On Monday, June 3, the City of Columbia bought the historic home of Henry Kirklin, a famous African-American horticulturist, preserving it for the future. 

Now it’s your turn to help restore the Kirklin home.

City Council agreed to buy the $91,000, two-bedroom, one-bath house, encouraged by $54,000 already collected by a coalition of Columbia organizations. 

Members of the coalition agree that now the real work of preserving the home begins: raising money and getting people involved in the restoration of the 1870 house. 

You can contribute here via a portal set up by the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture at https://columbiaurbag.networkforgood.com/projects/181087-kirklin-home-preservation?

CoMo Preservation is part of the Coalition that includes the Sharp End Heritage Committee, the Historic Preservation Commission, Second Missionary Baptist Church, Boone County History & Culture Center and SOA Architecture.

The City’s next steps on the project will involve the usual procedure of holding public input sessions to determine the public’s wishes for the building's use.

Why does this building matter?

Kirklin was born into slavery in 1858, and freed from slavery by his mother in 1863 when he was 5 years old. He went to work as a teenager at a nursery and greenhouse in Columbia. A few years later, he began working at the University of Missouri’s Horticulture Department and his skills were soon noted by an MU professor. 

Kirklin was asked to teach MU horticultural students skills such as grafting, pruning, and propagating plants and trees. Due to racism at the time, he had to teach the students outside, as African Americans were not allowed inside MU buildings. In 1913, Missouri Board of Agriculture Assistant Secretary William Nelson is quoted as saying Kirklin was “pretty near a teacher (at MU), even if his name was not in the faculty directory.”

During his life, he bought land and and developed his own gardens and garden produce business. By 1900, he owned his own home and garden and in 1904, he won a medal at the St. Louis World’s Fair for his gardening. By 1908, the Columbia Missourian reported that he owned four rental properties before his death in 1938.

 Sources: 

107 Switzler Timeline created by Deb Sheals of Building Preservation, submitted to City Council as a supportive document for the May 20, 2024 City Council meeting First Reading. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HTusqrnAFAdc0fSxl9bH4KnW_W_RZyBk/edit

State Historical Society of Missouri, Historic Missourian, Henry Kirklin. https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/henry-kirklin/ Accessed June 5, 2024.

Image: Henry Kirklin and an unknown child in the garden. (Biennial Report of the Missouri Negro Industrial Commission, 1921-1922.)

Build This Town website, Henry Kirklin Black Farmer Scholarship Fund page. https://buildthistown.org/kirklin?Accessed June 5, 2024.

Columbia REDI, Henry Kirklin Headstone Placed. https://columbiaredi.com/henry-kirklin-headstone-placed/ Accessed June 6, 2024.

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 gives people a sense of place and boosts Columbia’s economy. You can get involved by volunteering, signing up for our mailing list, attending an event, becoming a member or donating.

Questions? Suggestions for speakers or events? Email CoMoPreservation@gmail.com