Still mansion burns
Posted: August 26, 2010
The Charles Still mansion, or Atlas House, at 200 South Osteopathy in Kirksville, caught fire May 31. Smoke could be seen miles away from the unoccupied structure, built in 1912-13 when Dr. Charles Still, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still’s oldest son, lived there with his family. Crews fought the blaze from 6:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m., and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Rob Clement, exhibit preparator with the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine, compiled the following history of the mansion, much of which is taken from Georgia Walter’s book “The First School of Osteopathy,” published in 1992.
Charles Still had the 24-room house built in 1912-13. Prior to its construction, the site featured a two-story brick Italianate Victorian house, probably built in the late 1870s or early 1880s. Charles, his wife, Anna, and their children lived in the house for several years before building what would have been considered a much more fashionable house built in the new Beaux-Arts style of residential architecture popular after the turn of the century. A.T. Still’s house was located next door to the south; that house was razed in 1968.
Anna Still was ready to entertain visiting alumni and local residents in spring 1914. “She was especially proud of the large dining room with a table that could seat 24 people. There were many other special features: a parlor for her daughters on the first floor, a ballroom on the third floor large enough for 50 or more couples, a dumb waiter that connected all three [main] floors, an interfloor intercom system that included the basement, [and] a central vacuum system.”*
In the early 1940s, Charles Still gave the house in trust to the college as a memorial to his wife. Extensive renovation, including installing air conditioning and an elevator, turned the house into a 17-suite home that provided accommodations for patients whose primary care was osteopathic manipulation. The house was dedicated as such in October 1946. Dr. Elizabeth Esterline, the daughter of Charles and Anna Still, who had grown up in the home, served as physician in charge. In 1944, Dr. A.T. Still’s house next door was converted into a nursing home.
Charles Still lived in the house until his death in 1955. Two years later, the school closed the Anna R. Still Convalescent Home, and its ownership reverted to the Still family. Later that year, in 1957, the family sold the house to the Atlas Club fraternity
for $45,000 and other considerations. According to Walter, 700 Atlas alumni contributed to the purchase of the property. The newly titled Atlas House was used as a club dormitory, meeting space, and as a KCOS/KCOM alumni gathering place during special events, such as Founder’s Day and graduation weekends.
*”First School of Osteopathy,” p. 239