and a drug store were now one. A mezzanine level was added to the back of the building and whoever was up there had the ability to look out onto floor. In the mid-1970s, a glass elevator was added. A 1977 ad had the tag "Ride the Glass Elevator."

In the 1980's Baldwin's moved out, and Old Towne Clothing moved in. They lasted until around 2002. An interior design store followed, and in 2005, the Kirksville Arts Association purchased the building with plans to transform it into one of Northeast Missouri's premier arts facilities.

Two views of the gallery, and due to inclement weather, the crowd 

gathers in the Arts Center for a Summer on the Square concert.

As designs were formulated, a small gallery was set up, and in February 2006, the inspiring musical Godspell performed to sell-out crowds.

A few months later, during auditions for a show, a couple of us started picking at the boxes concealing the support columns. Ok, it was mainly me, but I did have help. Then on Memorial Day weekend, a 30 yard dumpster was parked on the south side of the building. After learning it was for a nearby apartment slated for remodeling, we asked if we could use it. Sure. There was a quick call for volunteers, and then we got to work.

The wall gondolas were the first to go. (They're the shelving you see in convenience and grocery stores.) Then came the paneling. You cannot believe how much those two steps opened up the room. The timing of this was very fortuitous as KAA's Annual Membership Meeting was fast approaching. "Under Construction" became the theme and all board members wore hard hats.

Top row: first wave of demolition.
Second row: exposing the windows.
Third row: framing out the bathrooms and warming kitchen; custom sink.
Bottom row: original beam; what's left of original dividing wall on first floor.

The following months involved creating two foyers, exposing windows on the south side, framing out and drywalling the main space, new HVAC, and painting, lots and lots of painting. The deadline for this work was February 2007, in time for my production of The Lion in Winter. The new restrooms were barely under way, but there already was one on the main floor and one on the mezzanine.

By the next Annual Meeting, the bathrooms and warming kitchen were finished, and the east wall (towards the back of the building), which was paneling and simply painted over, was replaced with drywall in January 2008, thus finally completing the main space. A small room at the very back of the building, used mainly as a dressing room for performances, folding table and chair storage otherwise, was finished out as a classroom, complete with an eight foot chalkboard we found upstairs.

While finishing up the inside, the outside needed something to draw people in. Those upgrades are detailed here.

One of the bigger upgrades under discussion is redoing the front even more. This would replace the plate glass windows with the reverse bay windows storefronts of old used to have. But instead of more plate glass, it would brick with display windows at eye level to showcase pieces of art and a marquee to announce upcoming events. This would totally close off the front of the building to the setting sun (it gets really obnoxious). However, some natural light would allowed in if the transom windows are replaced. While not a true renovation, it is an homage to the building's roots. Below is a rough sketch I did.

Not all the time has been spent dreaming. Monthly exhibits came and went, along with theatrical productions and musical events. All of that work paid off when when the Center was chosen as the premiere stop in Missouri for New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music, a traveling Smithsonian exhibit from Museum on Main Street. It's definitely a crowning achievement, but there will be more to come.

This post will be updated as new information and images are gathered.

OH, AND BY THE WAY ...
While researching, one of the strange but true stories I came across was the murder of a local professor. Apparently, his wife and her lover conspired to do away with him. His body was exhumed twice, and many of the city fathers were called as witnesses. I should say alleged murder as I did not continue into 1912 to learn the verdict. If I remember correctly, her bail was set at $25,000. Please recall that I said the lumber yard was sold for $50,000. (And those were 1910 dollars.)

Related links: Third Floor of the Kirksville Arts Center, You can always go ... Downtown ..., Pickler's Famous, Kirksville, MO

Blue skies, barren trees

It was a warm day in February 2009. For some reason, I decided that one of the cemeteries would make for some interesting photos. After a few experimental shots, I was able to position the trees between me and the sun, thus getting a black, spidery effect with the branches juxtaposed against a brilliant blue and partly cloudy sky.

I will not deny these pictures look odd. Evocative is another word. I'm not saying it applies, I'm just saying that "evocative" is another word.

 

You know, a little Photoshop action could turn one of these into a spooky main graphic for an Into the Woods poster. Hmm ...

That face!

Related Links: Theatre Logos, Doing the Time Warp, I want to be a producer ..., Theatre, A Christmas Memory, Reflections on "The Lion in Winter"

One of the ways Curtain Call marketed their shows was a big display at one of the local grocery stores. But in addition to a big poster, I started adding head shots to draw attention to the poster, and the general consensus was if folks saw people they knew in the cast, the chances of their attending increased.

I was also asked to take photos for Neil Simon's Rumors. It was Truman State's Summer Show for 2008. This was the first show where I took head shots of the actors in full make-up, and it's undoubtedly where I got the idea for Rocky Horror. They also posed as the character they were portraying. I saw this show at least five times. Personally, I think it's good for college actors to do a "classic" and Simon was definitely at the top of his game when he wrote this one. Verbal gymnastics galore. Among the original Broadway cast were Christine Baranski, Ken Howard, Ron Leibman, Jessica Walter and Joyce Van Patten.

Stage makeup does not photograph very well in color when taken in close proximity and under normal lighting conditions. Especially old age make-up. (It's one of the reasons Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was filmed in black and white. An aged Liz Taylor would not have looked convincing in color.) For these head shots, I simply took the original, applied the grey scale, and added text. Here are two of my favorite couples from Rumors.

 Ernie & Cookie Cusack

Glenn & Cassie Cooper

I touched upon The Rocky Horror Show in an earlier post, and here are some more shots. After all, any true fan of the show is probably dying to know what our Frank-N-Furter looked like. (We had people travel up to three hours to see it, not including family members of the cast.)

He's just a sweet transvestite ...

Yikes, a little bit of red-eye in the original. We had several people say he looked like a young Johnny Depp.

 

Yeah, a little bit.

Related Links: Theatre Logos, Doing the Time Warp, I want to be a producer ..., Theatre, A Christmas Memory, Reflections on "The Lion in Winter"

What's in a name?

Why Grafische Werken?

Good question. Grafische Werken is Dutch for Graphic Works. Which begs the question why not Graphic Works? Too boring.

I should probably mention that I'm not Dutch. But if you've read earlier posts, I like ocean liners, and Holland America Line, a Dutch concern, is one of my favorites. (And on a more superficial level, no other language translated as well.)

I didn't want it to be regional, such as Northeast Something or Other. I wanted to be able to pack it up and take it wherever I went.

And hopefully, it makes one pause and take a look.

Over the years, I've helped market the arts, theatre in particular, designed business cards, flyers, postcards, if it needed to be on paper, I took a crack at it.

October and November were dark as I was caught up in research (See the post Won't you let me take you on a sea cruise?), hence the maelstrom in December. Plus, I went through scores of photos selecting favorites to post. And looking for a more permanent gig.

Thanks for stopping by, and please continue to do so, as more is always on the way.

You can always go ... Downtown ...

I think the simplest way is to let these images speak for themselves, yesterday and today; well, with some explanations. While there has been a mini-resurgence of sorts, as shown in this unveiling of a facade covered for decades with sheet metal, there is still a long ways to go.

The older images are from my postcard collection, and they are coupled with photos I took in May 2009.

West Side of the Square. What a difference ninety years makes. When the block was cleared, only a half of it was left. I remember people on the upper floors dumping buckets of brackish water out into the alley first thing in the morning. The fountain is now on the courthouse lawn, which is off camera to the right.

East Side of the Square. Roughly the same time span. You'll notice one tiny finial just right of center. (Trying to match these angles is more difficult than you think.)

 

 

North Side of the Square. Covering up those windows on the left is just criminal. (The angle is way off because this was meant to mimic another image not in my possession. I came across the postcard late last year. Notice the torn awning.)

  

  

Apologies for the screen grab quality of the South Side, but it's enough to make the comparison.

The Kennedy Theatre, built in 1926, torn down in 1989, was one of the town's crown jewels. Folks still mourn its loss. But many years of neglect proved too much to overcome. The 1,200 seat theatre is now a parking lot. In fact, several quarter blocks have disappeared over the years to become parking lots. Part of the Kennedy still lives on in the Kirksville Arts Center; itself a renovated 100-year-old structure. A couple of the Art Deco chandeliers (below) were rewired and hung in the foyer.

If you've noticed the metal awnings in the street scenes and think they're hideous, you're not alone. They leak and they're just plain ugly. Slowly, and one by one, they are finally coming down. It is one of the first of many steps to get back that old time, vintage look. They've decided not to focus on what is already lost, but what can be saved/restored/preserved.

Reflections on "The Lion in Winter"

Related Links: Theatre Logos, Doing the Time Warp, I want to be a producer ..., Theatre, A Christmas Memory

While watching the newly installed slide show, I noticed there is a dearth of people. Here are several scenes from The Lion in Winter, which I directed in early 2007 ... Wow ... It's been three years. I cannot believe that! And it's almost three years to the day when I ... Well, that's a story for another time.

From a creative standpoint, this show rocked. I've always loved the movie, and to be able to do a stage production was simply amazing. The dialogue is rich and wonderful and each character has at least one scene in which to shine. This is a show I would do again in a heartbeat.

The Lion in Winter takes place over Christmas in 1183. King Henry II of England has invited King Philip of France to the Christmas Court. Henry's wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, has been temporarily released from castle arrest (because of a plan to overthrow Henry) to attend. Their three sons, Richard, Geoffrey, and John are jockeying for position as to who will succeed Henry upon his demise, natural or otherwise. Philip's sister, Alais, is John's fiancee according to a treaty between England and France, is Henry's mistress, and then Richard's fiancee according to Henry's whims. The family plots against, plans with, and snaps at each other. Alliances are formed, then broken. (If your family Christmas is anything like this, YIKES!)

"John, you're so clean and neat. Henry takes good care of you." I loved that we found this white cloak for Eleanor to wear knowing she's so deliciously manipulative. John looks like he wouldn't trust her any further than he could throw her.

Henry is trying to mollify Alais, his mistress, and at last count, fiancee to two of his sons. King Philip of France, her brother (center), is wondering what Henry is up to now.

I didn't take this photo, but I wish I did. I love this angle. Moral of the story ... Never dare your estranged husband to make out with his mistress in front of you.

One of my favorite lines is Eleanor's "I'd hang you from the nipples, but you'd shock the children." (If you don't think it's funny, try picturing Katharine Hepburn saying it, which she did in the movie.) While Eleanor was getting changed for the next part of the photo call, Geoffrey decided to imitate Mama.

Even though Eleanor brought her boys the knives in order to get away, she's also going to warn Henry. Whatever shall Geoffrey and Richard do with Mother?

At the end of the show, Christmas Eve has turned into Christmas morn. Eleanor seeks comfort in Henry's arms, and he's wondering what the hell just happened.

Looking at these stills, it's easy to see where improvements can be made. I wanted the set to be as bare bones as possible, as dark as possible, and it was; it was how I designed it. I believe it can be more and still be less at the same time. The main flaw was I didn't get a matte finish paint which wouldn't have reflected the light as much; simply no excuse for not traveling down the road someplace else. And instead of renting costumes, get measurements on Day One and make them. What we had worked, and Eleanor's costume was made, and it was awesome, but we could've done more with color theory and characters.

Speaking of adjustments, Max, who played Philip, was reflecting on how much he'd grown as an actor versus where he was in high school. I got what I wanted out of him as Philip. He wondered if he could improve upon it. I told him I didn't think "improvement" was the right word. I added, "If you were to do it today, would it end up different? Given the experiences you've had since then, yes, it would be. Would it be better? Hard to say. Aside from some subtle shadings you would instinctively add now, it wouldn't detract from it at all. Both would be strong performances in their own right."

Yes, this is a show I like to revisit from time to time to replenish the well and get the creative juices going. Yul Brynner did it with The King and I; Carol Channing with Hello, Dolly! So I don't think it falls under the category of Bruce Springsteen's Glory Days. Since Lion, I tackled The Rocky Horror Show, and have sketched out plans for numerous other productions that will someday see fruition, but I will never forget the time when this amazing cast and crew rocked my face off.

Related Links: Theatre Logos, Doing the Time Warp, I want to be a producer ..., Theatre, A Christmas Memory

We meet again, Dr. Quest ...

Totally forgot I did this until I was going through my Facebook photos.

I love the old (mid-1960s) Jonny Quest series and there have been two really biting (and lovingly sarcastic) parodies.

An episode of the gone-too-soon Freakazoid! had a segment entitled Toby Danger. The animation style was spot on and they used Don Messick (Dr. Quest) for Dr. Danger.

Venture Bros. on Cartoon Network is best described -- in addition to really biting (and lovingly sarcastic) -- as Quest on Acid. In one episode they killed Race Bannon, another found Jonny in a diving bell (where he's been for 20-some years), and one with a walking eye.

(I was probably suffering from low blood sugar when I did this. I do know it was after a Quest marathon. Hmm, let's take two of the most incongruous images and put them together, yeah, that's a good idea. In any event, I found it amusing, and when I posted it, several others did as well. I should find a font that's more in line with the original series.)