100-year-old home added to national register

COMMERCE, Mo. -- A century-old home in this Scott County town was one of six Missouri properties recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.

"From when first moved in, we knew there was a lot of historical significance to it," Susan Bailey said.

Since moving into the 15-room home three years ago, Bailey and her husband have been restoring it to the way it looked when built by her great-grandparents in 1902.

Two months ago, the Baileys received word that the home at 133 Washington St. would be added to the registry.

The house was added for its association with the work of homeowner Lizzie Anderson. Anderson turned her home into a default meeting spot for various local organizations, including the Women's Christian Temperance Union and Children's Theater Group, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Bailey said she had tried for years to get the home added to the registry, researching, writing various essays and calling on support from others to help in the process.

With their home now the registry, Bailey has the option to pursue tax credits to put toward rehabilitation, said Tiffany Patterson, National Register coordinator for DNR's Historic Preservation Office.

With only the parlor and front hallway restored, the couple have a long way yet to go to finish the rest of the house.

Bailey said she would pursue the tax credits, but has not yet and stressed that was not the purpose of achieving placement on the registry.

"Our motivation was just historical significance," she said.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127