Moore House - Charleston, Missouri - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

"The Moore House at 401 North Main Street in Charleston is significant as a fine example of the Colonial Revival style of architecture, relatively rare in southeast Missouri, and is of local importance as the home of James Handy Moore, a leading citizen of early Charleston and a pioneer in the town's business and industry. At the time of its construction, the house was one of the town's grandest residences.

James Handy Moore, son of a wealthy Charleston family, was born on November 20, 1865. He attended Belleview Collegiate Institute at Caledonia, Missouri, where in 1886 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduation from the law school of Vanderbilt University, Moore went into private practice for several years before accepting a position as cashier for the Mississippi County Bank. With extraordinary business acumen, Moore attained the presidency of the Bank within a short time, but later resigned that position to assume control of the newly-formed Southeast Missouri Telephone Company. A man of marked business ability and enterprise, Moore had many varied but successful interests. In addition to his telephone company, he directed the Southeast Missouri Light, Power and Ice Company and owned a contracting firm which built the first community dredging ditch in Mississippi County. The Moore family's extensive farm holdings were also under his management. Moore took his position as Charleston's leading citizen very seriously, and had a continuing interest in the town. Among other concerns, he served as president of the Levee Board from its organization until his death, and he was the first to propose the establishment of a public library system for Charleston.

On June 10, 1890, Moore married Mary Bird Hunter of Sikeston, whose family had been among the earliest settlers of the area. In 1899, the father of four small children, Moore decided to build a new, larger home which would be suitable for his prominent position. He chose land on the Moore farm just north of Charleston, which he felt would soon be encompassed by the town's rapid growth.

Attribution of the house to esteemed St. Louis architect Jerome Bibb Legg (1838-?) further underscores the Moore's prominence.8 Legg, who trained as a draftsman under George I. Barnett, is perhaps best remembered for supervising construction of Centenary Methodist Church in St. Louis and additions and alterations to the Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City. The bulk of Legg's known commissions, however, consists of houses in the Queen Anne style which proliferated throughout St. Louis' fashionable West End and in other Missouri cities during the eighties and early nineties. While an index to the popularity of the Colonial Revival style with wealthy St. Louis clients after 1892, the Moore house contributes stylistic diversity to residential Charleston." - National Register Nomination

In 1977 the house was gifted to the Mississippi County Historical Society and they maintain the house as a museum and community meeting place. The house is in excellent condition.

Street address: 403 N. Main St. Charleston, Missouri County / Borough / Parish: Mississippi Year listed: 1980 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Person, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924 Historic function: Domestic Current function: Recreation And Culture Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Secondary Website 2: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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