The Downing Street Historic District, located in the center of the southwest Missouri town of Hollister, is one block long. It is bounded on the north by Third Street and on the south by Forth Street. It parallels the Missouri and Pacific Railway track (no longer in use) on the east side.
Hollister is in the Tri-Lakes (Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals) area, about 37 miles south of Springfield, Mo., in the Ozark Plateau, near Table Rock Dam, in Taney County. The town lies in a valley between two hills to the east and west, on the east bank of Turkey Creek. The center of Hollister is about a mile from the confluence of Turkey Creek with the White River. Downing Street curves gently upward, towards the top of Presbyterian Hill, the site of the building which was formerly the railroad depot (now the City Hall), on the side of the street facing the other buildings. All of the area around the street and the railroad is landscaped.
The buildings of the Downing Street Historic District were built between 1909 and the 1920's as part of a planned village in the Elizabethan style. They are commercial buildings conceived in conjunction with the coming of the railroad in 1906, specifically for the purpose of attracting tourism. The designer, W.W. Johnson, reoriented the original direction of the Main Street so that the town's buildings would face the depot.
Although some of the buildings were restored in the 1960's, the changes are generally in keeping with the original style. Some of the buildings require repair, but the structures-are generally .sound*do to building restrictions and an ordinance against factory construction, the town has retained its original plan. Nearly all the buildings imitate, the English, half-timbered style. The architects made use of local materials, enhancing the harmony of the buildings with their setting. Water-washed stone from Turkey Creek was combined with stucco and pseudo half-timbering to create the Elizabethan appearance of the building. Red tiles were used for,.roofing which is also in keeping with Elizabethan architecture. The buildings are aligned in a row on narrow lots on the east side of Downing Street facing the lone Depot on the opposite side.
All of the buildings in the Downing Street Historic District feature walls made of stone and stucco in a light beige color, with decorative boards painted a dark brown. These boards are not true half-timbering, but reproduce the effect of this form of construction...
Downing Street Historic District is significant because it began as a planned village and commercial center in the Elizabethan style. The site reflects the architectural possibilities of a rural planned community. The village was built specifically to encourage the Missouri Pacific Railroad to include a stop at Hollister, as well as to attract tourism. The idea of a planned commercial street, conforming to a particular style, was an unusual concept for the early twentieth century. The attractive architectural style enhanced a natural setting which already had great potential as a vacation spot for tourists. Prior to the actual building of Downing Street, articles in the 1909 issues of the Hollister Bulletin emphasized the beautiful setting, the accommodations available to tourists, and the agricultural resources of the region surrounding Hollister.
The buildings in the historic District are in good condition and are used for commercial purposes. The commercial aspects of the community has benefited with the growth and popularity of the Branson area.