By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Two iconic St. Joseph buildings celebrate 100 years in a few
years, but the celebration ramps up beginning this weekend.

Both the Missouri Theater and City Hall turn 100 in 2027.

Chair of the centennial planning committee, Lori McAlister,
says those two buildings represent more than just two structures.

“It was really a golden era for the city,” McAlister tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview, “as far as optimism for the future,
building, planning, and then of course, the Depression came along and derailed
much of that.”

A pre-centennial celebration gets underway this weekend,
beginning Friday afternoon with the unveiling of the centennial graphics and the
telling of a few historical anecdotes at 4:30 at the 1st Christian
Church.

McAlister says the Missouri Theater and City Hall mean much
more to residents than older, historic buildings.

“Not only are these two buildings significant, but they are
landmarks in our lives,” according to McAlister. “They really represent the
city’s civics and the city’s entertainment over all these many decades.”

They also can be counted as survivors. The two still stand,
escaping the ravages of urban renewal which swept the country and took out so
many historic structures.

“So, the fact that we still have them and the fact that they
are so well cared for and still serving us as they were intended; to me that’s
just a remarkable piece of the story,” McAlister says.

For structures built in 1927, they remain very sound.

“They do not construct buildings like that anymore,” McAlister
says with a chuckle. “To say the least.”

Again, the planning committee unveils centennial graphics
created by Wendy Jane Bantam during a reception at 1st Christian
Church, 927 Faraon Street downtown, beginning at 4:30pm Friday. Historical anecdotes
will be provided by Harrison Hartley.

A writers’ workshop will be held Saturday morning at 9:30 at
the Downtown Public Library with Bantam leading participants on how to let art
inspire their work. Registration is required.

A special free community concert will be held Saturday evening
at the 1st Christian Church featuring Bantam and St. Joseph multi-instrumentalist,
Lory Lacy.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.