County of structure: Cooper County
Location of building: Main St. (MO-K) & alleyway park, SE corner, Blackwater
Original Occupant: Gibson's General Store
Current Occupant: City Hall
Built: 1915
Remodeled: 1995
Phone: (660) 846-4411
I visited this neat and quaint town in the morning, and found very few people. City hall was not open, (?) the restaurant was, with about 4 cars in front...and the general store was open,
City hall building is clean, sharp, and attractive.
The town relied on the railroad for all its needs, and had to cope when the railroads ceased running. It flourished as a tourist spot for while, but now, sems to be sliding back into decay.
"13.) 125 Main Street, ca. 1995. Blackwater City Hall.
A one story tall frame building with glass display windows and a central front door. The upper façade is covered with flat wooden sheathing.
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" ... His [Robert Gibson] general store was probably located at what is now 125 Main Street, and it appears that he
also built the one story brick building at 127 Main Street. (The building now at 125 is newer.) " ~ NRHP Nomination Form
"Founded in 1887, Blackwater, Missouri was located near the recently completed Missouri Pacific Railroad. Small towns sprang up all along the railroad, mainly to provide farmers access to distant markets and to supply the needs of the railroad industry. As the village grew, a rock quarry opened a couple of miles away, providing employment to many. The population grew to over 650 during the '30s and '40s. The village was incorporated as a fourth class city and the future looked bright. Then shortly after World War II, change came to Blackwater and America. Transportation improvements mean the railroad was not as vital as it once was. By the 1940s, these advancements in transportation made it easier for residents to travel farther for employment and shopping. This made it more difficult for small, local merchants. Then the quarry met with disaster and closed its doors, putting many out of work. By the 1960s the town's buildings were nearly vacant and a man purchased many of them for use as antique sales. This kept some interest in Blackwater and gave a purpose for many of the downtown buildings.
"By 1993, most of the downtown stores were empty and in deplorable condition. The quarry, which had become a swimming hole in the late '60s, was now closed. The antique dealer had left as well. The declining population had leveled off to about 290. All that remained was a post office, feed and hardware store, auto body shop, band and elemtary school.
"Fortunately, several residents came together and started a movement (the Blackwater Preservation Society or BPS) to bring the town back to life. Several wrote grants and were successful in gaining money to rennovate several systems, including the sewers, broken sidewalks, streets and water lines. Old-time street lamps were donated and volunteer labor helped lay new brick sidewalks. As fast as the buildings were rennovated, shops moved in. A building was donated for a Telephone Museum showcasing a lifetime of telephone memorabilia. Numerous prizes were awarded the community rewarding their efforts to revive the town's commerce. An old hotel, The Iron Horse, is currently being rennovated with 11 rooms and a restaurant. Blackwater is a work in progress and we hope you'll visit soon!
"The West End Theatre is housed in a 1903 church located at 301 Doddridge Avenue. It features the original church pews and stained glass windows. Jay Turley, a local playwright, has written numerous plays and produced them in this theater.The proceeds go to the community Projects such as the flower pots on Main Street and the white lights outlining the downtown buildings during the holiday season." ~ Bob Milne