What a Beaut’: Cape Cod House
Since 1998, the city’s Most Notable Property (MNP) Program has been highlighting and celebrating the historical significance of properties in Columbia, Missouri. The Program is managed by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. In order to be considered for MNP recognition, a residential or commercial property must be at least 50 years old, within the city limits, and possess historical or architectural significance unique to Columbia. To make a nomination or find more information about the MNP Program visit https://www.comopreservation.org/most-notable-property-program. Applications are due by the end of the year.
313 E. Brandon Road; Photo taken by Chris Creasy 9/26/23
Built in 1940 this property was recognized as a Most Notable Property. As described in 2013 by local Historic Preservation Consultant, Deb Sheals, in the Most Notable Property archives:
“This stone-walled Cape Cod house, located just off of Providence Road, stands apart from many of the surrounding houses, in form and construction details.
Architecturally, this house can be classified as a Cape Cod house. The Cape Cod house type has been described as the most common form used for one story Colonial Revival houses in the United States. Cape Cod houses are one to one and one-half stories tall, with steep side-facing gable roofs, symmetrical facades and Colonial Revival style ornamentation. Although the original Cape Cod houses of the 18th century rarely had dormers, by the 20th century, dormers had become standard. This house offers a contrast to the two story cubic forms used for the Colonial Revival style houses which were built nearby on Providence Road during the same time period. It also differs from that group in the use of native stone instead of brick for the first floor walls.
313 E. Brandon Road; Photo taken by Chris Creasy 9/26/23
The house was built for Newell and Fern Gingrich, who made it their home for decades. Newell Gingrich was a popular professor of physics at the University of Missouri. Gingrich began teaching at MU in the late 1930s and by the time he retired in 1972, he had taught more than 10,000 students, in 16 different classes. He was also a prolific researcher and author, with more than 40 articles and book editions. He was described in one article as ‘one of the early workers in neutron scattering from a variety of condensed matter systems.’ (Alumnus, March 1978.) He retained close ties to the Physics Department for many years after his retirement. In 1977, the department library was dedicated in his name. Two years later, the department placed a portrait of Gingrich in the same library, near the 600 scientific books he had donated when he retired. The portrait was painted as a surprise for Gingrich by then-chair of the department, Thomas Wolfram.”
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
Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission. “Most Notable Properties-What Does It Mean To Be A Most Notable Property?” City of Columbia Community Development, Columbia, MO.
"Most Notable Properties Database." Prepared for Columbia, Missouri’s Historic Preservation Commission, by Historic Preservation Consultant Deb Sheals, https://www.como.gov/boards/historic-preservation-commission/most-notable-properties-program/. Accessed September 26, 2023.
