About
111 E Patterson St, Kirksville, MO 63501
The Smith/King International House is a historic home located in Kirksville, Adair County, Missouri, beside Magruder Hall (Science Hall). It is a rare local model of a 1920s middle-class house with a built-in garage.
More Than a Historic House
The Dr. E. Sanborn Smith House was built in 1925 for Dr. Smith and his family. It was constructed as part of the Grim-Smith medical complex, a collection of six medical and residential buildings built by three M.D.s: Drs Edward and Ezra Grim and Dr Smith. “Their hospital and practice provided a distinct alternative in regional health care to the hospital run by the proprietary osteopathic medical school across town” (Woodcox, 2020).
Tudor Elements
The Smith/King International House is an exceptional local example of the early Colonial Revival style. Smith House’s mix of Colonial Revival elements with patterned brickwork, decorative half-timbering with stucco infill – components more typically seen on later Tudor Revival houses – demonstrates a common feature in Kirksville middle-class residential architecture during this period: a free mix of stylistic details applied on one house which might be true or not (National Register Listing, 01/04/08).
Building Cost
The estimated cost of the house was $13,000, but the final cost was $22,000.
Architect
Ludwig Abt served as the architect of the house, and W. M. Geoghegan was the builder. Abt was a prolific designer whose works have been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.
Historical Integrity
The house, even after ninety-five years of continuous use, possesses the integrity of a historical site. Exterior and interior alterations have been minimal.
