Toney Aid

Toney & Kathleen Aid Toney and Kathleen Aid have a long record as dedicated preservationists. The Aid family has had a business on the West Plains Public Square since 1885, when Toney’s great-grandfather opened the family hardware store. With such deep roots in the small town of West Plains, they understand that buildings communicate the beauty and heritage of the Ozarks region as well as a sense of place. In their quest to preserve the history of their community, the Aids have led by example. They submitted the first National Register nominations for buildings in Howell County, and have rehabilitated over a dozen buildings in the downtown commercial district using the state historic tax credits on six projects. Missouri Preservation has recognized the quality of the rehabilitation with a state preservation award in 2006. The following year they also received a Downtown Missouri award for their efforts. The Aids’ projects have benefited West Plains in numerous ways. Important historic buildings in the downtown were preserved; the businesses that now occupy the buildings brought well-paying jobs to the community; and together these results have enhanced the local tax base. The two books that Toney has authored for the Images of America series published by Arcadia Publishing is another celebration of the local heritage. Currently, Toney is volunteering as director of the Ozarks Small Business Incubator in West Plains. That project is restoring the 35,000 sq. ft. Bond Block in downtown West Plains into a state of the arts business incubator. The 3 million dollar project teams up local, state and federal money to help start new businesses create jobs and raise family income in a historic building. In 2007 they finished rehabilitation of the former 42,000 sq. ft. hardware store on the square into offices and apartments, including their own home on the top floor overlooking downtown. A new tax credit project in the old West Plains Bank Building has created 20 new office spaces in a building constructed in 1916 designed by the Springfield architect J. L. Hickenlively, designer of the Shrine Mosque. Their commitment to preservation does not stop in West Plains. Both Toney and Kathleen were active members with Missouri Preservation, and Toney served on the Board of Directors for many years. Toney's first book was West Plains, 1880-1930, published by Arcadia Press in 2003. He has written many articles on Mississippian artifacts and local history.