University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-11-01
THE RAPID DEVEL OPMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE
NUMBER OF HOUSES
DOUBLE In 5 YEARS
FIRST WARD LARGEST In CITY

You who take long drives and long
strolls over the magnificent streets and
walks in that portion of Columbia lying
north of Broadway will scarcely be
able to realize that five years ago
almost half of this now thickly settled
region was COW pasture or corn fields.
Five years ago Wilkes Boulevard was
to all intents and purposes the north
ern boundary of Columbia. A few peo-
| pie lived north of there but they were
living in the suberbs and not in the
city 1t is all different now. That
part of the city lying north of Wilkes
boulevard is now as thickly settled as
any part of Columbia. 1t has been
estimated that $50 new houses have
been built on the north side in the
last five years. Seven hundred and
fifty new families have moved into
these new houses. More than $500
people are living there now than were
living there in 1905.
| The first ward of the city is bounded
by the city limits on the north and
Park avenue on the south Five years
ago ii ranked third in the vote cast
at the city elections. Now in area it
is as large as all the rest Of the city.
and casts more votes than any othe:'
two wards combined.
The bringing of the Hamilton Brown
Shoe Factory to Columbia has been
the great factor in the development Uf
the North side. 1t brought great num-
bers of factory hands to the city and
of course they all lived near the fac
tory. The factory was erected in 1906
on what was then suburban property.
The site for the factory and Il large
number of vacant lots were secured ut
that time by the Commercial Club at
a price considerable less than single
piece of property in that neighborhood
would bring now.
Many OF the houses that have been
erected are large, modern and conven-
lent dwellings. Indeed as handsome
residences are to be found on the
north side as anywhere in Columbia.
With all its building boom there are
fewer houses for rent north of Broad
way today than are to be found south
or that street.
Approximately three hundred and
twenty acres of land has been plated
and added to the city in the last five
years. A house is to be found on
almost all of these lots. Several addi-
tons have been opened for settlement
which the city has not yet annexed.
Five years ago there was not paw
ed street north Of Broadway. The
sidewalks were rickety board affairs
that in most cases were dangerous to
walk upon in broad daylight. Now
there is about seven miles OF paved
streets and sixty miles of modern
granitoid sidewalks. The last of the
| olu pOe'iu NuiAS "SIS tOiutlillcu
replaced with granitoid this summer
The elegant new 100000 high school
just completed is located on the north
side. Christian College which used
to be on the northern outskirts of
Columbia is also located there but no v
it is almost in the heart of the town.
Building still goes merrily on in
this great residence district and
! houses are occupied in many instances
before they are completed. From
Broadway to Mores boulevard a dis
lance OF twelve city blocks or more
than a mile residences and business
houses line the street on both side :.
Eighth street is paved its entire length
and granitoid walks have been laid on
both sides. Besides this street Range
Line street and Paris road are both
paved to the city limits. Hinkson
. avenue, Windsor street, Christian Col.
lege avenue, Ash and Walnut streets
have also been paved.
To keep pace with the growing pop
ulation many business houses have
been started in this district Five yea s
ago a suburban store was almost un.
known in Columbia. Now there are
fourteen of these stores some of which
are the equal of the down town stor IS
in the amount of business transacted
and the value OF the stock carried Ten
OF these stores are located north OF
Broadway.
o. w. Boutwell,
The pioneer in the matter of subu!.
ban stores is O. w. Boutwell,. He
opened a store at the corner of Fifth
and Hickman avenues several years
ago. He started at first with small
stock of groceries. Gradually his bus