Kemper Military School - Boonville, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 58.325 W 092° 44.801
15S E 521944 N 4313708
Campus is now the YMCA, a city park and a community college. Several buildings have been razed and a couple are vacant.
Waymark Code: WM169EN
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 06/07/2022
Views: 1
County of school: Cooper County
Location of school: 3nd St., between Vine St. & Chestnut St., Boonville
Founded 1844
Closed: 2002
"Boonville Boarding School was founded by Frederick T. Kemper in 1844, enrolling 50 students in the first year. The first building was begun in 1845, the school continuing with 50 or so students until 1856, when it closed while Kemper taught at Westminster College. In 1861 the school resumed, surviving the Civil War by becoming co-educational, but at the war’s end, it reverted to its all-male state. After Kemper’s death in 1881, Thomas Johnson became head of the school, converting Kemper to a military school, which by 1889 was called the “West Point of the West.” Enrollment at Kemper reached 100 by 1900, and by the end of World War I, it had peaked at 502. The junior college was added in 1923. Before World War II a building phase had resulted in a new stadium (1937) and Academic Hall (1939)
"The school began to decline in enrollment and focus after 1956. In the 1970’s inflation and a general anti-military sentiment brought on by the Vietnam War hampered recruitment and fund raising. In an attempt to boost enrollment, Kemper returned to co-ed status, but by 2000 the junior college was dropped, and by 2002 the high school also closed." ~ Lost Colleges
Several of the buildings, including the administration building, have been razed since the school closing.
The State Fair Community College is in the old Science building and Math Building, the YMCA is in the old field house and pool buildings.
Most buildings out back, like the stables and power plants have been razed by the city to create a city park.