Heritage Tourism: Springfield area's historical buildings an essential asset

Preserving older buildings is useful in attracting visitors to Springfield. Several local groups are working to preserve and restore old buildings for future generations.

Preservation Springfield is one such group dedicated to preserving the city's historical structures. Preservation Springfield President Helen White said the group's goal is to establish a network of public and private entities to encourage, protect and reinvigorate historic structures and neighborhoods.

"We want to be an advocate group that shows that rehabilitating properties and reinvigorating neighborhoods makes economic sense ... and help utilize some fine, old buildings instead of having them destroyed," she said.

White added that the group is now putting together a new homes tour titled Go West! A Tour of Homes in the Historic West Central End, cosponsored by the West Central Neighborhood Alliance. White said the tour, which will be held 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 10, will showcase homes at different levels of rehabilitation. Included will be the Fulbright Homestead and the Turner Mansion.

Richard Burton is president of Historic Properties of Springfield Inc., another local group dedicated to preserving structures and sites significant to Springfield's past. Burton said one of HPSI's major projects is its involvement in relocating Washington Avenue Baptist Church. Built in 1885, Burton said the building is the oldest African American church in Springfield. It has been acquired by Drury University, which plans to clear the site at 729 N. Washington Ave. to build a new science facility.

"If relocation is successful, the church building will be adapted for use as a community development center that can recognize and present Springfield's cultural diversity and its historic past," Burton said.

He said plans are to move the church to the Jordan Valley Creek area, which is consistent with the church's heritage.

Burton's group is also working on a five-year plan to restore the Mosher House at 1147 E. Walnut to its original 1893 state, and HPSI also is trying to preserve the Lincoln Cemetery at Chestnut Expressway and Barnes Avenue. The cemetery was established in 1919 as a for-profit segregated burial place for African Americans.

Nancy Brown, owner of the Historic Walnut Street Development Company, has been involved in historic restoration for many years, including the restoration of 10 properties along Walnut Street.

Brown is chairwoman of the Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust, which is now developing the Netters Building adjacent to the historic Gillioz theater. Brown said the Netters Building will include a restaurant, art center and reception space, and those operations will eventually support programming at the Gillioz.

"The soul of a city is reflected in its architecture, and each city has its own soul, its own story, its own character, Brown said. "I think that's a value to the people who live in the area, and it's also important to the people who visit the area."

Brown said one thing that makes architecture an important part of cultural tourism is the stories the buildings tell.

"It's where the city comes from, it's the history of the city, and until you know where you come from, you really don't know why this community is the way it is," she said. "Some of the characteristics of the community, some of the community culture, is very much shaped by its past, so that's important the human stories these buildings have to tell."