THE WILLIAM BOLIVER WEST BUILDING
This building at 903 East Ash Street was constructed in 1910 by the owner of the first automobile in Columbia, William Boliver West (1859-1921). He built this limestone building as an addition to his existing machine shop. The 16 June 1910 Columbia Missourian stated that W. B. West had completed a stone building to be used as a garage and automobile showroom at the corner of Ash and Ninth streets. A blurb in the 28 March 1912 Columbia Daily Times said that W. B. West, proprietor of the West garage, was installing a large elevator with which to lift automobiles from the first to the second floor. It commented that Mr. West’s garage was now full of automobiles.
Image from Google Earth
This building at 903 East Ash Street was constructed in 1910 by the owner of the first automobile in Columbia, William Boliver West (1859-1921). He built this limestone building as an addition to his existing machine shop. The 16 June 1910 Columbia Missourian stated that W. B. West had completed a stone building to be used as a garage and automobile showroom at the corner of Ash and Ninth streets. A blurb in the 28 March 1912 Columbia Daily Times said that W. B. West, proprietor of the West garage, was installing a large elevator with which to lift automobiles from the first to the second floor. It commented that Mr. West’s garage was now full of automobiles.
In the spring of 1905, prior to building the stone garage, West purchased a single cylinder, seven-horse-power Oldsmobile in St. Louis for $700 and drove it to Columbia to become the first person in the city to own a car. In a human-interest story in the 20 November 1910 Columbia Missourian, West related humorous anecdotes about the first few months after he brought the car to Columbia. He said the first Sunday he drove out of town, he met a man who had never heard of an automobile before, and West had some trouble explaining the machine to him. The man
especially wanted to know what was “a-pulling it.” West said he had gotten telephone calls every day for months, with callers telling him they wanted to go out in their horse-drawn buggies and carriages if assured that the automobile would stay safely tied up for a while.
An article in the 9 October 1914 Columbia Daily Times reported that E. E. Vanatta had bought the interest of W. B. West in the West machine shop and would operate the business by himself, Mr. West retiring from the firm. By 1917 this property was occupied by the Jarvis and McHarg Automobile Repair Shop. Mr. Jarvis was an example of the changing transportation market in Columbia. In 1915 he was a partner in a wagon repair shop, and just two years later operated one of the six new commercial garages in Columbia. Subsequent occupants were mostly machine shops or garages, and later a vending company warehouse. In October 1987, Patrick Eng, Matthew Woods, and Scott Orr purchased the building, and renovated it to house legal offices. The building was added to Columbia’s Most Notable Properties list in 2006.
Sources:
The Columbia Historic Preservation Commission
Newspapers.com
CoMo Preservation is devoted to helping homeowners, landlords, and institutions prevent the destruction of historic architecture. Original period styles might be replicated but will forever lack the social history of authentic structures. Preserving historic places and spaces gives people a sense of place and boosts Columbia’s economy. You can get involved by volunteering, signing up for our mailing list, attending an event, becoming a member, or donating.
