Cedar Bluff/Wagoner School reunion Saturday, Sept. 6

By Judy Nichols

Cedar County Historical Society members met at the Cedar County Museum in Stockton on Monday, August 25, 2025. Those attending were: President Judy Nichols, Vice-President Chris Barber, Treasurer Sheila Griggs, Judith Cain, Anna Hopkins, Frank Stranimier, Bob Phillips, Joe Phillips, Ellis Benham and Bob Estes.

The society was informed about the upcoming Cedar Bluff/Wagoner School reunion to be held on Saturday, September 6, beginning at 4 p.m. Retired Colonel Jerry Akins, U. S. Air Force, will be donating items from the Minute Man II Missile project to the old school and to the C.C.H.S Museum. A speech by Akins, a gun raffle, potluck dinner and an auction will also be held that evening. Visitors are asked to bring a food item for the meal and a lawn chair if they plan to attend. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the English Creek Realty, on the square in Stockton. The school is located about 6 miles west of Highway 39 on Highway Z, at the intersection of South 825 Road in Wagoner. Parking will be available south of the school.

The society newsletter has been published and copies have been mailed to members who do not have internet access.

Re-printing the “1908 Cedar County Plat Book,” the “El Dorado Springs Lyceum,” the “Stockton Lyceum” and “Caplinger Mills Lyceum” books has been completed. Judy Nichols expressed interest in re-printing the “1930 Plat” and “1961 Atlas” in the future.

The historic 1880’s stone steps located on the east side of North Street, next to the Stockton City Park, cut from the old rock quarry near the Cedar Gap-Hembree Cemetery, have been removed and will be replaced by concrete steps. They have been unstable for several years and have been donated to the Stockton park board by the city.

Chris and Virginia Barber reported on their plans for the society booth at the Black Walnut Festival on September 25, 26 and 27 in the Stockton City Park.

The society will also be holding their annual White Elephant Sale in the museum during the festival. The museum will be open on Friday, Sept. 26 and 27, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For those who would like to donate items for the sale, they are all greatly appreciated. The society and museum are not tax supported, so donations help maintain the museum and research library to keep Cedar County history alive for all to enjoy. For information, call 417-276-1142.

Bob Phillips presented his “Historical Notes” about the Phillpot files that were donated to the museum many years ago.

They had been sorted and microfilmed for preservation and contain interesting information and documents dated before 1845 when Cedar County was created. Associated family members are also contained in the files.

Recent donations to the museum are: Bob Pyle; photographs and maps, Bob Phillips; an old 1918 Stockton School photo and several Civil War Military Unit books. Sam Phillips enlarged a copy of an aerial photo of Stockton, circa July 4, 1922.

The museum will be open Saturday, Sept. 6 and 20, from Noon to 4 p.m. and Monday, September 22, from 1 to 4 p.m.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, September 22, at 1 p.m. at the museum.

The Cedar County Museum and Research Library are located at 106 West Davis Street in Stockton. Admission is FREE. For information, appointments or to purchase publications call: 417-276-1142, email the society at cedarcomohistsoc@gmail.com, on Facebook at “Cedar County Mo Historical Society” or by mail at P.O. Box 111, Stockton, MO 65785.