Excelsior Springs, Mo. – Businesses come and go, but in Excelsior Springs, historical integrity remains, especially for one local business located at 216 Spring Street.
Currently, the renovated, split one- and two-story H-shaped building, connected by a one-story hallway, boasts an international wine café inspired by Italy, known as Casa Di Vite—or, in English, Vine House.
But before the building was transformed into a local gathering place serving international wine alongside a menu of flatbreads and gyros, it was the former office and residence of Thomas Napoleon Bogart, better known as Doctor T.N. Bogart, a local practitioner and consultant in 1901.
According to historical records at the Excelsior Springs Museum, Dr. Bogart used naturally occurring mineral water to treat chronic diseases. His specialties, however, were treating syphilis, gynecology, and genitourinary diseases.
At the time, the building appeared to be constructed of wood, serving as both a permanent residence and a doctor’s office just one door west of the Arlington Hotel. However, in 1909, the facility reportedly caught fire, as documented in the Excelsior Springs Daily Call newspaper. Claims were made that the office was “the first fire in nearly two months,” as “Dr. Bogart’s loss [was] estimated [at] $3,000.”
The fire reportedly broke through the roof and was “raging in the space between the ceiling and the shingles of the frame building,” according to the Daily Call. Coincidentally, Dr. Bogart and his family were not home during the blaze. As speculation began about the cause, firefighters discovered that the building had burned because the chimney flue was closed.
Although Bogart said, “he could not understand how the flue could have possibly set the building on fire,” his practice was officially closed. Later, the building was reconstructed of stone and showcased in a photograph labeled “Model Office and Lindsay’s Sanitarium,” before being purchased by undertaker Herbert Hope in 1932 and transformed into the H-shaped Hope Funeral Home.
The Daily Standard reported on July 8, 1932, that Herbert purchased the property at the corner of Spring Street and Thompson Avenue, which had previously been occupied by “Dr. Parker and Dr. Baird’s office.”
Records indicate the property was initially owned by T.L. Hope, Herbert’s father, and was one of the original plats within the area.
At the time of purchase, Herbert was unsure of any changes to be made to the building, which was originally a single two-story stone structure. Eventually, the H-shape plan took form with the idea of turning the building into the iconic Hope Funeral Home.
By 1933, Herbert had transformed the building, connecting the stand-alone structure with a one-story hall, as the H-shape design came to life as a place for those who had passed to be laid to rest. The design also resembled the style of the original Hope family home situated two blocks away on West Excelsior Street.
During the renovation period, the Daily Standard reported it was an “unusual improvement in the funeral home situation,” as Pixler-MacDoniels had another establishment on the corner of Broadway and Thompson Avenue. Additionally, the Prather funeral parlors were being remodeled on Main Street.
Although the funeral services offered in Excelsior Springs appeared to be in abundance, Deon Wolfenbarger’s report from the Missouri State Parks historical records indicated the opening of the Hope Funeral Home occurred on November 3, 1932, as the public was invited to inspect the “Excelsior Springs latest improvement.”
Herbert announced how proud he was of the new funeral home, and he wanted everyone to see it, including residents of nearby communities such as Lawson. The Lawson Review documented the opening ceremony, boasting about the building’s design.
“Complete in every detail, this new funeral home presents a most attractive appearance, nothing overlooked in its construction and appointments,” read the Review. “Every department shows the result of much study and well-executed ideas.”
Inside the stone building, the rooms were arranged with service in mind, featuring an artistic color scheme and drapes thanks to the efforts of Herbert and Claude Prichard’s wives. An apartment was situated upstairs where the Hopes resided. The Review noted that someone would be in attendance at all times to provide a “dignified, satisfactory undertaking and funeral service at a time when satisfaction is vital.”
During the opening celebration, it was also noted that Herbert featured Kansas City opera singer Nora Lamar Ross, who performed songs from Il Trovatore for the attendees.
Herbert Hope passed away in 1946, according to ancestor records. No known closure date for the Hope Funeral Home has been documented. The building sat empty for decades until its most recent purchase in 2019 by business owner Susan Blaser and her daughter, Brittni, who transformed the once-empty structure into a vibrant place to visit in Excelsior Springs.
Today, the building encompasses a trio of businesses, including an international wine café, an Airbnb, and a small event space—perfect for intimate weddings—pairing local charm and history under one roof.
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