High Street - California, MO
Posted by: YoSam.
N 38° 38.132 W 092° 33.928
15S E 537819 N 4276422
Postcard view of street across the Gray-Wood Building fronts....
Waymark Code: WM126MA
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 03/13/2020
Views: 1
County of buildings: Moniteau County
Location of buildings: N. High St. & 3rd St., California
"401 N. High Street
A single leaf entrance with an elongated transom forms the northern bay of this
section. Above it the bay has a lintel & sill, but from, at least, the turn of the
century, the opening has been bricked in. The primary inset entrance is slightly off
center due to the large circular window at the SE corner where a number of small raised
decorative motifs accent the lintel. This bay continues upward where a transom of small
lights once capped the circular 2nd story window. These lights have been replaced by
a solid closed panel; however, the decorative lintel above remains intact. The bracket
ed cornice sweeps around this bay & once supported a conical roof. Today the roof, as
well as the parapet & ball finials are gone. Windows on the south facade are 2 over 2
& double hung, & have a double rowlock segmentally arched header. Eight windows are at
the 2nd story, while only 2 full windows & a small transom type window are located on
the 1st floor. Seven openings are cut into the exposed basement level. On the rear
facade is a basement & one story addition built of brick. It has 2 windows to the the south,
1 opening at each level on the west side, & a wooden porch & doorway to the north." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
"403 N. High Street
Due to the grade of the street, the floor level is somewhat lower than those to the
north. The inset double leaf doorway is no longer highlighted by cast metal columns.
Two small terracotta panels are placed on the wide brick pilasters. A lion's head is at
the sill level of the 2nd story windows & a round floral motif is inset at the corbelled
cornice. The 2nd story has a central projecting polygonal bay window. The bracketed
cornice continues to extend across this facade." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
"405 N. High Street
This storefront is somewhat of a mystery (see Item 8) since it combines both older
& later styling. To look at the 1st story only, one would think the building dates
shortly after the northern storefront. Its floor level Is the same as the original.
Slender, fluted columns with a Corinthian capital & rosette-applied base flank the double
leaf entrance. However, above this c 1870 storefront Is what appears to be a continuation of the 1880's building to the south. It has rectangular 1/1 windows with an ashlar
stone lintel & a narrow sill on small consoles. Between the windows & the heavily bracket
ed, projecting, metal cornice Is a corbelled brick course." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
"407. N. High Street
: This is the earliest of the structures as: indicated by the softer type brick & the
2 over 2 windows with their pedimented hoodmolds. The 1st story has fluted columns
flanking the double leaf entrance & fluted pilasters at the corners. All of these sup
ports have decorative, elongated bases & capitals. The corner pilasters once extended
upward to support an ornate iron balcony (see photo 6). The southern most bay is a"
single leaf entrance which leads to the 2nd story, where the windows are rectangular
in shape. A curvilinear, intaglio pattern is featured in the arched wooden headers.
Deeply molded pediments on carved bosses cap the windows & the single leaf entrance.
This entrance is over the primary doorway, but has been converted to a window opening.
Single, ornate carved brackets 'support a projecting cornice with molded entablature & a
raised parapet. This parapet is the only one remaining; each building originally had
such a crown, as well as ball finials (see photo 6). The present corner final is the
last remaining element. Along the alley, the grade drops away to partially expose the
stone basement where their are several small openings. Only 1 arched window is located
in the 1st story & it is toward the west edge of wall. Five windows which repeat the 2/2
pattern & intaglio"header are at the second story. These have a raised brick, segmentally
arched hoodmold. Of special note to this building is the stone step at the front doorway
which reads "J.P.H. Gray"." ~ NRHP Nomination Form