Atchison County Memorial Building - Rock Port, Missouri
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 40° 24.668 W 095° 30.890
15T E 286616 N 4476427
Historic building constructed as a World War I memorial in Rock Port, Missouri.
Waymark Code: WM5AXB
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 12/09/2008
Views: 12
"Conceived in 1919 as a Memorial to Atchison County soldiers who served in
World War I, the building is a good representative example of the classicism
which prevailed in Missouri public architecture of modest size between the World
Wars. It combines a finely detailed and well-proportioned Classical Revival
facade of concrete with a highly functional interior designed to meet community
needs with gymnasium and auditorium spaces. The architect-designed,
stylistically sophisticated building is noteworthy within the largely vernacular
context of this small community.
When in 1919 the Missouri General Assembly made available small matching
grants for the construction of World War I memorials, Atchison County citizens
responded with sufficient funding to construct a monumental, architect-designed
structure in a nationally popular style. The building stands today as a symbol
of the patriotism and civic pride that characterized this rural county in the
post-war years.
In 1919, following the close of World War I, the Missouri General Assembly
authorized an appropriation of $115,000, "for the erection of a memorial
building, monument or memorial tablets in each of the counties of the state, and
in each city not a part of a county." A maximum of $1000 was allowed each county
or city providing it would match the grant with a sum of $250 or more. 1 The
first county to respond to the offer was Atchison, a sparsely populated county
located in the extreme northwest corner of Missouri. Within minutes after word
of the fund reached Rock Port, the county seat, a telegram was sent to state
officials pledging $1000 towards a building planned to serve as memorial and
community center. Subsequent fund-raising meetings at Rock Port generated even
greater support and generosity, eliciting the following comment from the Editor
of the Missouri Historical Review:
Here is a tale worth telling, a message worth reading. A Missouri town of
eleven hundred souls raised $25,000 in less than two hours to honor their heroes
of war. The living proved worthy of the dead. Is there a rival for such rank in
America? But the citizens of Rock Port and Atchison county were not content.
They wanted eminence in conscience and country. So $50,000 was raised! New York
City would have civil war in raising an equal per capita for such a purpose...
To advance the cause the local community members pledged money to an interest
bearing account for five years. Local bankers managed this fund and advanced the
money for the construction capital. All of this fervent activity culminated with
the memorial's completion in 1921. A new community center was set among the
other post-war improvements dotting the townscape including five newly paved
miles of streets, a 21 acre city park, and newly constructed water and sewer
system. Although a post-war recession gripped the majority of the state, Rock
Port's citizenry dedicated themselves to civic improvement. The memorial
building objectified not only their commitment to commemorating the fallen youth
of their community but also their belief such a building could impart "useful"
value to the living community by including a gymnasium and civic auditorium." -
National Register nomination form
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.