The recent development boom along the south Lone Pine corridor has prompted numerous conversations about both the future of the Galloway Village Neighborhood Association (GVNA) – and more importantly, the past.
The GVNA experienced a setback in historical preservation efforts in 2019 when City Council denied the Landmark Board’s recommendation to designate the Treadway’s General Store building across from Sequiota Park as an historic site. Although that designation would not have limited the property owner’s ability to demolish the building, members of the GVNA felt it would draw attention to the significant history of the area and the value of preservation for the future of the neighborhood. Neighborhood residents felt frustrated by the ultimate outcome of the process. However, it was quickly apparent that decision was a blessing in disguise.
In the days following the decision, the association received an outpouring of support from local and even national preservation experts. But it was Erin Hudson, PhD, RPA, who stepped forward earlier this summer to volunteer her time, passion, and expertise to lead the first official historic building survey of the Galloway Village Neighborhood. Dr. Hudson is the cultural resource manager for a national environmental consulting company and an expert in historical preservation. For several months now, she has been leading the survey alongside the neighborhood association’s Historical Committee, students from Missouri State University, and a team of neighborhood volunteers.
The survey process has included holding educational meetings with members of the association; conducting individual and family interviews with long-time residents and business owners; reviewing local historical census documents and other artifacts to connect buildings to events/places/people; building a database and loading parcel map info from the county assessor’s office; conducting a walking field inventory to identify/document 50-plus-year-old structures; photographing structures of historic integrity and writing building descriptions; and finally logging all of the information into a database that will eventually become part of the state historical archive.
GVNA Historical Committee Chair Jacque Thummel reflects, “It has been empowering to educate ourselves on the importance of historical preservation, and build connections with the local and state preservation community. In getting to know more of our Galloway neighbors, we have learned how important saving Galloway’s history is to our residents. Saving history can create jobs, expand tourism interests, and enrich the overall marketability of our city. But most importantly, this process has brought our unique community closer together as neighbors and friends. Like the Galloway community before us, we now wave, smile, and look out for one another. We’re more like an extended family.”
Dr. Hudson and the preservation team have invested hundreds of hours in this project to date. They are excited to have discovered some amazing stories and met inspirational people. Through research and interviews, GVNA has unearthed a richer history than previously known. Notable residents and pioneers included Jacob Painter, a famous gunsmith; Major Charles Galloway, a well-documented Civil War veteran; James H. Barton, the Ash Grove Lime plant manager who was instrumental in bringing the lime quarry operations to Galloway; and the Treadway family that operated a local service station and grocery store.
Thummel adds, “We are fortunate to still have a number of historic structures throughout our area. These are some of the more significant sites – a Girl Scout Camp along Lone Pine dating back to the 1940’s; the Galloway Chapel located on east Republic Road founded in 1888; beautiful examples of Ozark Stone Masonry; and a handful of ‘company’ homes that remain from the quarry boon. Our lives have been enriched by the opportunity to learn the history entrusted to us. All we needed to do was look for it. Although this has been a steep learning curve, it has been well worth the effort. To have done nothing would have been a mistake for our community.”