Ozark Community Building listed as endangered historic place

The Ozark Community Building has been added to the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation's 2013 Most Endangered Historic Places list.

Missouri Preservation's list spotlights historic sites and provides technical assistance, advocacy and planning support for the listed properties, according to a news release.

The Ozark Community Building was constructed - using native fieldstone or "giraffe stone" - by the Works Progress Administration and dedicated in July 1934. According to Missouri Preservation, the building went out of service in 2009 when a new Ozark Community Center was opened by the city.

The now-vacant building has walls in need of work, a leaky roof, as well as other environmental issues causing an unhealthy interior atmosphere. The building is owned by the Christian County Museum and Historical Society, which is fundraising to fix the roof, plumbing and heating to make way for an occupancy permit. According to the release, Missouri Preservation hopes including the building on its annual list can bring attention to the campaign.

"We are happy to recognize properties around the state which are imperiled for one reason or another, including abandonment, neglect and lack of maintenance, proposed development or lack of available resources," said Penny Pitman, chairperson of Missouri Preservation's Most Endangered Historic Places committee, in the release.[[In-content Ad]]