This site is a labor of love by Dianna Borsi O’Brien. I’m a journalist with a passion for history, a passion that was ignited back in 2010. I fell in love with writing about Columbia’s history in 2010 when I wrote my first preservation piece about the city’s Notable Properties List — and realized that history, economics and business intersect.
My goal since then has been to create a website that will operate as a portal to Columbia’s history. Frankly, I could use some help, so if you want to pitch in, send me a note either via email at dobrien387 at gmail.com or via my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CoMoHistoricPlaces
This site offers information from news reports, government sources such as those of the Columbia Historic Preservation Commission and the National Register of Historic Places and other valid, verifiable sources.
Who’s behind this site? I’m Dianna Borsi O’Brien, the person responsible for this site. You can reach me at dobrien387 at gmail.com or via my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CoMoHistoricPlaces. (If you are just dying to learn more about who I am, feel free to take a peek at my professional website.)
So who am I to take on this task? I fell in love with this town when I came here in 1990 to attend the School of Journalism. After moving away for various newspaper jobs, I returned in 1998 and took up a freelance writing career.
Remember, I’m a real person so if you make a comment or want to let me know there’s an error on this site, please be nice.
WHAT’S ON THIS SITE?
- Blog posts about events, people, places, things I think will be interesting or important to my readers.
- Links to published articles.
- Links to reports and documents such as information from the Columbia Historic Preservation Commission and the National Register of Historic Places documents.
- It covers buildings, organizations and special history such as Black History, with a link to all the information about the 1923 James Scott public lynching. For example, you’ll find a page for Houses, Schools (including MU), Resources (so you can do your own research) and a page of links to media coverage going back to 2009.
WHY SHOULD I TRUST THIS SITE? I’m a journalist so I note where I found the information. I work to use information from reliable sources, such as the National Register of Historic Places information or newspapers. If you spot a mistake, let me know. I will correct it.
WHERE DOES THE INFORMATION ON HERE COME FROM? The information on this website has been drawn from a variety of sources, including the city of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission. Note: This website is not affiliated, associated or endorsed by the Historic Preservation Commission. For more information the Columbia’s HPC, go to the HPC’s official site here.
Notable Properties: This website began with a list highlighting the sites on Columbia’s Notable Properties a list developed by Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission.
The list of Notable Properties began in 1998 when the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) began naming five to 10 properties to the list each year except for 1999. Properties named to the list must meet three criteria:
- Within the city limits;
- 50 years old or older;
- Feature architectural or historical importance either through historic features, who lived there or how it was used.
National Register of Historic Places: The website includes places in Boone County on the federal National Register of Historic Places. To learn more about the properties on the National Register of Historic Places, go to this website.
I’m glad you’re here and I’d love to hear from you about Columbia’s history!
I have extensive articles I have clipped from the older newspapers on microfilm that talk about many of the historic buildings in Columbia. Is this a place where those can be posted for all to see?
Tim, sorry for my tardy reply. I would love to have any articles you have. Whether I can post them would only depend on the copyright. Other than that, I would be delighted to post them for everyone to see! Keep me posted!
I did research on a house in downtown Columbia that has since been demolished. I did this paper for Ozzie Overby in an historic architecture class…mid-1980s. Let me know if you’re interested.
Scherrie, I would love to see the paper and potentially post it on my website. I’ll send you an email to follow up. Thanks!
Dianna
Thanks, Lucy, for your comment. These are the kinds of stories that I think historic homes help us save! Thanks for commenting. Dianna
hi deanna, i was one of the lucky children who went to this school in 1940’s and 50’s. we had a pump that we used to get our drinking water from. we had a lady cooking our lunch and i can still remember how good it smelled. we played many a ball game in the back.my pecan pie bought the most money for the school and i was so shy i wouldn’t eat with the boy who bought my shoe box supper. i am now 75 years old.
lucy
Lucy, thanks for your comment. Can you tell me what school you are referring to so I can post your comment? Sorry for not replying earlier! Dianna O’Brien
yes. it was keene school on brown station rd. in columbia. it was in the late 40’s and early 50’s.they didn’t have school buses then and we had to cut across neighbors fields or walk the road which was a really long walk.