The former Stonner Meat Market, located at 107 N. Main Street in Chamois, right next to Jerry's Stop & Go, has been designated as one of Missouri's Places in Peril for 2020. The hope is that by drawing attention to the situation, a solution can be found regarding restoration.
The building is currently owned by the Chamois Industrial Development Corporation (CIDC) and Treasurer Susan Sundermeyer officially applied for the designation through Missouri Preservation, and as of Oct. 5, the Stonner Meat Market building was added.
Formerly known as the Stonner Meat Market, this two-story brick building in historic downtown Chamois is one of the few early structures still standing on Main Street, according to Sundermeyer.
The building was constructed in the 1880s for William (Bill) Stonner, who opened his business in 1888, selling locally raised and freshly butchered meats. His grandson, Ralph (Jack) Stonner Jr. began working for the family business in 1946 and continued to operate the business as Stonner Meat Market until he retired in 1984.
New owners briefly took over the business but eventually, the building was converted to support Lucy’s Bar and Grill, a local gathering spot to eat, drink and socialize. Now the building sits vacant. CIDC members President Debbie Huff, Vice President Betty Linhardt, Secretary Jeff Kormann, and Sundermeyer had hoped to transform the property for use as a community center but the project never materialized. The vacant building has been vandalized – bricks have been stolen, which has exacerbated deterioration.
Kormann notified Sundermeyer of the application to nominate the building for the Places in Peril, and she took it from there, submitting the application and photos of the building.
Sundermeyer noted in the application that the CIDC and the Chamois Historic Preservation Commission would like to utilize the building to support a museum collection, which currently includes the Townley House Museum and Old Jail.
Specific plans include highlighting the area’s farming history and African American culture. With limited resources available, it is hoped that listing the property as a Place in Peril will open the door for funding opportunities to preserve this historic building. Doing so will allow the property to remain a focal point of downtown Chamois and highlight important aspects of the town’s history.
Donations can be made online by going to preservemo.org and clicking on Missouri's Historic Places in Peril 2020 and the clicking on “The Former Stonner Meat Market.” This was set up by Huff. “The Townley House Museum is getting full and we need more space,” said Sundermeyer, noting the Chamois Historic Preservation Commission operates under the CIDC, so the two groups work closely together.
Missouri Preservation will be pointing the CIDC to resources and assistance in saving the historic property and fundraisers will surely follow, Sundermeyer noted
Instituted as a media campaign in 2000, the Places in Peril program is aimed at calling attention to endangered statewide historic resources threatened by deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, imminent demolition, and/or inappropriate development.
Formerly known as “Most Endangered,” the program was renamed in 2015 as “Places in Peril.”
The re-branding came as a means of highlighting the selected public nominated places because becoming the ‘most endangered’ was not a contest, according to a press release, which also noted that once the historic resource is gone, it’s gone forever.
“By publicizing these places we hope to build support towards each property’s eventual preservation,” the release said.
In addition to the 2020 Places in Peril announcement, sponsored by STRATA Architecture + Preservation, Missouri Preservation invites individuals to explore the interactive map available at www.preservemo.org/we-advocate/places-in-peril, which pinpoints previously listed Places in Peril and lists their known status from successfully saved, in-progress, needing help, and in some unfortunate cases, lost.
Those interested in preservation efforts are encouraged to spread the word about these properties, especially those in need of a new owner. By encouraging the public outreach process it may be possible to identify a future owner to save these places.
Anyone with creative reuse ideas, a rehabilitation resource, or know of a potential buyer, is asked to contact Missouri Preservation.
Contact your senator’s office to voice support for maintaining Missouri’s State Historic Tax Credits and support for the reauthorization of the Historic Preservation Fund (H.R. 2817), which is used by State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices on activities that support the local heritage, jobs, and economy and only receives a small portion of its authorized amount.