The election on Tuesday, April 2, could herald good news for the renovation of the J.W. “Blind” Boone home at 10 N. Fourth St. The voters re-elected Bob McDaniel as mayor of Columbia, put Karl Skala on City Council for the Third Ward and Ian Thomas on City Council for the Fourth Ward. All these candidates were called “Progressive-leaning,” in this article in the Columbia Daily Tribune.

McDavid has says he supports spending part of the city’s $1.9 million surplus to complete the renovation of this home, where J.W. Boone lived from 1889 until his death in 1927. A famous musician, Boone toured the country playing to black and white audiences, often traveling 10 months a year, playing six nights a week.

The house has been stabilized and the exterior renovated, the inside remains a shell. Remaining costs have been estimated in the area of $500,000.

On Dec. 3, 2012 KOMU.com reported the house project is slated to include a display with video, audio and interactive media and amphitheater, statue of Boone and a garden. The report states the J.W. Boone Heritage Foundation is donating $16,000 to the city for the project.

What do you think are the prospects for a complete renovation of the Boone home? What kind of facility would you like to see in this historic structure?