Cold, but not Forgotten

"While our historical structures help bring our community its charm, their histories bring us interest.  Preserve and cherish what is left.  Once it is gone, it is gone forever."

     Far too often our city (St. Joseph, MO) faces the choice of razing old neglected homes and buildings.  "Tear down the past to help build a future."---I think that is the mind set.  It is something we've been doing since the Urban Renewal trend, and from the result of it---we've lost way too many treasures.  For every parking lot where a structure once stood leaves a scab, and for every vacant lot where a structure once stood leaves a scar.  In recent headlines, these past few years have brought last minute attention to a nearly forgotten historical property, the Frank Sommer House---known locally as the "Cracker House."  Frank Sommer was the creator of the Premium Saltine Cracker now owned by Nabisco, and now his house is in jeopardy for demolition by the city of St. Joseph. 

 

     Now or never.  With a house so recently significant to the community, I figured a nice painting of what remains would be worthwhile.  If I want to capture it on canvas, I had better get out and snap some pictures---so I did.  I cherish through painting what we have left in the community.  Like many things in life, if things are not taken good care of they are thrown away and sometimes forgotten.  In time, memories and stories fade.  Once these structures are gone, they are gone forever.
     This will be a 12x24 oil on Ampersand gessobord.  Using charcoal vine, I have sketched in my composition.  The Cracker House is on the left along with the neighboring house beside it.  I will post Work in Progress throughout the process.  Subscribe to my blog to follow via email.

 

 

Brief History:

 

Various versions of unleavened dry crackers known as hardtack have been around for thousands of years. The generally thick hardtack cracker was extremely long-lasting, but not very tasty.

In 1876, F. L. Sommer & Company of St. Joseph, Missouri started using baking soda to leaven its wafer thin cracker. Initially called the Premium Soda Cracker and later "Saltines" because of the baking salt component, the invention quickly became popular and Sommer's business quadrupled within four years. That company merged with other companies to form American Biscuit Company in 1890 and then after further mergers became part of Nabisco in 1898.

Cracker House Project

There is an organization with a last-ditch effort to save the building from demolition.  The organization is called the Cracker House Project.  The city had planned to raze the home and create a pocket park on the property.  Mike Grimm is now leading the project.  Anyone who would like to help save the property can contact him.

Contact
call (816) 390-1703
or email crackerhouseproject@hotmail.com.
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Recent article http://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/article_d652c2df-6228-5709-983f-a55bf2b28ee2.html