Grim Building

The Grim Building
The Grim Building in 2013
Location 113 - 115 E. Washington St., Kirksville
Coordinates 40°11′43″N 92°34′52″W / 40.19528°N 92.58111°WCoordinates: 40°11′43″N 92°34′52″W / 40.19528°N 92.58111°W
Built 1905
Architect Weber & Groves
Architectural style Jacobethan Revival
Governing body Privately owned
NRHP Reference # 79001343[1]
Added to NRHP June 27, 1979

The Grim Building is an office building and former medical clinic located in Kirksville, Missouri. Constructed in the Jacobethan Revival style in 1905, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June, 1979.[2]

History

Brothers Ezra and Edward Grim, both physicians, had a desire to consolidate their medical practices under one roof. In 1904 they contracted with the St. Louis, Missouri architectural firm of Weber and Groves for a building large enough to house offices, examination rooms and operating suites.[3] Local contractor Albert L. Holmes was chosen for the construction, which was finished in October, 1905 for a final cost of $11,248. This was considered only slightly higher than a similar size building of more utilitarian design, surprising considering the ornate details often associated with a Jacobethan Revival building. The exterior is of red brick with white accent stones and trim around the windows. Great detail was given to the main entrance, a hooded limestone basket-handle arch with considerable ornamentation.[2] An adjacent carriage house still remains from the original construction, though it has been heavily renovated over the years to provide more office and retail space.[3] The Grims spared little expense on the interior either with plentiful high-quality oak woodwork throughout and Tennessee marble in the main first floor hallway. Several fireplace in the building feature ornate metal screens and green glazed tile in the immediate floor area.

The Grim brothers used the eastern half of the first floor for outpatient surgery and treatment rooms until they established the Grim Brothers Hospital in 1910. A new hospital building was completed for them just south of the First District Normal School however Edward Grim would continue to use the original building for his office until his death in 1936.[4] The brothers partnership went on hiatus for a time beginning in 1917 when Ezra Grim joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps, serving in France during World War I.[5] They would continue in partnership with the hospital until their retirement while also maintaining ownership of the original building, renting out office space to other businesses. The ownership of the building remained within the extended Grim family until 1970 when a grandnephew sold it to outside investors.[3] Plans were put forth in the 1980s to demolish the building and replace it with more parking for downtown businesses—this being despite the buildings very good condition.[3] However public outcry, and new ownership of the building, prevented the demolition from happening. To the contrary extensive renovation and restoration returned the Grim Building to an appearance much like it did when first constructed, save for modern lighting, heating and cooling, and some carpeted areas of individual offices.[2] Although not a museum by intent the interior decor of the building features many items and photos that chronicle the medical history of Kirksville, from both osteopaths like Andrew Taylor Still to medical doctors such as the Grim brothers.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Grim Building NRHP application". Mo. Department of Natural Resources. 1979. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "The Building With Style". The Chariton Collector. Winter 1988. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
  4. ↑ "1905 Grim Building". Waymarking.com. 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ezra Clarence Grim biography". Truman State University Pickler Library. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2014.