Give the gift of Cedar County history this Christmas

by Judy Nichols

The Cedar County Historical Society met on Monday, October 28, at the Cedar County Museum in Stockton. Members present were: President Judy Nichols, Vice President Chris Barber, Secretary Connie Maupin, Treasurer Anna Hopkins, Judith Cain, Ellis Benham, Frank Stranimier, Virginia Barber, and Bob Estes. Unfortunately, member Bob Phillips was not able to attend due to being admitted to a hospital intensive care unit with a serious illness. The meeting was called to order and the Pledge of Allegiance recited.

Chris Barber gave a quick recap of John Beydler’s recently held program about his new book, “Picked Clean – Civil War In and Around Cedar County.” There were 41 attendees and book sales were brisk.

The Hopewell Bridge project, west of Stockton, will be moving forward and a location for a new bridge and road placement has been chosen. So far, there are no plans to save the old bridge due to the enormous cost to do so.

The society’s museum had a total of 124 visitors during the Walnut Festival. It was a successful event for the museum and the booth in the park. Steve Stockton won the $2000 in gifts raffle.

R. E. McGee will be writing a book about the mills and springs of the Ozarks and has asked permission to print photos from society publications and the 1951 calendar photo of Caplinger Mill donated to the museum by Luella Phipps.

Society member James Richard Budd passed away recently. He and a relative were working on mapping the Mound-Mann Cemetery on K Highway.

The United States Geological Survey, a division of the Department of the Interior, is the nation’s largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency. They are conducting low altitude flights over a large area of southern Missouri, a few counties in eastern Kansas and northwestern Arkansas. They will be creating 3D models and maps of mineral, water resources, groundwater pathways near old mining areas, infrastructure and land use planning and the potential risks of naturally occurring radon in the Ozark Plateau. The “Stinger” mounted to the back of the aircraft measures variations in the earth’s magnetic field and natural, low-level gamma energy (gamma rays) generated by different rock types. The stinger can penetrate depths to 3,280 feet (1 Kilometer) blow the earth’s surface. The society will receive a copy of a map of Ceder County when it is available and information will later be on the internet for the whole region.

Donations: Chris and Virginia Barber donated Luella Phipps’ whistle and autographed paddle from her teaching years and loaned a hand sewn quilt.

Howard and Kathy O’Conner donated Kent Hickman’s band uniform worn in the annual Cedar County Knights of Pythias Band, Music Festival, in 1936 or 1937. Nanny Reba Hickman and Della Hickman made uniforms for the boys and helped others with theirs.

Marcia Hornbeck donated a 1920 Remington typewriter that was once owned by local author and teacher, Clayton Abbott.

The museum will only be open during regular meetings during the winter season, from November thru March. Meetings will be held on the last Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. and the museum will be open until 4:00 p.m. on those days. There will be no meeting in December and the museum will be closed.

Christmas season is coming soon and the society’s historical books, maps, CDs and member books make great gifts for those who are interested in Cedar County history.

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