The Conley house, located at 602 Sanford Place, is a true gem in the center of the University of Missouri Columbia campus. It was completed in 1869 by Sanford Francis Conley and has weathered 154 years of Columbia history including the 1892 burning of Academic Hall. Its six historic ionic-style remain on the Francis quadrangle. The Conley house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is one of the oldest surviving homes in Columbia and is significant as a rare local example of Italianate style. As was common in that era, all of the bricks for the home were made on-site. Mrs. Kate Conley was a gardener of both vegetables and flowers, and flower-cutting gardens graced the grounds surrounding the home. The University of Missouri purchased the home in 1980.

Sanford Francis Conley was born in 1838 on a small farm six miles north of Columbia. His parents moved from Kentucky to Boone County where he, a brother John, and sister Sallie grew up together. Sanford was interested in mercantile establishments, and when he was 30 years old (1868) he married Kate Singleton, who was an 1866 graduate of Christian College, now named Columbia College. Both the Conley and Singleton families were prosperous, and they built and moved into their new brick Italianate home during their second year of marriage. Sanford and Kate had 6 children who were all born in the family Conley home.

Mid 19th century true Italian villa designs were complete with verandas, asymmetrical towers, ornamental brackets under the eaves and most were typically cubicle in nature. The Conley house sports ornamental brackets and combines both urban and rural Italianate styles. Similar styled homes can be found on both sides of the state with many examples still remaining in Independence and Kirkwood, Missouri. 

Memories from family members in later years advise that most of the rooms were covered in wallpaper which was replaced every two years or so due to the residue from the coal stoves that were used to heat the home. The timespan between the late 1860’s and the turn of the century enjoyed enormous popularity of wallpaper and it was used nearly everywhere, including in both Italianate and Victorian style homes. Machines were capable of producing wallpaper designs and were inexpensive and believed to have been available to anyone who wanted it. Wallpaper was especially popular in Victorian style homes, which were mostly built prior to 1910, but as late as 1940 in midwestern states.

The Conley’s lived in a time of rapid progress. The Victorian Era, generally defined as the years of Queen Victoria’s reign (approximately 1840-1900) was in progress, and in 1865 the United States was recovering from tumultuous times due to the civil war and the assassination of President Lincoln. Even with these setbacks, progress was inevitable and the Industrial Revolution promoted economic growth. Columbia Missourians, including the Conleys lived through these experiences. By the late 1860’s Columbia gained access to the rest of the country with the railroads that were built. 

Mrs. Conley’s home was said to have been “proverbial for the generous and gracious hospitality dispensed and the cordial welcome always extended to its guests.” The wedding of Sandford’s youngest child, daughter Helen Conley to Charles Miller in 1903 was reported as “one of the social events of the year in Columbia.” Helen Conley Miller lived at 802 W. Stewart road in “the old Miller place” from 1920 until 1976 and her granddaughter, Cindy Mustard, also lived at the home on West Stewart road for one year while their family home was being built around the corner on S. Greenwood Avenue. Cindy returned to Columbia to live in the Greenwood family home after both of her parents had passed away, and she remains there today.  

Written by Chris Creasy

CoMo Preservation is devoted to helping homeowners, landlords, and institutions prevent the destruction of historic architecture. Original period styles might be replicated, but will forever lack the social history of authentic structures. The preservation of historic places and spaces is necessary for Columbia’s residents, students, and visitors to achieve a sense of place and also for our city’s continued economic success.

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Sources

Cowling, Christine. "Century –old home." Columbia Missourian, People section, Sunday, February 17, 1974.

Creasy, Chris. Interview with Cindy Mustard. Summer 2023.

Prawl, Toni M. "The Conley House: A Promising Future for Reflecting the Past." Historic Preservation, Spring 1985.