Cedar County Historical Society meets

by Connie Maupin

The Cedar County Historical Society held their May meeting on June 3 rather than meeting during the Memorial Day Weekend.  The meeting was held in the Stockton museum and those present were President Judy Nichols, Vice President Judith Cain, Secretary Connie Maupin, Assistant Treasurer Anna Hopkins, Luella Phipps, Sharyl Henry, Ellis Benham, Chris Barber and Bob Phillips.

Bob Phillips chose flooding as his history topic.  A timely subject considering the amount of rain that has fallen in Missouri this year.  He touched on several floods of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers over the years, back as far as 1841.  He also told of the Sac River flooding in 1943 when the river rose filling the valley from bluff to bluff and threatened the Sac River bridge on Highway 32 due to a giant Burr Oak tree lodging against the underpinnings of the bridge.  A group of men, including one of Bob’s relatives, cut poles, went into the river and managed to dislodge the tree thus saving the bridge.

The Society White Elephant/Garage Sale originally scheduled for May 18 was held over and opened again on May 25 and June 1.  Many items remain including the two saddles and harness offered by Judy Nichols’ neighbor and he is still willing to give the Society 10% if they are sold.  Judy Nichols’ new HP printer sold.  She had offered to donate 20% but requested that instead, she would buy two new sawhorses needed for use in the museum at a higher cost to her.  The members approved this request with thanks.

The Society paid the Sertoma Club for their booth at the Black         Walnut Festival being held on Sept. 26, 27 and 28.  Various ideas for the raffle were discussed but no decision reached.  The Society will sell raffle tickets at the El Dorado Springs Picnic.

The El Dorado Springs Picnic dates are July 18, 19 and 20.  The Society will set up a booth inside the Wayside Inn Museum booth on the 19th and 20th.

Board members had previously voted to offer the museum as a polling place for Jefferson Township.  There will be an election Aug. 6, but other sights are also being considered by the Cedar County Commission.

There will be tours of the Stockton Dam during the 50th Anniversary celebration, Friday and Saturday, July 5-6.  Tours will be on Friday only, by reservation at the celebration booth,         between 1 and 5 pm.  More information will be forthcoming from local news outlets.

A note from MODOT concerning surveying activities on Hwy.* 32 from El Dorado to Bolivar.  This is strictly information gathering for future use but no plans exist at this time.

The Society would like to take this opportunity to thank Glenda Pate for all the time and effort she invests to furnish the CCHS monthly newsletter.  Thanks to Judy Cain for wrapping ink cartridges for recycling.

Donations this month: 1979 Stockton Yearbook from Bob Phillips, a 1966 McKinley Precinct Election bag from John West of  Needmore, his mother’s childhood rocker from Gene Walden, books titled The Sycamore Tree at 400 Main Street, El           Dorado Springs, The Forgotten War – Korea, Eight Generations of  Hoffmans, Vol. No. 13 and Surveys and Surveyors, all donated by Claud Hoffman.  Glenda Pate donated a 1965 Missouri State Fair souvenir (a Lee Rider Jeans advertisement).  A Jack LaLane Twist-A-Way exerciser, a vintage pair of mens’ suspenders (new, in the original box) and a box of pre-1950’s Binney and Smith school chalk was donated by Chris Barber.  Chris Barber is also loaning the Society a child’s Little Queen Bissell sweeper for display.

The next meeting will be held Monday June 24 at 1:00 p.m. in the Stockton Museum at 106 West Street.  The museum will be open the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the last Monday of the month from 1 to 4 p.m.  Admission to the museum is free, however the Historical Society and Museum are not tax funded and operate on donations from the public.  The museum is wheel chair accessible.  Meetings are open to the public and free coffee is provided.  For information, appointments or to purchase publications, call 417-276-1142, by email at cedarcomohistsoc@gmail.com on Facebook at “Cedar County Mo Historical Society” or by mail at P.O. Box 111, Stockton, MO 65785.