A STROKE occurs when the blood flow that carries oxygen to the brain is cut off by a blockage or ruptured artery. Without oxygen, brain cells begin to die, causing a loss of function and potentially death. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States. Stroke is a medical emergency, but fast treatment can save lives and brain tissue.
If you notice stroke symptoms, call 911 immediately! EMS professionals can start your care before you get to the hospital.
Stroke symptoms happen suddenly and can include
• Numbness or weakness in your face, arms or legs, usually on one side
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes, including double vision
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, and trouble walking
• A severe headache that feels like the worst headache of your life
If you have any of these symptoms, BE FAST!
Balance
Watch for sudden loss of balance
Eyes
Check for vision loss
Face
Look for uneven smile
Arm
Check if one arm is weak
Speech
Listen for slurred speech
Time
Call 911 immediately
PRINT IS NOT DEAD!
PUBLISHING
David Nivens, Publisher david@comocompanies.com
Chris Harrison, Associate Publisher chris@comocompanies.com
Casey Barwick, Keith Borgmeyer, Sunitha Bosecker, Columbia Parks and Recreation, Trish Koetting, Nathana Clay Photography, McKenna Stumph, Kaitlyn Schlacks
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Casey Barwick, Sunitha Bosecker, Beth Bramstedt, Barbara Bu aloe, Jen Johnson, Hoss Koetting, Madeleine Leroux, Dianna O’Brien, McKenna Stumph, Michelle Terhune, Kelsey Winkeljohn
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Magazines are $5 an issue. Subscription rate is $54 for 12 issues for one year or $89 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag.com or by phone. COMO Magazine is published monthly by e COMO Companies.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
COMO Magazine and comomag.com strive to inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that re ects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.
Copyright e COMO Companies, 2025
All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
FEEDBACK
The COMO Mojo: What’s occupying your brain’s real estate?
Here we are — the July “Real Estate” issue.
I’ve been pondering this letter for months, mostly because I knew it would be a tricky one to write. Why? Well, I don’t exactly feel quali ed to wax poetic about real estate. I rent. I live in an apartment. I’ve made my little corner of Columbia feel like home, but I’ve never dealt with the process of putting in an o er, undergoing inspections, or renovating a kitchen. I’m not the most adept person to speak on this, unless binge-watching “House Hunters” and daydreaming about becoming an interior designer as a kid counts for something (and if they do, I’m basically an expert).
For the literal side of real estate, I’ll let the stories in this issue do the talking. ey’re full of insight from people who really know their stu . Instead, I want to take this opportunity to talk about metaphorical real estate: What’s on your mental lease?
( ink of this as a loose sequel to my “Health & Wellness” letter, where I shared some of the hobbies that help me stay grounded. is version might lean a little more abstract and a little more stream-of-consciousness, so bear with me.)
From an aesthetic and functional standpoint, we know a home shouldn’t be overcrowded or neglected. e same goes for your brain. And yet, I, and probably most of the people you know, am a chronic doomscroller. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll consume twenty pieces of content I probably didn’t need. And if rumination were an Olympic sport? Let’s just say I’d have a shot at the podium. It’s easy to mentally hoard things that don’t serve us: background noise, worry, guilt, that one email we still haven’t answered, or that one headline we wish we hadn’t read.
If you ever watched “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” during its 2019 Net ix heyday (or read her book, e Life-Changing
Magic of Tidying Up), you might remember the famous KonMari Method: Only keep what sparks joy and thank the rest as you let it go.
Of course, we can’t always do that with our thoughts. Some of them are heavy. Some of them don’t spark joy, but they’re part of our reality — responsibilities, grief, and uncertainties. Still, maybe there’s a way to approach it di erently. Maybe we can think of those thoughts as tenants: ey move in, we acknowledge them, and then, when the time comes, we give notice and evict them.
We can also compartmentalize the things that have to stay a little longer. Give them their own room to make a mess in instead of the whole house. at way, you preserve your most valuable mental square footage for the things that actually bring light in — your joy, your creativity, your peace, and your people.
If you want to really embrace the metaphor and tie in Michelle Terhune’s story on Columbia’s self-storage mania in this issue (which you should totally read right after this), remember that there are external outlets that can help carry the load. Creating, writing, or talking to someone you trust can serve as o -site storage for thoughts that feel too big to keep inside.
Real estate, literal or not, is all about how we choose to use the spaces we’re given. While this issue of COMO Magazine and COMO Business Times focuses more on the physical spaces — the homes, developments, and commercial spaces shaping Columbia — I hope this letter invites you to consider your internal landscape.
What’s worth making room for, and what might be time to release?
We can also compartmentalize the things that have to stay a little longer. Give them their own room to make a mess in instead of the whole house. That way, you preserve your most valuable mental square footage for the things that actually bring light in — your joy, your creativity, your peace, and your people.
ON THE COVER
Samuel and Leslie Schnieders of BOXIT Self-Storage Centers are helping Columbia make moves.
Photo by Keith Borgmeyer
COMO’S ADVISORY BOARD
We take pride in representing our community well, and we couldn’t do what we do without our COMO Magazine advisory board. Thank You!
Beth Bramstedt
Church Life Pastor, Christian Fellowship Church
Heather Brown
Strategic Partnership Officer, Harry S Truman VA Hospital
Emily Dunlap Burnham
Principal Investigator and Owner, Missouri Investigative Group
Tootie Burns
Artist and Treasurer, North Village Art District
Chris Horn
Principal Treaty
Reinsurance Underwriter, American Family Insurance
Kris Husted
Investigative Editor, NPR Midwest Newsroom
Laura Schemel
Director of Marketing and Communications, MU Health Care
Art Smith
Author & Musician, Almost Retired
Megan Steen
Chief Operating Officer, Central Region, Burrell Behavioral Health
Nathan Todd
Business Services Officer, First State Community Bank
Casey Twidwell
Community Engagement Manager, Heart of Missouri CASA
Wende Wagner
Development Manager, DeafLEAD
Have a story idea, feedback, or a general inquiry? Email Jodie@comocompanies.com.
Photo by Nathana Clay Photography
Coming Soon
North Village Park will keep portion of downtown green.
BY JEN JOHNSON
Driving past the future site of North Village Park, you wouldn’t think much of it. It looks more like a vacant lot rather than the blank canvas of the newest downtown park.
Consisting of 2.3 acres on the corner of Orr Street and Park Avenue, this property was previously owned by Ameren UE and was cleared of EPA-designated contamination in 2014.
“It will bring a much-needed green space for the area, for people to visit, relax, and enjoy nature, as well as being an opportunity for small events and contributing to First Fridays,” said Tootie Burns, treasurer for the North Village Arts District. Burns is also an artist at Orr Street Studios.
Before the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department purchased the land in 2022, the property was two adjoining lots — about half an acre at 209 St. James Street and 1.5 acres at 210 Orr Street. e city nalized the purchase in 2021 for $950,000, funded by the voter-approved park sales tax and American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Currently, the park is referred to as North Village Park, but it’s unclear if that will be its o cial name. Final naming decisions are pending.
Columbia currently has seventy-five parks scattered in various parts of the city, all ranging in location, condition, and amenities. Out of those parks, only five are located in the downtown area, which includes the new North Village Park. Columbia’s downtown parks are:
DOUGLASS PARK AND AQUATIC CENTER
• Dedicated in 2007
• 7 acres (5.1 acres park property)
• Located on the corner of Rogers Street and Providence Road
• 2 full size basketball courts
• Playground
• Skate park
• 3 picnic shelters
• Douglass Family Aquatic Center
• Douglass spraygrounds
• Tapp-Elbert Amphitheater
• ADA drinking fountain and restrooms
FIELD PARK
• Dedicated in 2001
• .8 acres
• Located on the corner of Wilkes Boulevard and Rangeline Street
• Outdoor classroom
• 9 benches
• 2 picnic tables
FLAT BRANCH PARK
• Dedicated in 2001
• 2.8 acres
• Located in the 400 block of Fourth Street in downtown Columbia
• Demonstration rain garden
• Flat Branch spraygrounds
• Playgrounds
• Amphitheater
• 7 bike racks
• Historical plaques
• Art sculpture “Marathoners” by Larry Young
• Wireless internet
• Flat Branch gazebo
• Picnic table and chairs
• MKT trailhead
• 2 ADA drinking fountains
PAQUIN PARK
• Dedicated in 1978
• 1 acre
• Located between Lee Elementary school and Paquin Towers
• Basketball court
• Game tables (ping pong, checkers, chess)
• Raised garden beds (reserved for Paquin Tower residents)
• Shuffleboard courts
• Paquin Shelter
WHEN WILL THE PARK BE READY FOR PUBLIC USE?
Engineering and construction planning are underway and are expected to be nalized by the end of this summer. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall, and completion is expected by late next summer or early fall 2026.
e project involves a full renovation of a city block, including the installation of underground utilities and new sidewalks around the perimeter. Planned features include a playground, shaded seating areas, an open lawn, and a concrete performance space.
e next phase will focus on incorporating art and music into the park’s design. Plans include a call for artists to design ve to seven art sculptures, along with artistic elements to be integrated into tables, benches, and trash receptacles. e performance area is designed to support temporary stages for concerts, dance, and theatrical performances.
HOW IS THE PROJECT BEING FUNDED?
ere are two main sources of funding:
1. e city’s voter-approved dedicated parks sales tax.
2. A Community Revitalization Grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, funded through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) allocations distributed to municipalities across the state.
ere is a misconception in the community that park development takes funding away from public safety services like the Columbia Police Department. However, parks funding is typically restricted to dedicated sources and cannot be reallocated for other city departments.
WHAT ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS FROM THE SITE’S PAST?
e former Ameren gas manufacturing site has been deemed suitable for public use. Plans focus on creating a vibrant two-acre green space that re ects the area’s cultural character —
especially its proximity to Rose Music Hall and the First Fridays art walk. e park is expected to play a key role in community events like PrideFest, Easter egg hunts, and the Family Fun Fest, which will feature art and musicthemed programming.
A primary goal of the park is to help attract tourists and residents with the unique artistic appeal and art installations that will o er “Instagrammable” photo opportunities. While some spaces may initially be left open, the vision is to install public art as funding becomes available. e city’s O ce of Cultural A airs will lead the artist selection process, with a call for artists expected in spring 2026.
HOW WILL ORR STREET PARK BE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CITY PARKS?
Unlike heavily developed parks, the space will remain largely open, with grass elds and shade trees. e design places a special emphasis on outdoor art, music, and performance, setting it apart from other parks in Columbia.
Parks and Rec Director Gabe Huington has high praise for the new park.
“ is project is a unique collaboration, involving seven di erent city departments,” he said, noting that the Public Works Department will install a new crosswalk and stop sign at Orr Street and Park Avenue. Hu ngton said the project also includes coordination with Columbia Fire and Police departments to ensure the safety of the community. Meanwhile, Hu ngton explained that a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan was approved in 2023. (Find the details on the como.gov website under the Parks and Recreation section for North Village Park or Orr Street.) e Master Plan process began with community engagement. e city holds public input sessions where residents can explain their needs and give feedback. After collecting and incorporating public input, the Parks and Recreation Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council. e council then holds a public hearing and ultimately approves or disapproves the master plan and any associated construction.
Where All Are Welcome
Firestone Baars Chapel is a Stephens College treasure.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY CASEY BARWICK
In 1939, a group of young ladies at Stephens College collectively pitched in one dollar apiece, and the next day, that envelope of $20 became the seed that started Firestone Baars Chapel, designed by the same man who created the MIT Chapel, JFK Terminal 5, and the St. Louis Gateway Arch. e Chapel, an unassuming brick building with symmetrical entrances and a single spire, sits on the corner of College and Walnut. While simple in shape, the details of architect Eero Saarinen’s work become clear when peering into the stained-glass panel frames at each doorway. e panes range in varying polygonal shapes and colors, including ruby reds, cobalt blues, emerald greens, and bright golds, dotting the doors’ entrances with vibrancy.
Upon entering, guests are quickly introduced to the main ceremony space: a wonderland of natural wood, bright stone, and skylight. Seven intersecting stairways guide visitors toward the central altar space: a small, raised limestone platform. Directly overhead, a large square skylight illuminates the area, guiding the eye to the intricate ceiling created from intersecting lattice-work style wooden beams.
A free-standing stone wall separates the ceremony room from the long walking corridors, which frame each side of the chapel. Pews aligned in altar-facing rows ll the entirety of the oor and meet at the back wall made entirely of evenly spaced vertical wooden beams. e spacing allows visitors to peek at the chapel’s instruments, including a monumental copper-colored organ stretching its musical arms up towards the skylight.
Saarinen’s work did not come without pitfalls. Originally, his father, Eliel, was the dedicated chapel architect. However, his father died in July 1950, and that death, along with funding issues and the beginning of the Korean War, halted the project. Five years later, in August 1955, construction started on Eero’s design, which is a transformative approach to the chapel rather than a continuation of his father’s work. According to the 1997 Journal of Interior Design, the goal was to create a space that is unregulated in religious use. Members of all denominations and all religions are welcome to use the chapel to gather, pray, or celebrate. e space has become a fairly popular wedding destination with its 290-person capacity and a picture-perfect outdoor area complete with potted owers and stone pathways. roughout its life, the chapel has served as a sanctuary for students, a common ground for couples, and a place of mourning during tragedy. According to a fundraising article for Stephens College, the chapel hosted a plethora of memorial services, including a community service for Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and a service in 2001 after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Sarah Salmons, associate vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said the green space outside the chapel has recently undergone renovation. at area allows for easy access to the chapel and the surrounding school buildings, while keeping open patio space for guests and maintaining vegetative life.
Currently, Saarinen’s work stands as common ground for students to assemble, regardless of disposition and doctrine. ough some of the brass plating on doors may be dulling, the signi cance of the chapel and its impact on the Columbia community continues to shine.
Digging In, Giving Back
BY KELSEY WINKELJOHN
ON A SUNNY MORNING at Columbia’s Agriculture Park, a group of third graders gathers around a raised garden bed, wide-eyed as they dig their hands into the soft soil. Later, they’ll make “veggie bowls” with the produce they’ve harvested and explore the di erent parts of a plant — leaves, roots, and stems.
Nearby, volunteers from all walks of life harvest rainbow chard destined for the local food bank or the VA. Inside the schoolhouse, Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) team members huddle together, trading ideas for their soonto-be-constructed welcome center — just one more way they’re growing connections from the ground up.
CCUA’s mission is straightforward: to enhance community health by connecting people to agriculture and the land through hands-on learning, from seed to plate. After all, everyone eats. Food is a universal connector — whether it’s sharing a meal, learning to grow tomatoes in your backyard, or harvesting produce for neighbors in need. anks to CCUA’s wide range of programs, those connections happen every day on the farm, in classrooms, and at home.
CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION
CCUA’s vision for the community includes outreach to younger individuals and educating them about food sustainability and gardening skills. To support this mission, CCUA o ers a range of programs for families and students.
“Our most family-oriented program is called Opportunity Gardens,” says executive director Billy Polansky. “Families who have low income and would like to have their own garden can sign up for that program.”
e Opportunity Gardens program provides gardening materials and mentorship from CCUA sta over a three-year period. Because the gardening takes place at home, families can spend quality time together while learning a new skill.
“It’s a real mixed bag of folks who are in the program,” explains Polansky. “Some people have never gardened before and have no idea what they’re doing. Some folks are immigrants and were farming previously where they came from — so they have the skills and knowledge, but it’s a di erent climate than they’re used to.”
In 2024, 166 low-income families received support and mentorship through the Opportunity Gardens program, according to CCUA’s annual report. One gardener shared a snippet of their experience with the CCUA team:
“We spend so much less time on the TV and more time outside with each other. We plan what seeds we want to grow and learn together.”
Photos provided by Bernadette Crehan, Social Media & Marketing Manager for CCUA
“Family” doesn’t have to just apply to relatives, either. Volunteers from local businesses and organizations regularly lend a hand at CCUA, with past groups including Shelter Insurance, Missouri Employers Mutual (MEM), and local Scouts. Group workdays are typically o ered on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings to tackle weekly garden needs. More exible shifts are available Tuesday through Saturday, allowing groups to schedule a time that works best for them.
CCUA has also partnered with Columbia Public Schools (CPS) to o er interactive eld trips featuring a tour of the Agriculture Park, tasting opportunities, and a chance to discover local wildlife. A similar initiative, the Farm to School Partnership, works speci cally with third graders in the district on a biweekly schedule; this hands-on program also teaches students how to plant and harvest produce, facilitating more than 15,000 student interactions each year.
“With young kids, there’s kind of a wonder that they get in a garden of the taste and smells and sights, whether it be the bugs or birds or plants,” says Adam Saunders, co-founder of CCUA. “ ere’s just so much to look at and understand. I think it really taps into the human nature … and that’s a curiosity that, when you start at a young age, it’s lifelong.”
Both Saunders and Polansky emphasize the sense of contribution and agency children experience when they’re involved in the growing and harvesting process.
“Kids love to eat,” Saunders says. “If they go out and pick the peas and then chop them and put them in the dish, they’re going to eat it. ey worked hard for that.”
“If a kid helps grow a cucumber versus if their mom puts a cucumber on their dinner plate, you know, they’re not bought into that — they’re being told to do something,” Polansky adds. “Involve kids in as much of the process as possible, even if it’s just shopping at the store. [Let them choose what they want] and then when it’s time to eat, say, ‘Hey, remember when you picked this out?’ It comes down to presenting it in a way that gives them a choice. And some marketing.”
Marketing is also the reason CCUA refers to its salad-making activity as “veggie bowls.” ough the kids usually catch on once the dressing appears, they’re already invested — and more likely to take a bite.
GROWING WITH PARTNERS
ese programs are just a fraction of what CCUA o ers, and each one is powered by strategic partnerships that help expand access and impact. at support comes not only from organizational collaborators, but also from generous donors, funders, and community members who believe in CCUA’s mission.
“We try to solve one of their [strategic partner’s] pain points,” says Saunders. “Sometimes it’s access to food, outdoor education, or con dence in home gardening. We’ve worked with groups from public housing, public schools, local businesses. ... We have ongoing partnerships, and part of that is getting together and brainstorming what’s possible.”
If the timing, funding, and logistics align, CCUA starts small and grows from there — like its 2019 partnership with the Truman VA to launch the Mark and Carol Stevenson Veterans Urban Farm, highlighted on CCUA’s website as “a place for Veterans to bene t from the therapeutic, vocational, and recreational aspects of horticulture in a supportive, community-centered environment.” e food bank has also been a key partner, helping to distribute CCUA’s donated produce to the community.
A NEW WELCOME
is spirit of collaboration, growth, and adaptability is what led to the vision for CCUA’s newest undertaking: a dedicated welcome center at the heart of Agriculture Park. Designed as both a literal and symbolic gateway, the building represents the next chapter in CCUA’s mission to make agriculture accessible and engaging for all. In September 2024, CCUA hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking to celebrate the future of the center.
“Oftentimes, when people get here, they don’t know where to go or how to nd somebody they’re looking to meet,” Polansky says. “ is new building will be the obvious place to come if you want a tour, to sign up for gardening classes, or to get involved with some of our programming.” e welcome center will feature a sta ed front desk to assist and direct guests, along with a resource library where community members can check out books, seeds, and gardening tools. e building will also include dedicated o ce and event spaces, as
well as a commercial kitchen that will support cooking classes, nutrition education, farmers market vendors, and hunger relief programs.
“I think people are going to be really excited,” says Polansky. “Our [current] o ce doesn’t have any meeting space, and it’s not very accessible. So, it’ll be good for our sta and volunteers to be able to come inside and sit down, take a break, and ask questions.”
Saunders is particularly enthused about the addition of the kitchen, which will enable CCUA to fully realize its seed-to-table mission. For the past 15 years, the organization has focused on a seed-to-bushel approach where grown produce is used for donation and education. With the new kitchen, they’ll be able to transform their harvest into nourishing meals.
In many ways — including the ability to pilot community-driven ideas in a larger, more exible space — Saunders believes the new public-facing resource center will help round out CCUA’s mission of a healthier Columbia. He’s also grateful to share the neighborhood with the Columbia Farmers Market and e ARC, both of which highlight the organization’s focus on wellness, access, and connection. With CCUA hosting kids’ activities every Saturday during the market and visitors often strolling through the Agriculture Park, the welcome center will serve as yet another point of collaboration, including plans to share o ce space with the farmers market team.
Although the ceremonial groundbreaking for the space was nearly ten months ago, o cial construction on the welcome center began just last month. e timeline for completion is uid, but Polansky estimates the building will be nished within a year based on what contractors have shared with the team.
WHERE GROWTH TAKES ROOT
As construction continues and CCUA’s vision grows, the organization stays true to its roots in cultivating a healthier, more connected Columbia. Every garden planted, every student interaction, and every shared meal brings people closer to the land and one another.
To learn more about CCUA’s programs volunteer opportunities, or to donate, visit ColumbiaUrbanAg.org.
Portals to the Past
Columbia cemeteries provide sacred, familiar space.
STORY AND
BY DIANNA O’BRIEN
COLUMBIA CEMETERY
Columbia Cemetery is one of the city’s most recognizable historic places. By design, it’s also a park, and if you know what to look for, it’s a portal into the city and society’s history.
As old as Columbia itself, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission added it to the Most Notable Property List in 2001. It is now one of six such lauded cemeteries in Columbia. In 2007, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
At its core, Columbia Cemetery includes the city’s 1821 common burying ground, but the majority of the cemetery was developed after 1853 with the establishment of the Columbia Cemetery Association, which still owns and operates the cemetery. e association developed and expanded the cemetery using the principles of the trending Rural Cemetery movement. is called for shifting away crowded downtown and church graveyards to spacious, beautiful, landscaped cemeteries designed to serve as public parks as well as eternal resting places.
As a result, on any given day, you may nd joggers, dog walkers, or people simply enjoying the quiet of this park-like cemetery.
e cemetery is now about thirty-four acres, according to the Columbia Cemetery’s website, and includes an 1880 Jewish cemetery, known as Beth Olem (now called Beth Shalom), the 1914 Elmwood Cemetery, and the county’s burying ground where the indigent were laid to rest.
Beyond o ering green space just a few blocks from downtown Columbia at 30 E. Broadway, the cemetery provides a unique opportunity to explore its rich history.
PHOTOS
Colored Troops marker at Columbia Cemetery
So, How Do You Find History in a Cemetery?
Dana Bocke, a Columbia Public Library associate who has been leading cemetery tours for more than a decade, suggests looking at the grave markers. “Tombstones don’t just tell the story of a life, but the history of our country. The styles of stones, what they’re made of, and the symbols used have changed over time,” Bocke said in an email interview. “These changes reflect the values and trends of societies throughout the centuries. Different religious, cultural and geographic factors all affect cemeteries.”
For example, she says, earlier symbols on grave markers included “memento mori” symbols, such as skulls and scythes. These were designed as reminders of mortality and warnings about facing eternal rewards — or punishments. By the time of the Revolutionary War, the imagery had changed to softer symbols of mourning, draped urns, and weeping willows. Entering the Victorian era, says Bocke, “you see more flowers and plants and they all had meanings.” Next appear columns, wreaths, lamps, and other elements that evoke the Greek and Roman classical eras, designed to bolster America’s growing image of itself as a republic and align it with past republics.
Another way to use tombstone inscriptions is to “read the landscape,” says Kevin McPartland, a visiting assistant professor of public history at the University of Missouri. Older tombstones often include information about where the people came from, revealing that Columbia’s early settlers hailed from Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and other southern states. This can provide a springboard for learning about the person, as well as why and how Columbia developed.
In 2024, McPartland and a team of his students used the information on the tombstones of the veterans of the United States Colored Troops in the Columbia Cemetery as a starting point to research the veterans. The results were presented in twenty-two in-depth biographies of the soldiers at a public event held in the cemetery in June 2024.
Columbia Cemetery “holds the distinction of being the resting place of a significant number of United States Colored Civil War Veterans,” according to the NRHP document. The cemetery has thirty-one such soldiers buried there, and of those, more than a dozen were from the 62nd and 65th regiments, which are credited with providing the funding that helped establish Lincoln Institute, now Lincoln University. The high number of such graves might be because in 1873, Columbia Cemetery opened up a separate area for African Americans, which may have made it attractive for the veterans who were facing the racism of the time.
But you don’t need special research tools to learn from cemeteries.
McPartland and others note that observers can learn from simply observing where and how the graves are located. For example, family plots speak of wealth. Columbia Cemetery is filled with huge monuments emblazoned with well-known names such as James S. Rollins, often referred to as the father of MU. In contrast, in the area once reserved for African-Americans, the plots are further apart and the markers are smaller, showing that in the nineteenth century, “wealth didn’t often make it into the Black community,” says McPartland.
Some graves were unmarked due to a lack of wealth. Recent community efforts are changing that. The grave of J.W. “Blind” Boone, an internationally famed African-American musician who died in 1927, received a marker in 1971. In 2011, James T. Scott, the 1923 victim of the last public lynching, received a marker. In 2020, renowned horticulturalist Henry Kirklin, who died in 1938, received a marker.
Colored Troop Individual Marker at Columbia Cemetery
Rollins family headstones at Columbia Cemetery
ALSPAUGH PARK
Sheltering two historic cemeteries
All cemeteries are sacred places, but not all of them have been treated with the respect they deserve. at’s something local nonpro t CoMo Preservation plans to change.
Two historic cemeteries, Hinkson Creek Baptist and Antioch Christian, are in the spotlight.
Both are in the John W. Alspaugh Park, Columbia’s newest park, donated in 2023 by Dr. Carol Ann Alspaugh, the wife of John W. Alspaugh, following his death in 2022. e 201-acre tract was the largest land donation ever given to Columbia Parks and Recreation. In 2024, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission named it to the Most Notable Property list, noting the importance of the two cemeteries that contain the remains of early settlers as well as those of enslaved people.
Established in 1836, the Hinkson Creek Baptist Cemetery once served as a church cemetery, but the church itself no longer exists. Over time, before the Alspaugh’s ownership, the grave markers were moved from their original spots, pushed into a pile
near an old oak tree and vandalized. e park’s other cemetery has fared a bit better. e Antioch Christian Cemetery, also once a church graveyard, was established in 1852. But some of the stones have toppled, and time is erasing their inscriptions.
Both cemeteries need improved protection and preservation, says Elena Vega, president of CoMo Preservation. Dedicated to preserving Columbia’s historic buildings and places, CoMo Preservation plans to collaborate with the city and local organizations to give the cemeteries the respect they deserve.
CoMo Preservation plans to o er tours of the cemeteries this fall and winter. In 2026, the nonpro t will bring a cemetery restoration expert to Columbia to discuss how to clean and restore the cemeteries’ markers.
Vega and Stephen Bybee, who is the chair of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission and the project director for the Missouri Conservation Corps, a nonpro t dedicated to clearing invasive plants from Columbia parks, met with Columbia Parks and Recreation o cials in May to discuss how the city and area nonpro ts could collaborate to preserve the cemeteries.
ment the history of the cemeteries. is, he said, is where CoMo Preservation and other groups can make a di erence. e city’s agreement with the Alspaughs calls for the city to mow and maintain the area around the cemeteries, erect a cemetery marker, and create a nature trail to the cemeteries, but not to research the cemeteries, restore or preserve the grave markers.
e park is so new that, so far, the only work done on it has been a slight upgrade to parking and the installation of signs noting the park’s name. e donation agreement states the park must be maintained as a green space, rather than being developed into athletic elds or courts. is means park development can include walking trails, picnicking areas, playgrounds, and other passive recreational amenities. e city still needs to gather public input on any park development, and it could be as late as 2031 before the city has the funds to begin development of the park.
e rst step, said Mike Snyder, Parks and Recreation development supervisor, is to docu-
CoMo Preservation doesn’t plan to wait that long. Working with the Missouri Conservation Corps and the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, CoMo Preservation will be looking for funds to conduct historic research on the cemeteries and gather experts and volunteers to the preserve the cemeteries.
Left: Hinkson Creek Baptist Cemetery; Below: Antioch Christian Cemetery
CALVARY CEMETERY
Providing a reminder of racial divisions
Today, Calvary Cemetery is part of Memorial Park Cemetery, but it began in 1929 as a place of burial for African-Americans during a time of rigid racial segregation.
Bought out by Memorial Park Cemetery in the 1940s, historic Calvary Cemetery, located at 1217 W. Business Loop 70, serves as a reminder of the racism and cultural divisions of the past.
Established by Alex L. Hicks, an African-American farmer, Calvary opened ve months after adjacent Memorial Park. Both cemeteries were established as “lawn parks,” a new style of cemetery that emphasizes open vistas and views with ushto-the-ground markers, in contrast to Columbia Cemetery’s garden-like style. e creation of Calvary o ered African Americans the option to be buried in this new style of cemetery.
Calvary was named to Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission Most Notable Properties list in 2012. e MNP list is designed to highlight properties that are historically or culturally signi cant. Calvary is among six historic cemeteries on the list.
Calvary’s notable graves include “a large number of veterans, and noted black Columbia businesswoman Annie Fisher,” according to the MNP documents. Fisher, who died in 1938, “was one of the most successful businesswomen in Columbia in the early 20th century,” the document continues. “A skilled cook, she won rst-place awards for beaten biscuits and country ham at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.” Fisher ran a catering business, a restaurant, and owned a signi cant number of rental properties. Her grave is a rare link to Fisher, as both of her mansions have been demolished.
e cemetery is managed locally, said Kent Knudsen, general manager of Memorial Park Cemetery, but not locally owned. In 1995, it was sold to Stewart Enterprises, a multinational rm, and in 2014, it became part of SCI, Service Corp. International, which operates in more than 1,900 locations.
While some cultural separations have disappeared, some still evade the equalizing e ect of death. Memorial Park Cemetery, like many cemeteries, o ers gated estate burial areas, and one such fenced-o area is the resting place of James L. “Bud” Walton, who died in 1995.
JEWELL CEMETERY
A tiny, quiet spot of state history
Among Columbia’s six designated historic cemeteries, the Jewell Cemetery is unique. It’s the only one that is a family cemetery, a state park, and located within walking distance of a Wa e House.
Less than half an acre, this tiny family cemetery is a quiet oasis of state history, despite its location at 2800 S. Providence Rd.
“ e cemetery was founded in the early 1800s as a private family cemetery on land owned by George Jewell,” according to city documents from its induction into the city’s Historic Preservation Commission’s Most Notable Properties list in 2010. Once an area of farms, Columbia has grown up around the once-rural family cemetery.
e cemetery is a state park because, according to Missouri law, any cemetery with a grave of a former governor may be marked and maintained by the state if it isn’t in a perpetual care cemetery. As a result, the eternal resting place for former Governor Charles Henry Hardin in this family cemetery is a state park. According to the Department of Natural Resources, the cemetery drew 3,470 visitors in 2023. Hardin, 1820-1892, grew up in Columbia. After completing his studies in Indiana and Ohio, he returned to Columbia. Following his admission to the bar, he moved to Fulton. Hardin quickly moved into public life and served in the Missouri House and Senate. During the Civil War, he was accused of being a Southern sympathizer and was disenfranchised.
After the war, in 1872, he returned to the state Senate and, by a narrow margin, was elected governor. He served from Jan. 1, 1875, to Feb. 8, 1877, and his accomplishments included reducing the state’s debts created by the Civil War “by eliminating wasteful practices, refusing to assume county war debts, and re nancing bonds,” according to the Missouri O ce of Administration’s website.
e cemetery is also the resting place of William Jewell, who was involved in Columbia’s early development, serving as
a mayor and helping to establish Columbia’s First Baptist Church, among other activities. He also helped found William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.
e cemetery contains more than forty descendants of George Jewell, with graves dating from 1822 to 1868, according to city documents. e cemetery also includes about twenty graves of enslaved people. Although some of those graves are marked with native limestone, none have inscribed tombstones, although a recent visit revealed owers placed at many of them.
Grave marker of enslaved person at Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site.
FAIRVIEW CEMETERY
Offering life lessons
e historic Fairview Cemetery o ers us two lessons, says Jo Turner, secretary of the Fairview Cemetery Association, which owns and operates Fairview Cemetery.
First, she says, “Visionary and generous people need to continue to step forward and plan for the future.” She’s a descendant of one of the cemetery founders and says the farmers who founded the cemetery in 1914 were poor, but they still decided to purchase the land for the graveyard. “It was important 100 years ago, and it’s important now,” says Turner. e cemetery was founded when the tradition of burying family members on their own property began to wane, according to documents from the cemetery’s listing on the Columbia Historic Preservation Commission’s Most Notable Properties list in 2014.
For more than fty years, Robert Eugene Grant, a descendant of one of the founding members, served as the cemetery caretaker. He died in 2019, and now his widow, Ida Grant, 96,
and her daughter, Phyllis Grant, have taken over as sextons. Turner, 72, worries about the future. “As we all get older, I’m not sure who will take this on.”
e other lesson, says Turner, comes from the many graves of infants and children as well as soldiers who died during World War II.
“Life can be very eeting and short. We need to pay attention and love and care for each other,” says Turner. City documents note that the rst grave in the cemetery in February 1915 was for infant Charles Kenneth Payne. Another of the graves marks the remains of one of Turner’s cousins, who died in Europe and whose remains were brought back for burial in the Fairview Cemetery.
e cemetery is adjacent to the 1942 building, which once housed Fairview United Methodist Church, now the Countryside Nursery School. at building was also named to the Most Notable Properties list in 2014. Access to the cemetery is via a horseshoe-shaped drive, entered from Fairview Road that exits onto Chapel Hill Road. Visitors may park on either Fairview or Chapel Hill.
Secure your legacy
Are you prepared to protect your legacy and minimize your taxes?
Over the next 25 years, $124 trillion in financial assets is expected to transfer to the next generation. At Commerce Trust, we work to ensure your assets are strategically allocated to minimize tax liabilities while protecting what you pass on to your next generation and to your philanthropic beneficiaries.
From understanding taxable gifts to leveraging tax exemptions, your private wealth management team will work collaboratively with your estate attorney and tax advisor to craft an estate plan tailored to your goals.
Our holistic, team-based approach to servicing clients means your team of estate and tax planning, investment management, and trust administration professionals will work together to guide you toward achieving your personal and family goals while safeguarding your legacy.
Planning your legacy in the way you envision is at the heart of the Commerce Trust approach. Contact Lyle Johnson, your dedicated Market Executive for Commerce Trust, at (573) 886-5324 or lyle.johnson@commercebank.com to secure your legacy.
Key Considerations for Your Taxable Estate
By Guy Hockerman, CPA, CFP®, Senior Vice President and Financial Planning Manager, Commerce Trust
Understanding the basics of your taxable estate is critical to allocating wealth in a way that aligns with your goals. What assets are included in your gross estate, which deductions can be applied, and how taxable gifts impact how much estate and gift tax is owed are important considerations for preserving wealth and minimizing tax liabilities for your beneficiaries.
What assets are included in my taxable estate?
The IRS considers everything you own to be your “gross estate” and will calculate your estate tax liability based on the value of your gross estate, including, depending on the type of asset, part or all of jointly owned assets, as of the date of death. Assets like real estate, investments, cash, life insurance proceeds, trusts, annuities, valuable personal property, and business interests are included and assessed at fair market value.
The amount of federal estate tax owed is calculated using Form 706, the United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return which captures all relevant elements of your estate in one document.
Which federal estate tax deductions can be applied?
Federal estate tax deductions can lower the value of your gross estate, which may lower how much estate tax is due. Common deductions include funeral expenses paid by the estate, estate administration expenses, certain outstanding debts, charitable bequests, and the value of property that passes to a surviving spouse.
For residents of states that levy estate taxes at the state level, state estate taxes paid or anticipated to be paid are also deductible.
How
do taxable gifts impact my estate taxes?
Taxable gifts made over your lifetime can potentially increase your estate tax liability. Taxable gifts are recognized when cash or an asset that is greater in value than the annual gift tax exclusion amount ($19,000 per individual in 2025) is transferred to someone other than your spouse.
Any gift over the annual gift tax exclusion amount requires submitting Form 709, a gift tax return, to the IRS. If you still have estate and gift tax exemption remaining, there will be no tax paid but Form 709 will capture the use of that exemption.
What federal tax exemptions can I use to lower my estate taxes?
The federal estate and gift tax exemption combines the cumulative taxable gifts made over your lifetime and the value of your taxable estate to determine how much of the exemption amount is used to transfer assets tax-free. Any sum over the exemption amount is subject to a progressive tax that can quickly rise to a 40% maximum estate tax rate.
The federal “generation-skipping transfer” (GST) tax exemption allows gifts given to a “skip person,” someone two or more generations after the donor’s generation, to transfer tax-free up to a certain amount. This exemption is separate from the federal estate and gift tax exemption, but both exemptions are based on cumulative wealth transfers over your entire life such as taxable gifts given during your life and the transfer of your estate at death.
NAVIGATE ESTATE TAX COMPLEXITY WITH COMMERCE TRUST Commerce Trust uses a holistic and personalized approach to estate planning, partnering with your estate planning attorney or tax advisor when needed to ensure your estate plan is tailored to your goals.
Contact Commerce Trust today at www.commercetrustcompany.com/estateplanning to initiate estate planning discussions and learn how our financial planning, investment portfolio management, trust administration, and tax management* professionals work together to develop a comprehensive estate plan under one roof.
*Commerce Trust does not provide tax advice to customers unless engaged to do so.
The opinions and other information in the commentary are provided as of January 16, 2025. This summary is intended to provide general information only, and may be of value to the reader and audience. This material is not a recommendation of any particular investment or insurance strategy, is not based on any particular financial situation or need, and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified tax advisor or investment professional. While Commerce may provide information or express opinions from time to time, such information or opinions are subject to change, are not offered as professional tax, insurance or legal advice, and may not be relied on as such.
Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Commerce Trust is a division of Commerce Bank.
Investment Products: Not FDIC Insured | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee
Savoring the Seasons
What might God have for you this summer?
BY BETH BRAMSTEDT
Several times a year, the sta hosts a welcome lunch for those who are new to our church. As part of getting to know one another, we take turns answering a random question. In May, the question was “What’s your favorite season?”
It’s probably not surprising that 90 percent of those participating answered spring or fall (if there’s plenty of allergy medicine available)! Except for one enthusiastic skier, most lamented the cold temperatures of winter and the summer humidity that can take your breath away.
While I agree there would be perks to living someplace that’s a constant seventy- ve degrees, I do love the variety that comes with seasons. Not necessarily each of the seasons individually, but what they add to my life in their entirety.
One of my young adult friends reminded me last year that there’s something very life-giving about embracing the seasons. He shared that he and his girlfriend were committed to being present for each place and season they found themselves in. ey made a list of things in mid-Missouri they wanted to experience that were unique to each season. And then they set o to do them.
I love the holiness of this idea. Rather than rush through life, skipping over parts and missing others, we can take time to dig into the here and now. We can slow down to notice what God is doing and how he is working in the here and now.
I followed their lead and started last fall by taking my granddaughters to a pumpkin festival, sipping apple cider, and savoring the taste of apple donuts. I spent time in silence, re ecting on God’s creation in the color of the leaves and the feel of the wind on my face. What started
as simply an idea became spiritual practice, part of my spiritual rhythms. As the weather has warmed up, I’ve made time to eat on the patio at Flat Branch Pub. I’ve enjoyed a glass of wine at Les Bourgeois, lingered on the Katy trail, and feasted on a novel at the swimming pool. And each time I felt God’s smile upon me as I engaged with the creation he made and called “good.”
is practice of savoring the seasons reminds me that life’s seasons don’t just involve the weather. You may recall an old, but favorite, verse in Ecclesiastes chapter 3. It reads like this:
ere’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
is passage reminds us that everything we experience has a season. e words keep us grounded in the truth that our pain and su ering won’t last forever. ey illustrate the ebb and ow of circumstances in our lives.
Meditating on these verses can keep us engaged in the here and now — paying attention to our thoughts and feelings, even when it’s hard. Being curious about our season can drive our prayers, and naming it can bring encouragement and hope.
So, wherever you nd yourself these days, my prayer is that you’ll pause and take time to relish the season that you are in. Engage in activities re ective of that season. Linger, sit with it, don’t drive it away too soon. Instead, let God meet you in it. He promises he will.
Beth Bramstedt is the Church Life Pastor at Christian Fellowship.
Housing: ‘A Reality Check and a Roadmap’
BY BARBARA BUFFALOE
I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this issue, especially as we focus on real estate — a topic that touches every household, every business, and every part of our city’s future. Housing is at the heart of Columbia’s growth, and over the past year, we’ve taken important steps to better understand and address our community’s evolving needs.
Last year’s Housing Study and Housing Summit o ered both a reality check and a roadmap. e data con rmed what many of us were already experiencing: Housing costs are climbing, supply is lagging, and too many of our neighbors struggle to nd safe, a ordable places to live. But it also highlighted opportunities, such as embracing more diverse housing types and fostering stronger public-private partnerships.
Since then, the city of Columbia — alongside Boone County and local advocates — has kept the momentum going. We’ve been working to expand housing options, streamline permitting processes, and invest in projects that meet critical needs.
Housing is a regional issue, and I am grateful that we’ve deepened our partnership with Boone County to align land use planning, extend sewer infrastructure, and tackle homelessness. By working to-
gether, we aim to grow thoughtfully and equitably — expanding housing supply while protecting the qualities that make Columbia special.
Our Planning and Zoning Commission is reviewing zoning ordinances to allow more exibility for housing types in neighborhoods. ese updates can create more a ordable entry points into the housing market while respecting neighborhood character. City sta are working to modernize permitting processes, making it easier and more predictable for developers to get projects o the ground.
e newly created Housing Trust will be a key tool in supporting developments that serve low- and moderate-income residents. My hope is that it will target resources to projects that provide deeply a ordable units and ll the gap between the cost of the build and what families can a ord.
While we’re making local progress, I am deeply concerned about external pressures that threaten to undercut these e orts. e federal budget proposal released earlier this year includes sweeping cuts to essential housing and community programs.
e proposed elimination of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
and HOME Investment Partnerships Program would strip away more than $4.5 billion nationally — funding that cities like Columbia rely on to build a ordable housing, repair homes for seniors, and support neighborhood revitalization.
ese cuts, if enacted, would have real and lasting impacts here at home. For Columbia, CDBG has been vital in projects ranging from emergency shelter improvements to accessibility upgrades for residents with disabilities. e HOME program has helped create and preserve affordable housing units across the city. Losing these tools would make it signi cantly harder to meet the needs identi ed in our housing study.
We are also watching closely the potential return of tari s on building materials, similar to those implemented during the last Trump administration. Local builders and contractors saw rsthand how those tari s drove up the costs of lumber, steel, and other key materials, in ating project budgets and ultimately pushing housing prices higher for consumers. We cannot afford to repeat that cycle, especially at a time when a ordability is already stretched.
In the face of these challenges, Columbia remains committed to doing everything within our power to keeping housing a top priority. We will continue to advocate for federal support, pursue creative solutions locally, and work alongside developers, nonpro ts, and residents to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
As always, your feedback is essential. Whether you’re concerned about a ordability, interested in new housing opportunities, or want to be part of the conversation, please reach out. Together, we can build a Columbia that’s inclusive, resilient, and prepared for whatever comes next.
Barbara Bu aloe is currently serving her second term in o ce as the mayor of Columbia.
Fire Up the Grill for Some Barbecue!
BY HOSS KOETTING
‘TIS THE SEASON. Bar-b-que season, that is! Time to get out on the deck, patio, or back yard, re up the grill, and get some of your favorite proteins going. ere are numerous options to choose from, but we need to clarify some terminology here.
Not everything that is cooked on a grill outside is barbecue. Preparing steaks, burgers, hot dogs and the like over direct heat is technically “grilling.” Cooking on a gas grill, while convenient, can’t be considered true barbecue because it is missing a prerequisite, which is wood smoke. e real deal requires a wood or charcoal re, which not only cooks the food, but also imparts the smoky avor desired of bar-bque, and the meat is cooked with indirect heat.
Barbecue can be either “dry,” as in cooked with a dry rub and served as-is, with no sauce, or “wet,” where a sauce is added in the last thirty minutes or so of cooking. I like a wet product most of the time and, being somewhat of a purist, don’t like any sauce that has liquid smoke in it, as the smoke avor should be imparted through the cooking process. I’ve found that there aren’t a lot of sauces commercially available that don’t have liquid smoke, so here’s a great sauce to make yourself.
It will keep in the refrigerator for several months, but it is so tasty that you’ll probably nish it o sooner than that. Also, a perfect accompaniment to great barbecue is a good side. A traditional side is cole slaw. Here’s a tangy version of creamy slaw that has a little kick.
A nice bene t of barbecueing, since it takes more time, is the opportunity to socialize and indulge in some adult beverages!
TANGY CREAMY
COLE SLAW
• 1 c real mayo
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• ½ c granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp ground celery seed
• 1 tbsp Hoss’s Cajun seasoning
• ½ c minced red onion
• 1/3 c minced fresh at leaf parsley
• 8 c thinly sliced green cabbage
• 2 c thinly sliced cabbage
• 2 c thinly shredded carrots
Jim “Hoss” Koetting is a retired restaurateur/chef who enjoys gardening, good food, good bourbon, and good friends.
To make the coleslaw dressing, mix together the mayo, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, sugar, pepper, celery seed, and Hoss’s Cajun seasoning. Toss dressing with veggies and refrigerate.
HOSS’S BAR-B-QUE SAUCE
• 1 qt ketchup
• ½ c apple cider (sub juice if cider is not available)
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• ¾ c brown sugar
• ¼ c apple cider vinegar
• ¼ c maple syrup
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp Hoss’s Cajun seasoning
• 1 tbsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp ground celery seed
Mix all ingredients and keep refrigerated.
COOKIN’
Th e Best Part of Waking Up
Where COMO eats breakfast.
BY SUNITHA BOSECKER
Breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day. And judging by Columbia’s breakfast scene, there are a variety of delicious options. Columbia delivers on breakfast goodness. Whether you’re craving bacon and eggs in a classic diner booth or a pistachio- lled pastry that would make any French pastry chef do a double-take, here’s your avor guide to starting the day right in COMO.
DELYSIUM
A Sweet Awakening
Suppose your morning starts with a craving for something aky, rich, and slightly unexpected. If so, head to Delysium. Since opening in August 2024, this boutique bakery has brought international air to Columbia’s pastry scene, blending Colombian heritage with French technique.
“We wanted to bring unique, high-quality pastries to the heart of Missouri,” says owner and baker Marcela Isaza. Among the showstoppers is the Pistachio New York Roll, a round croissant lled with pistachio pastry cream and topped with pistachio ganache. It’s buttery, nutty, and almost too beautiful to eat.
Equally mouthwatering is the Tres Leches Cinnamon Roll, which swaps traditional dough for croissant dough and adds a layer of tres leches cream.
“We love seeing Missourians enjoy Pandebono, too,” Isaza adds, referring to the traditional Colombian cheese bread now quickly becoming a fan favorite.
A Delysium regular put it best: “ is is by far my favorite place in Columbia.”
by
Photo
Nathana Clay Photography
SAGE
Where Breakfast Becomes an Experience
Opened in February 2024, Sage has quickly become the darling of Columbia’s culinary scene. Sage was created by owner and culinary director Kaitlyn Schlacks.
“My vision has always been to create an experience, something thoughtful, beautiful, and grounded in detail,” Schlacks explains. at detail shows up in every corner of the café, from the minimalist, sophisticated interiors to the Egg & Brisket Bowl, a locally sourced masterpiece that layers tender brisket with crispy potatoes, soft scrambled eggs, and sautéed vegetables.
“Each component is simple but thoughtfully prepared,” she says. “ e result is a dish that’s rich, balanced, and deeply satisfying.”
But let’s not forget the pastries. Inspired by classic French technique and crafted with real French butter, Sage’s in-house pastries often sell out before lunch.
“Watching our pastry program evolve has been one of the most rewarding parts of Sage,” Schlacks adds. “It’s beautiful, seasonally inspired work.”
BEET BOX Whimsy Meets Flavor
Tucked into Columbia’s eclectic Arcade District, Beet Box brings a modern, Middle Eastern-inspired twist to the breakfast scene.
“We wanted to o er casual, thoughtful food that felt unique,” says co-founder Amanda Elliott. Mission accomplished.
Among its top sellers is the Black Garlic Biscuit, a salty-sweet-spicy umami combination that reinvents the breakfast sandwich, which includes a fried egg and sausage. e playful pastry o erings, especially the homemade pop tarts, have become legendary.
“ ey’re rooted in childlike whimsy,” Elliott explains. If you’re a ‘90s kid, you can’t beat a homemade aky pop tart. With rotating avors like Strawberry Peach and Cherry Rhubarb, these nostalgic treats sell out fast. Don’t miss the Tahini Caramel Latte, a current seasonal drink that somehow feels both comforting and completely original. And if you’re lucky, you’ll catch the Donut of the Month, a rotating avor brainstormed by their baker and kitchen manager over a shared love of creativity.
Photo by Sunitha Bosecker
Matcha and biscuits & gravy photos by Kaitlyn Schlacks
THE CLASSIC DINERS
Columbia knows how to do breakfast the old-school way. If you’re in the mood for a warm mug of co ee and a side of small talk, there’s no better place to begin than at Broadway Diner. Nestled downtown, this retro gem o ers greasy spoon charm and unforgettable menu staples. Longtime regular Jothi, known to friends as Joe, swears by Matt’s Dilemma, a towering plate of hash browns, eggs, and cheese that he and his 17-year-old kiddo both devour.
Nearby, Ernie’s Café & Steak House, a local institution since 1934, continues to deliver. Known for its hearty omelets and u y pancakes, Ernie’s is the type of place where art and neon colors create a cozy, vintage atmosphere. Meanwhile, out west on the edge of town, Perche Creek Yacht Club Café puts a whimsical spin on the diner aesthetic. With a nautical theme and hearty breakfast plates, it’s a favorite for both locals and travelers needing a hearty meal.
COLUMBIA'S CROWD FAVORITES
Ask around, and you’ll hear familiar names echoing through Columbia’s neighborhoods. For Sara Harrison, breakfast begins and ends with the lemon honey cream cheese bagel from Goldie’s Bagels. “It’s my top recommendation. I fell in love with it,” she says without hesitation.
Cafe Berlin also garners passionate fanfare. Melodi Brant recommends the Pulled Pork Hash, a savory, stick-to-yourribs kind of plate, while Kale Monk prefers the Anonymous Tacos, which balance spice, crunch, and a sense of breakfast adventure.
Rocheport General Store, just a scenic drive from downtown, o ers a weekend breakfast experience that locals rave about. Ashley Minor calls it a “hidden gem” that’s worth the detour.
On the north side of town, Big Mama’s Café continues to make waves with Southern-style breakfasts and soul food avors.
And nally, there’s e Old Neighborhood Café, where Adonica Coleman swears by the make-your-own scramble. “You pick your ingredients, and they nail it every time. It’s delicious.”
DON’T FORGET THE SWEETS
Your breakfast journey isn’t complete without a stop for something sugary. Whether it’s to-go or your main dish (no judgment here), Columbia’s sweet side is just as strong.
Eat. Crepe. Love. at Acola Co ee o ers thin, buttery crepes — ideal for a light, elegant breakfast, or mid-morning treat. Try the Monkey Love, dusted with powdered sugar and layered with Nutella and strawberries.
At Sage, try a aky chocolate croissant or an almond tea cake. (You can thank us later.)
FINAL BITE
Columbia’s breakfast scene is classic, avorful, and slightly unexpected. Whether you’re grabbing a bagel on your way to work, sharing pancakes in a vinyl booth, or slowly savoring a pastry with perfectly steamed co ee, there’s something for everyone. Have a favorite local breakfast spot or a must-order dish? Let us know and join the conversation! #COMOBreakfastClub.
Photos by Sunitha Bosecker
Photo by
Kaitlyn Schlacks
(Re)Discover COMO
Boone Junction Village
Boone Village, or the Village at Boone Junction, in Columbia, Missouri, is a planned historic village that showcases the history of Boone County through relocated structures. It features homes and businesses from di erent eras, o ering a glimpse into the lives and lifestyles of Boone County residents from 1818 to 1930. e multi-layer display is located on the grounds of the Boone County History & Culture Center at 3801 Ponderosa Street.
e village houses various relocated structures, including the Gordon-Collins Log Cabin, the Easley General Store, the Ryland Farmhouse, and the McQuitty House, all of which were originally located in di erent parts of Boone County.
• Gordon-Collins Log Cabin: is cabin, built around 1822, served as a temporary residence for a settler's family and later as slave quarters and a home for hired laborers.
• Easley General Store: is store, relocated from Easley, Missouri, provides a glimpse into the daily lives and commerce of a small-town general store.
• Quitty House: is home, built in 1910, showcases a unique "Shotgun" style of architecture and is one of the few surviving examples of this type of housing in Columbia and Boone County.
Missouri Theatre
e Missouri eatre at 203 S. Ninth St. in downtown Columbia is on the National Register of Historic Places and is central Missouri's only remaining pre-Depression era movie palace and vaudeville stage. Built in 1928, the theater's interior is an ornate baroque and rococo style of the Louis XIV and XV periods. Designed by the Boller Brothers Architects of Kansas City, the theater is modeled after the Paris Opera House.
Much of the original detailing survives, including the Belgian marble wainscoting, plaster reliefs, stained glass art panels under the balcony, and an 1,800-pound Italian chandelier featuring crystal prisms and etched panels.
e Missouri eatre boasts a rich history dating to 1928 and is now a concert venue and home to the Missouri Symphony Orchestra.
Quick history lesson:
• 1928 - Construction completed, opening as a movie palace and vaudeville stage.
• 1950s-1960s - Decline of movie palace theaters led to the Missouri eatre's transformation and eventual ownership by the University of Missouri in 2014.
• 2011 - e University of Missouri began a lease agreement, eventually purchasing the building in 2014.
• Present - e Missouri eatre is a major performance venue for the University of Missouri School of Music, the University Concert Series, and the Missouri Symphony Orchestra.
State Historical Society of Missouri
e State Historical Society of Missouri’s mission is to collect, preserve, publish, exhibit, and make available material related to all aspects and periods of Missouri history. e Center for Missouri Studies is just one of SHSMO’s research centers and is located in the Flat Branch area of downtown Columbia at 6 Elm Street.
Founded in May 1898 by the Missouri Press Association and established as a trustee of the state a year later, the State Historical Society of Missouri is the premier research center for the study of Missouri state and local history.
e Center for Missouri Studies in Columbia also houses the nation's best collection of Missouri regional and westward expansion art. e Center serves as the administrative headquarters for the Society.
Collections include: unique manuscript collections; an extensive newspaper collection dating from 1808 with newspapers from all 114 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis; thousands of editorial cartoons that are national in scope; rare and specialized books; thousands of maps and photographic images; oral histories; and an extensive art collection that includes major works by George Caleb Bingham and omas Hart Benton.
e Center also publishes the Missouri Historical Review
(Re)Discover COMO is a monthly feature sponsored by the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighting places, events, and historical connections that new residents and visitors can discover, and not-so-newcomers and longtime residents can ... rediscover.
WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW
JACOB OVERSCHMIDT MANOR ROOFING & RESTORATION
MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY SEASON: WHY IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR DECK AND ADD A FOUR-SEASON ROOM
By Jacob Overschmidt xx@exploremanor.com
As homeowners continue to invest in their outdoor spaces, few upgrades offer more year-round value and enjoyment than a beautifully redesigned deck and a screened four-season room. Whether your current deck is weather-worn or you’re ready to bring your backyard vision to life, now is the perfect time to transform your space—and no one does it better than Manor Roofing & Restoration Services.
Year-Round Comfort, Built to Last
A four-season room allows you to enjoy the outdoors without battling the elements. From spring rains and summer heat to fall chills and winter snow, a properly insulated and enclosed space means more usable square footage all year long. Pair it with a custom-built deck, and you’ve got an outdoor living space that adds beauty, function, and resale value to your home.
Manor’s team designs and builds decks and four-season rooms that seamlessly connect to your existing architecture while elevating your home’s curb appeal and daily functionality.
Screened Rooms = No Bugs, All Breeze
We all love a cool evening breeze—but no one loves mosquitoes. A screened room provides protection without sacrificing the outdoor experience. Whether you want a space to relax with coffee, host a game night, or enjoy dinner with friends, Manor’s screened and enclosed rooms keep you comfortable and protected in every season.
Boost Your Home’s Value with a Trusted Partner
JACOB OVERSCHMIDT HEAD OF SALES
WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW
Jacob Overschmidt started in construction at the age of 15 while working for his uncle's construction company. After gaining years of experience in both construction and sales, Jacob combined all of his knowledge and skills to find his perfect position here at Manor. When he's not working, Jacob loves cooking, fishing, listening to music, and spending time with his family.
573.445.4770
exploremanor.com
Homeowners who invest in upgraded outdoor spaces consistently see strong returns—not just financially, but in their quality of life. Manor is proud to deliver craftsmanship that doesn’t just meet expectations, it exceeds them. With nearly 20 years in the industry and a reputation built on trust, quality, and transparency, Manor is Columbia’s go-to contractor for exterior remodeling.
When you work with Manor, you get:
• Professional design guidance to match your vision and lifestyle
Top-tier materials and craftsmanship for long-lasting beauty and durability
• Clear communication and project updates from start to finish
• A full range of exterior services including siding, windows, doors, and roofing—making your whole exterior work together beautifully
Designed for Your Life
Whether you’re dreaming of a lowmaintenance composite deck, a screened porch for summer nights, or a climate-
controlled four-season room for year-round use, Manor brings your vision to life with expert design and seamless execution. Every detail is thoughtfully planned— from material selection and lighting to structural layout and style—to create a space that reflects how you want to live.
Choose Manor for Outdoor Living that Works in Every Season
Your outdoor space should be a natural extension of your home. If your current deck is outdated, underused, or just not working for your lifestyle, let Manor show you what’s possible. From concept to completion, Manor Roofing & Restoration Services is the trusted name for exterior remodeling done right.
Explore what Manor can do for your exterior remodeling needs at ExploreManor.com or call us at (573) 445-4770.
MAKING A MOVE?
By Mike Messer MMesser@ShelterInsurance.com
Ahome can be a great investment because unlike renting, you’ll hopefully get money back when you sell it. Some people are even able to borrow against the equity in their home when needed. But buying, building or selling a house isn’t a decision you should make lightly.
First-Time Home Buyers
If this is your first house, it’s best to have enough money saved to cover a down payment as well as closing costs, home appraisal and a home inspection.
• Down Payment: Although a down payment can range from $0 to as much as you can save, it should be 20% of the cost of the house to avoid private mortgage insurance. The remaining amount is the amount you’ll finance, so the more you can put down, the better.
• Closing Costs: Closing costs are usually around 3%-6% of the loan amount.
• Home appraisal and inspection: The cost of these vary, but on average they are $300-$600 each.
• Insurance: Once you’ve purchased your home, you’ll need homeowners insurance. If you’re building, you might consider a builders risk endorsement for the construction phase.
Because your property taxes and home insurance will probably be rolled into your payment, you should take those into consideration when calculating what that payment will be each month. You will also incur costs to move, whether you hire professionals or rent a truck and do it yourself. In addition, houses require ongoing maintenance which will lead to additional expenses. Are you ready to put in the time, work and money this takes?
If you’re ready to make that move, it’s important to choose your home’s location wisely as that could affect your resale someday. In addition, if you’re not buying a new house, your home inspection is key. Don’t close until you have a detailed home inspection and any issues are addressed by the seller.
Selling Your Home
MIKE MESSER AIC, LUTCFSHELTER INSURANCE
With over two decades in the insurance industry, Mike Messer has served as a claims adjuster, supervisor, and underwriter, giving him a well-rounded understanding of how policies work when it matters most — before and after a loss. He prioritizes building relationships based on trust and personalized service, recognizing that every client’s needs are unique. Through annual policy reviews, he helps ensure clients stay informed, confident, and properly covered, providing them with peace of mind and financial security.
There may come a time when you need to move for a job relocation, to be closer to family or just to experience life in another part of the country. Another reason may be that your house needs updates and instead of enduring and investing in a remodel, you’d rather get a newer house. Whatever the reason, you’ll need to prepare your house to sell. That won’t necessarily involve a remodel, but cleaning up the landscaping and yard, and maybe even a coat of paint can improve curb appeal outside. Decluttering, a deep clean, touch-up painting or repairs may need to be done to make the inside more appealing as well. There are also home staging techniques you can use.
Buying Investment Property
If you’re buying a home to rent to others such as an apartment building, duplex or fourplex, you need apartment owners insurance. It will help cover obvious perils such as fire, wind and hail, plus some liability situations.
Whether you’re buying, selling or becoming a landlord, a home always needs insurance. If you’d like to know more about homeowners insurance or apartment owners insurance and discounts, contact me with Shelter Insurance®. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
BRENDAN ROST ROST LANDSCAPING PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE: DESIGNING LANDSCAPES
THAT GROW WITH YOU
By Brendan Rost Find more at rostlandscaping.com
Great landscape design isn’t just about the here and now—it’s about envisioning a space that becomes more beautiful, functional, and enriching with time. When we plan outdoor environments, we aim to balance short-term and long-term goals to create a space that is both beautiful and maintainable. Done correctly, these gardens and landscapes don’t just survive, they thrive. As plants grow larger, fuller, and more prolific, they bring unexpected rewards and develop new characteristics that elevate the entire outdoor experience.
The Beauty of Time in the Garden
One of the greatest joys of landscape design is watching it evolve. What starts as a modest planting becomes, over the years, a lush haven teeming with life. A young tree may offer just a sliver of shade in its first year, but with time it transforms into a grand canopy under, establishing a comfortable ceiling, framing a view, or acting as a visual anchor for a portion of the property.
Designing for maturity means considering the full growth potential of plants. Will that shrub triple in size in five years? Will a tree’s roots or canopy affect nearby structures or plants? By understanding growth habits and allowing room for expansion, a landscape avoids becoming overcrowded or chaotic. Instead, it becomes more intentional and spacious, with every plant having the opportunity to express its full character.
Layering for Long-Term Impact
Successful long-term design often involves layered groundcovers, mid-height perennials, shrubs, and trees all working together. As time passes, these layers grow into one another, creating visual depth, biodiversity, and seasonal interest. What
may feel sparse at first soon becomes dynamic and textured, with each year adding a new layer of interest.
Mature plants also contribute more significantly to local ecosystems. Larger shrubs and trees offer better shelter for birds and beneficial insects, while spreading perennials help stabilize soil and suppress weeds. This environmental growth not only enhances the beauty of the garden, but its resilience as well.
Planning for Flexibility and Change
An often-overlooked opportunity in longterm landscape planning is the chance to adapt and evolve. As some plants reach maturity and dominate their space, others may need to be thinned, relocated, or replaced with better-suited companions. This isn’t a sign of poor planning, it’s a natural, healthy part of gardening.
By designing flexible spaces like open mulched areas, movable containers, or modular garden beds—you create room for experimentation. Maybe you’ll want to add more pollinator plants one year, or replace a sun-loving plant with a shade-tolerant variety as the tree canopy grows. These opportunities for change keep the garden alive, both literally and creatively.
A Growing Investment
When you plant a landscape with maturity
WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW
Brendan Rost is a Columbia native and son of Rost Landscaping owners Tim and Toby Rost. He grew up playing at the garden center and nursery and has worked in all divisions of Rost Inc. Brendan received his degree in horticulture and design from MU and now works as a designer in the landscaping division. He thrives on building relationships and creating unique landscapes that complement their space.
(573) 445-4465 ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM
in mind, you’re not just investing in plants, you’re investing in the experience those plants will offer in the years ahead. Privacy hedges become natural fences, small trees evolve into focal points, and perennial borders turn into living tapestries.
The key is patience, paired with thoughtful planning. By understanding what each plant needs now and what it will become, you build a landscape that grows more valuable — and more rewarding — over time.
Because in the end, the most successful landscapes aren’t just beautiful today. They’re landscapes that grow with you— deepening the impact, complexity, and joy, of the space year after year.
A very special thank you, Stephanie
Stephanie is a credit administration officer in our commercial loan department! She brings to the group a wealth of knowledge which she is always willing to share with her peers. She is often the first to help a coworker and takes time out of her day to answer any questions they may have. She cares about the quality of her work, and her work ethic is second to none.
573-874-8100 • centralbank.net/boonebank
Lock
&
Leave Lifestyle
Stewart’s approach to development was ahead of its time. He prioritized aesthetic harmony and modern amenities, incorporating stone-surfaced streets — a technique known as macadam paving, concrete sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and utility connections into his subdivisions. rough carefully crafted covenants, he ensured setbacks, architectural consistency, and residential integrity. ese values are still visible today in the fabric of the West Broadway neighborhood.
"It's not just about the houses," Sheals explained. "It's the yards, the setbacks, the way the neighborhood feels."
Stewart understood this. His design decisions preserved a streetscape that still resonates today.
Stewart saw West Broadway as an entrance to Columbia and wanted to set the scale for the whole neighborhood. His development approach included a thoughtful mix of housing types — both larger houses on spacious lots and smaller homes on modest parcels — creating a diverse yet harmonious residential landscape that has stood the test of time.
Unlike other parts of town where road expansion or modern construction has disrupted historic patterns, this section of West Broadway retains its original rhythm.
"If you look at College Avenue, it used to look like West Broadway, and then they put a four-lane road through it,” Sheals said.
is contrast highlights why preservation matters — the character of a neighborhood can be irrevocably altered by infrastructure changes.
But in the West Broadway neighborhood, commitment to preservation runs deep. When Sheals purchased her home decades ago, her deed contained a warning that the city was considering widening the street, something residents have consistently opposed and successfully fought for. " at neighborhood has a long history of defending the streetscape," Sheals said.
THE JUDGE
JOHN A. STEWART HOUSE
Located at 611 W. Broadway, the Judge John A. Stewart House anchors the district both historically and architecturally. Built in 1905, this handsome two-story brick home exempli es Colonial Revival architecture in the American Foursquare form. Its symmetrical façade of warm red brick is punctuated by evenly spaced windows with crisp white trim. e full-width front porch, supported by classical columns, creates an inviting entrance, while the home's wide eaves and hipped roof complete its balanced proportions.
As both a civic leader and developer, Stewart embodied the ideals of the neighborhood he helped shape. In addition to his development work, he owned and operated a limestone quarry — now Stewart Park — that provided stone for construction projects around the region, including parts of the University of Missouri’s campus and the Missouri State Capitol.
Stewart's involvement extended beyond planning: he lived in the home he helped design standards for, using it as a personal example of the neighborhood's intended character. e house itself has seen remarkably little alteration since it was built, and its preservation stands as a testament to Stewart's enduring in uence. For preservationists like Sheals, the property re ects both architectural care and the legacy of a man who saw neighborhood planning as a civic responsibility.
THE JOHN N. AND ELIZABETH TAYLOR HOUSE
Built around 1909, the Taylor House at 716 W. Broadway stands as a cornerstone of the district. With its stately Colonial Revival architecture, the house presents a grand yet harmonious presence that exempli es Stewart's vision.
"It was one of the rst homes in Columbia to be designated as a local landmark," Sheals said.
John N. Taylor’s story re ects the rise of 19th-century American entrepreneurship. A cabinetmaker turned businessman, Taylor built a successful furniture and undertaking business in Huntsville before expanding his ventures across mid-Missouri. After relocating to Columbia in 1909, he continued to lead his company, John N. Taylor, Inc., and became president of Columbia Savings Bank. Taylor’s leadership in banking and real estate development helped shape Columbia’s early nancial infrastructure.
His wife, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Hickman Taylor, was equally in uential in civic life. An alumna of Christian College (now Columbia College), she became a xture in Columbia’s social and cultural scene, known for hosting musicales, literary salons and receptions at the Taylor House. A supporter of arts and education, she was active in church circles and the Tuesday Club, a women’s literary society.
e house they built together became a social center for the neighborhood and a symbol of their shared commitment to community-building. Its symmetrical design features a prominent dormer-punctuated roof and a classical entryway framed by elegant woodwork and detailed moldings. e home's spacious front lawn, consistent with Stewart's setback requirements, enhances its digni ed appearance.
THE JOHN AND BELLE MITCHELL HOUSE
Farther west along the same stretch sits the John and Belle Mitchell House at 604 W. Broadway. Constructed between 1914 and 1915, this home is one of the most architecturally re ned in the district. With its symmetrical Colonial Revival façade, hipped roof and prominent front dormers, the house stands as a strong representation of upper-middle-class housing during Columbia's early 20th-century expansion.
e Mitchell House features crisp white clapboard siding, multi-paned windows and a centered entry portico supported by slender columns, all hallmarks of the Colonial Revival style that dominated this period.
John T. Mitchell’s impact extended beyond Columbia. A seasoned banker, he served as president of the Bank of Centralia before being appointed Missouri’s State Commissioner of Banking in 1913. During his tenure, he advocated for safer, more transparent banking practices and later returned to Columbia to serve as president of Columbia Savings Bank. He also played a role in statewide infrastructure planning, sitting on a gubernatorial committee for highways. His death in 1921 was widely mourned.
Belle Mitchell, meanwhile, earned a reputation as one of Columbia’s grand ladies. Known for her skillful hosting and tireless civic engagement, she organized fundraising balls, served on the library board and was active in the Columbia Women’s Club and Red Cross drives during World War I. With no children, the Mitchells poured their energy into civic life — and their home became
a backdrop for some of the most elegant gatherings in town.
Today, the Mitchell House remains remarkably intact, a lasting tribute to a couple who helped shape both Columbia’s nancial institutions and its social fabric.
THE EUGENE B. AND LENA RUNYAN HOUSE
Built in 1907, the Eugene B. and Lena Runyan House at 500 W. Broadway showcases late Victorian residential design in Columbia. is two-and-ahalf-story home features a high-hipped roof, asymmetrical façade and detailed woodwork that makes it visually distinctive within the district. While many surrounding homes re ect the Colonial Revival trend of the 1910s and 1920s, the Runyan House o ers a glimpse into the tail end of the Victorian era and the transitional period that followed.
e home's exterior displays a rich palette of textures, with decorative shingles in the upper gables contrasting against the main clapboard siding. Ornate brackets, turned porch posts, and decorative railings add character to the façade.
Eugene B. Runyan served as the longtime station agent for the Wabash Railroad, the primary line connecting Columbia to the outside world. In that role, he welcomed new students and professors, managed freight shipments, and became a well-known gure throughout Boone County. He also served on the City Council and the Columbia Commercial Club, advocating for better infrastructure and business development.
After his sudden death in 1909, his widow, Lena, maintained the house-
hold with quiet resilience. A native of Columbia, she worked in a local dry goods store, volunteered with the Baptist Church and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and even took in a boarder to help make ends meet. She died in 1933 and was buried next to Eugene in Columbia Cemetery.
eir home — well preserved and full of character — remains one of the few Victorian-era residences left in the city, o ering a rare window into an earlier chapter of Columbia’s residential life.
PRESERVATION EFFORTS
In recent years, Columbia residents have taken active steps to protect the character of historic neighborhoods like West Broadway.
In 2019, neighbors organized in opposition to a proposed fraternity development at the corner of Seventh Street and Broadway. e plan would have replaced a historic home with a new fraternity house, prompting fears about precedent and the long-term impacts of increased density and demolition. Residents attended public hearings, submitted petitions, and voiced concerns at city meetings.
In response to the community’s unied pushback, the developer ultimately withdrew the proposal.
is episode re ected broader concerns across Columbia, where grassroots preservation e orts have increasingly sought to safeguard older residential neighborhoods from incompatible development. Advocacy groups and neighborhood associations have since advocated for zoning tools and planning strategies that respect historic scale, architecture, and livability — especially in areas like West Broadway that face redevelopment pressure from the nearby university and downtown core.
Last year, the city of Columbia formally launched its rst-ever Historic Preservation Plan, supported by a grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Since then, the city and Historic Preservation Commission has hosted multiple public meetings, gathered survey input, and released several drafts of the plan for review.
e plan is designed to help Columbia identify, document, and protect its historic buildings, neighborhoods, and landmarks. It includes recommendations for new design guidelines, preservation incentives, and clearer integration of historic resources into city planning.
For neighborhoods like West Broadway, the plan o ers both recognition and actionable guidance, such as model design standards that support homeowners in maintaining historic character — like broad setbacks, architectural diversity, and mature tree canopy — while allowing for compatible updates and in ll development.
As of May 2025, the nal draft is under review by the Missouri State Historic Preservation O ce, with adoption expected later this summer.
A COMMUNITY
BUILT TO LAST Preservation isn't easy. It requires dedication, research, funding, and community support. But in Columbia, those elements have come together in remarkable ways.
"You can't get to historic unless you keep it," Sheals said, summarizing the philosophy that underpins much of her work, from district nominations to individual building assessments.
ese homes are more than buildings; they are physical reminders of Columbia's growth, values, and resilience.
"People live there forever,” Sheals said of the West Broadway neighborhood. “Several people that I know that live on the block have lived there for thirty years ... e neighborhood's stayed pretty constant."
As Columbia continues to grow, the hope is that these and other historic homes will remain standing, reminding us of where we've been and guide the future.
“It has been a pleasure working with everyone at Garrett Painting. I cannot complement their work enough! Very professional and great communication.”
Jennifer F., Google Review, June 2025
UNPACKING
Apparently, we just really love our ‘stuff.’
BY MICHELLE TERHUNE PHOTOS BY KEITH BORGMEYER
Space: the nal frontier. ese are the voyages of the vast number of people with too many possessions and not enough storage.
With apologies to Capt. James T. Kirk, nding more earthly space seems to have become the mission of many Columbians. And these intrepid residents are nding an increasing number of places where self-storage spaces await them. In fact, there are at least forty self-storage facilities with Columbia addresses.
Are there enough? And what’s with all the stu people have that they need them for? Let’s nd out.
COLUMBIA’S SELF-STORAGE INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
Columbia holds several claims to fame, like hosting the rst homecoming. But it’s also a self-storage world leader.
StorageMart launched in Columbia in 1999, although the Gordon Burnam family had owned self-storage facilities since the 1970s. Today, it’s the largest privately owned self-storage company in the world with more than 300 facilities in 23 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It has 2,794 units across eight facilities in Columbia alone.
e unit sizes range from smaller 5x5 spaces (around twenty- ve square feet) to much larger spaces like a 30x50 (1,500 square feet).
In interviews with Samuel Schnieders, owner of BOXIT Self-Storage Centers, and Jack Maher III, vice president of Maher Commercial Real Estate, which manages Bold Venture Storage & Business Park and Route K Storage, both invoked the Burnam name as a leader in the industry. You might be surprised to learn that industry is classi ed under real estate. And it’s booming in Columbia.
KEEPING IT REAL (ESTATE)
Real estate is an investment, whether that’s owning a home, a commercial building, an
UNPACKING
apartment complex, or a storage facility. But investors didn’t always put storage into the same category. at is, until the 2008 nancial crisis.
“When the economic downturn happened, self-storage came through with ying colors, and that caught Wall Street’s interest,” Schnieders says. “ e downturn really showed how recession-proof self-storage is. Now, Wall Street starts funneling money into [the industry] from 2012 all the way through 2020. en, COVID happens, and storage had its best years ever. We were thriving while investments in o ce buildings were getting killed.”
COLUMBIA'S SELF-STORAGE BOOM
Even all the small mom-and-pop storage facilities avoided taking the hit other commercial real estate did. And that has attracted more and more people to invest in them, either by buying existing facilities or building new ones.
Schnieders built his original BOXIT facility intending to sell it for capital to construct a new one. It worked. He opened a new BOXIT facility behind Columbia Mall in May and is working to ll the rst phase of units.
Maher, newer to the industry, read an article ve or six years ago that said Columbia’s self-storage units were at 100 percent occupancy, which is why so many new ones have been going up.
“ at’s one of the reasons why you see this huge boom in the self-storage indus-
try here in town,” Maher says. “Everybody follows market swings. And the market was saying for a long time, ‘Hey, we’re undersupplied for self-storage facilities.’”
INDUSTRY CHANGES
In a recent article published by Modern Storage Media, StorageMart CEO Cris Burnam says the attention self-storage is getting from investors is also attracting consolidation, which will dramatically change the industry. As he says in the article:
“ e industry is going to become more institutionalized, just like the hotel industry. As more money comes into our sector, the more competitive it will get, and mom and pop won’t be able to keep up with the times. ey won’t be able to invest in the systems they need and the technology people will demand.”
“That’s one of the reasons why you see this huge boom in the self-storage industry here in town. Everybody follows market swings. And the market was saying for a long time, ‘Hey, we’re undersupplied for self-storage facilities.’”
— JACK MAHER III Vice President of Maher Commercial Real Estate
Ariel photo of Bold Venture Storage & Business Park provided by Maher Commercial Real Estate
“When the economic downturn happened, self-storage came through with flying colors, and that caught Wall Street’s interest. The downturn really showed how recession-proof self-storage is. Now, Wall Street starts funneling money into [the industry] from 2012 all the way through 2020. Then, COVID happens, and storage had its best years ever. We were thriving while investments in office buildings were getting killed.”
— SAMUEL SCHNIEDERS Owner of BOXIT Self-Storage Centers
Systems and technology have experienced a sea change. Many facilities used to have managers on site. ey could let people in and out, process applications, and accept rent payments in person.
Today, most use digital platforms to tackle tasks remotely. Some use management companies, like BOXIT’s relationship with Argus Professional Storage Management in Arizona. Even though Maher Commercial Real Estate is local, it manages two facilities it doesn’t own, also handling marketing, leads, contracts, rental payments, customer questions, and security systems.
“ e technology nally caught up with the asset. You still have to have a person on the ground, but all the pieces came together where you don’t have to have a person there 24/7,” Schnieders says.
Renters nd and contract for units online within minutes, rarely seeing the facility until they show up with their possessions. ey have unique access codes to open gates and, sometimes, the unit itself. Cameras constantly monitor activity and tighten security.
But technology like this doesn’t just make things secure and easy for renters. It also helps owners hold costs down by foiling the plans of those who don’t pay their rent. ey’re referred to as “tailgaters” because they sit behind a car accessing the gate, enter behind, clear out their units, and ee.
“If you do it the right way, your online platform runs in conjunction with your gate. If you are in default, then you are locked out of the facility,” Maher says.
HOW PEOPLE CHOOSE A FACILITY
It’s said that in real estate, the three most important considerations are location, location, location. e same is true with self-storage facilities.
“We have a lot of self-storage facilities in town, so it really doesn’t make sense to choose something far away. Typically, a mile away is the sweet spot. Anything outside of that and you’re probably going to be outside of your target demographic,” Maher says.
Units come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from those the size of a large closet to those that house vehicles, boats, and RVs. Bold Venture, for example, also o ers bay units with overhead doors, 2,000 to 5,000 square feet of open space, and a small o ce for contractors.
Some units are climate controlled, and others are dry. Plus, cost always a ects choice. Sometimes, the choice is not to rent because it doesn’t make nancial sense.
Mike Burnam, StorageMart CIO and president, has seen the industry’s evolution from student storage that morphed into small business storage, then into climate-controlled storage, and then into multi-level storage.
“It changed from an onsite manager with an apartment, to no apartment, to no manager and instant moveins via cell phone,” Mike Burnam said in an email. “It went from a gate we had to open every morning and close every night to a totally electronic open and close. It went from a ledger card system to communication with remote stores via fax to fully computerized stores and limited sta ng.”
Cindy Ward moved from Je erson City to Columbia ten years ago to help care for her new grandson, downsizing from a house to a condo in the process. She wanted to rent a storage unit but found it to be cost-prohibitive. She said it was difcult to let go of a lot of things, some that she wished she would have kept.
“If you can at all possible a ord a storage unit, even for a short time when you’re downsizing, I think it would be a good idea,” Ward says. “Give yourself some time to really consider what you want to keep and what you can live without.”
e growth of self-storage facilities here might help keep rent costs from rising, at least, until demand outruns supply again. Moreover, new facilities, needing to cover construction costs and high interest rates while building occupancy rates to 60 percent or more, can’t outprice the current market.
“It’s going to be interesting to see the newer facilities that come online, with the costs of construction and the rents that they have to charge, how competitive that they’re going to be with existing facilities,” Maher says.
WHO RENTS ALL THESE UNITS?
ere are a lot of reasons why people rent self-storage. But in every case, it’s because they don’t have the space at home to accommodate their “stu ,” whether it’s personal or professional.
In a college town like Columbia, students are a major demographic, but they aren’t ideal for facilities that prefer long-term renters. Students rent for days sometimes, storing items in between apartment moves.
en, there are the packrats, which Schnieders himself admits to being.
“I’m like everyone else,” he says. “My basement is packed full of stu my wife has told me repeatedly to get rid of, but I haven’t. If I didn’t have a big basement, I would have self-storage.”
Some, like Ward, need storage space to give time to work through a housing transition. Others inherit property from family and need to put it somewhere until they decide what to do with it.
Whatever the reason, most people keep paying rent for far longer than they planned.
“Everyone moves into self-storage thinking they’re going to be there for
three months. e truth of that is, if they say three months, there’s a good chance it will be two years,” Schnieders says. “Probably only about 10 percent of the population has the discipline to stick to their plan. Most of the time, there’s a good chance it’s going to be double. A good percentage of the time it will last four times as long. And there’s another small group that will never move out.”
“Most of self-storage should not exist,” Schnieders adds with a chuckle. Fortunately for Columbia’s facility owners, as well as for their renters, it does.
THE STORAGEMART STORY
ere are now seven Burnams involved in StorageMart’s international business. Mike Burnam said the rst in the line — his father, Gordon — “was a serial entrepreneur and never found a business he did not want to start or try.”
While on a family vacation in the early ‘70s to the Texas coast, there was rain every day that threatened to wash out their time away. But, “just like back home in Columbia,” Mike said his father thought a Sunday drive around was a good choice, leading to multiple drives around and through Corpus Christi.
“On one of those drives, Dad saw these long rows of buildings and stopped in to talk with the person onsite, who in those days was generally the owner,” Mike recalls. After another two or three stops “and the kids running around the driveways,” Gordon Burnam bought one storage building’s lease for $10.
Back in Columbia, Gordon convinced Kirksville S&L — long since defunct — to loan him the money to build the rst self-storage facility in the Midwest on Rangeline. e company has bought and sold that property at least three times, and it now serves the same purpose as it did in the beginning: serving the student population to store their belongings between semesters. Other small businesses also leased space, and the site went from one building to more than 120,000 square feet today.
Mike Burnam said his dad thought the business was scalable and partnered with the founding family of Boone County National Bank, now Central Bank, to develop around the Southeast U.S. at was the beginning of the company that now encompasses 320-plus stores and over twenty-two million square feet in the U.S., Canada, and the UK.
“Anyone can build a storage facility, but running a successful operation is a di erent challenge entirely. In today’s market, it takes far more than just o ering a 10-by-10 unit for someone’s extra stu . It requires … a sharp focus on market trends to maximize performance throughout the year,” Mike added. “Storage operations have evolved into a techdriven, customer-focused business — and that’s where we excel.”
Truman’s Bar & Grill
20 years of cheers, wings, and Bloody Marys.
BY SUNITHA BOSECKER
For two decades, Truman’s Bar & Grill has been the go-to spot for early-morning breakfasts, late-night celebrations, and every Chiefs touchdown in between. It’s where regulars know the bartenders by name and appreciate the cabin-style atmosphere with television screens from every angle, so an o ensive or defensive play is never missed. And the drinks are as strong as the opinions on game day.
Truman’s Bar & Grill celebrated its 20th anniversary on January 17. e celebration isn’t just about marking time — it’s about honoring a legacy built on a friendly space, comfort food, and a lot of TVs.
A BAR FOR EVERYONE
Step inside Truman’s, and you’ll immediately sense the energy of sports. On a Saturday afternoon, the place is packed with fans donning red and gold, roaring for the Chiefs or local favorites such as Mizzou football and basketball.
But at 6 a.m., the crowd is di erent. It’s nurses, EMTs, and re ghters coming o overnight shifts, unwinding with a hearty breakfast and a strong cup of co ee — or, for the bolder ones, a “Naughty Nurse,” a tropical rum cocktail that started as a tribute to a group of regulars in scrubs.
By 4 p.m., Happy Hour regulars trickle in. Half-priced drinks ow until 7 p.m., and again from 10 p.m. to midnight. Tuesdays are a fan favorite, with Happy Hour running all day and $6 tacos stealing the show. But if you ask the longtime customers what the real draw is, they’ll tell you: it’s the people.
“We’ve got folks who have been coming here since day one,” says Candy, one of the managers who has kept Truman’s running since 2005. “Some bring their families every Sunday after church for our breakfast bu et, some come for the wings, and some just want to catch the game with good company.”
Customer Service With a Purr
Columbia has a fun assortment of office pets.
BY M C KENNA STUMPH
They aren’t paid employees, unless you count treats, belly rubs, and petting as currency. But several Columbia businesses have friendly, four-legged sta members. COMO Magazine caught up with a few of the furry customer service representatives.
Helmi’s Gardens
Fatness, Minx, and … a peacock?
Hidden within the oasis of greenery, blossoming owers, and vintage garden decorations is an array of animals that call Helmi’s Gardens home. Fatness, the eldest of the three cats, at twenty years old, has lived in the garden since the business started thirteen years ago. Most of the creatures, excluding the Labrador retriever, are rescues.
Minx, an orange cat, has a box on the counter where he sits to greet customers — and he might be in the mood to be petted. e current resident peacock can be found most of the time in the enclosure with the chickens, but the one Helmi’s had before was free range.
e peacocks like it at the garden once they learn where they live. ey stay put because they can be territorial. Soon after shop owner Helmi Sheely got the bird, it was still getting a feel for his territory. e plumaged fowl surprised everyone by ying across the street one day to a little girl’s birthday party and landing in the backyard.
“We have no idea why he decided to go over there, and the girl thought it was part of her birthday party,” Helmi said.
Helmi’s Gardens is located just south of Columbia o Route K at 7201 S. Nursery Rd.
Jim’s Bike and Key Shop
Frankie the Labradoodle
Frankie at Jim’s Lock and Key is a large four-year-old Labradoodle who has a love a air with the mail lady. He has been a staple at the shop for the past two years since he started coming regularly with his owner, Darron Sheets. Frankie is often waiting for the mail at the window, and he recognizes the sound of the mail van when it pulls into the parking lot.
Children especially enjoy Frankie’s company, but when they become overzealous, the wise canine creates some distance by hiding away in the o ce. When he’s not lying around the shop or following customers for a little attention, Frankie enjoys playing Frisbee during his time o .
You can give Frank a friendly pat at 800 Vandiver Dr, Suite 102.
Twenty years, fifty TVs, and one legendary Bloody Mary. Scan the QR code to find out Truman’s became a Columbia staple.
Office pets brighten the workday with paws and purrs. Scan the QR code to meet more furry faces behind local businesses.
What was your lowest rent or mortgage payment?
When and where was that?
Ashland Manor Apartments & Townhouses, Columbia, Mo. In 2016, $524, two bedrooms, 1.5 bath, washer/dryer included, 1,000 sq ft townhouse. When I left in 2023: $650, same unit. Current rent for the unit in 2025: $720. at was the whole unit, not per bedroom. Can’t recommend this property enough. Great onsite property manager, responsive maintenance team, and just super friendly and wants to ensure tenants have a safe and healthy place to call home.
– BLAKE WILLOUGHBY
“Married student housing” at Central Missouri State University, now UCM, was a trailer park packed with “cracker box” mobile homes. ose units were 10-by-30 feet and $90 a month. Warrensburg, Mo., 1983. A few days before classes ended, the couple in the trailer directly behind us apparently had a spat (he was a little bitty Nigerian guy, she was a, well, rotund white woman), and she shot him dead. Police asked us if we heard anything. Somehow, we hadn’t. Not too many years later, the university removed all the tiny mobile homes and built a bunch of cottages that, by comparison to the tin can we lived in, looked like the Taj Mahal. We bought a $48,000 house in 1987. Monthly mortgage was $280, and we were just a few houses down from my wife’s grandmother, who had a $40/mo. mortgage for the house she’d had for twenty-plus years.
– JODIE JACKSON JR
$125 a month for a room on Waugh Street. Bathroom was down the hall. I got a room and a closet and a lot of sixlegged roommates. Early ‘80s.
– CLAY COTTINGHAM
I was the fourth roommate on the couch in a 3-bedroom apartment at [redacted] Apartments here in Columbia, Mo., the summer of 1996. Splitting the rent four ways I think the even shares were $110/month, and they cut me a deal for living on the couch, so I’m pretty sure I paid $95 and they all paid $115 each month.
– JAY SPARKS
My rst apartment was in 1973, top oor of a ve-story apartment building in Bedford Heights, Ohio. e one-bedroom apartment was $150 a month and included utilities.
– DIANNA BORSI O’BRIEN
My cheapest rent was $730 for a 3-bed, 2-bath townhome on the north side of Columbia o Smiley Lane, 2021–2022. Now paying $1,000 rent for an 1,800 sq ft older house central to town, which is still a great deal. Looking to purchase a home next spring though.
– LINDSAY ROSE JAMES
$100 for a 2-bedroom apartment in Macon, Mo., in 1986.
– LIZ SWANSON
2 bedroom apartment in Columbia, 2000. We paid $405/month.
– CARRIE CONKLIN
1979, working in Boonville at my rst full-time job after bachelor’s degree. I rented a two-bedroom mobile home (trailer) for $65 a month. I think I paid a small amount toward the pad rental.
– RANDY RODGERS
$85/month third oor attic apartment, Hyde Park neighborhood in Kansas City, Mo. 1975.
– VANESSA HALL
$206 mortgage payment. $85 rent, including utilities, Marshall. 1970s.
– PAULA SOUTHMAN STANLEY
$175 for a 2-bedroom duplex in Fulton, Mo., 1995.
– REBECCA DYKHOUSE
My rst “real” rental — where my name was actually on the lease — came when I graduated from college in 2012. I was 19, earning $24,000 a year at my rst design job, and living in downtown Los Angeles. I shared a $1,750/month studio loft with two other girls, each of us paying around $600. We built makeshift walls out of plywood and sandbags, turning the open oor plan into three semi-private cubicles. It wasn’t the cutest, but it was clever — and it was the only way I could a ord to be there. Honestly? It kind of ruled. I miss those days and those roommates ... but I am glad for real walls and doors.
