Bonsack & Pearce Sites

Notes: The Jefferson Junior High Auditorium was Federal Public Works Project N. 3701, erected in 1934. It is a multi-use Auditorium for stage productions and sporting events, particularly basketball. The seating was replaced within the last 10 years, but there have been very few other changes to the physical structure of the building which is currently in active use by the Columbia Public Schools.

This stately 2 story addition to the existing high school, dating to 1921, consists predominately of the gymnasium and auditorium. The front brick façade is accentuated by crenelations at the top of the front wall and the style of the concrete surrounding the entrance. A native rock wall is adjacent to the sidewalk in front of the building, potentially a WPA project. (The Daily Journal lists it as a WPA project, but local papers have been incorrect about this information in the past.)

Osage Hills School was built in the Osage Hills area which was developed in the early 1900’s.  It was wet whereas adjacent Kirkwood was a dry city, with alcohol establishments thriving initially in Osage Hills.  The school was built on the location of the former Meramec Highlands dance pavilion. The school was built by the firm of Bonsack & Pearce with a combination of local funds and federal matching grant funds available as part of the New Deal. The specific New Deal agency could not be identified. It was used as a school until the late 1960’s.  After going through several owners...

The length of this building faces to the east and has a new central building that is flanked by the PWA projects to the north and south.  To the south is the gymnasium and auditorium. To the north is the building labeled Grade School. The new central part of this complex replaced an older part of the public school that predated 1939. The PWA buildings have been well-maintained and are in excellent condition. All have a brick façade above a cut-rock base.

This brick building was constructed by the PWA in 1938. Note the strong similarity to the high school in Ste. Genevieve, MO, now used as an ancillary building. The PWA building is still standing at the coordinates marked on our map, but now appears to be part of a larger complex containing the Perryville High School and Middle School.

PWA funding built this high school in Potosi in 1936. It is a large 2 story building with a brick façade and a concrete base. Bas reliefs are at the top of the central entry portion of the front of the building, with Potosi labeled prominently. The information plaque is a gold hued bronze material. The school is now John Evans Middle School.