Veterans Memorial Park Dedication scheduled for May 29

by Connie Maupin
The Cedar County Historical Society met March 28, at the museum in Stockton with the following members present: President Judy Nichols, Secretary Connie Maupin, Treasurer, Anna Hopkins, Luella Phipps, Sharyl Henry, Noble King, Ellis Benham, Chris Barber, Virginia Barber and Bob Phillips. We were particularly happy so see Luella Phipps return and to welcome long time member, Noble King, to her very first meeting. We hope to see both joining us regularly. John Beydler dropped in for a short visit at the end of the meeting.
President Nichols called the meeting to order and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The secretary, the treasurer and the museum maintenance reports were approved.
Bob Phillips brought a number of photos to share with the group. They included several of his dad, brother and himself during their military service and several more he had found in a local antique shop showing devastation of buildings in the Philippines during World War II. These closely resemble present day pictures we are seeing on TV every day. Bob also had a few pictures of the inside of Hammons Cave.
Construction of the Veterans Memorial Park continues and the dedication ceremony is scheduled on Armed Forces Day, May 21, at 10 a.m. The Historical Society has purchased a brick to be included in the wall which reads, “The Cedar County Historical Society Honors all Veterans.”
Please remember and plan to attend Kelly C. Sartorius, Ph.D., Director of Advancement, Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage area will be presenting a program on pioneer women during the Civil War along the Mo-Kan line. The program is scheduled for Monday May 23, at 1 p.m. at the museum. RSVP is required due to space availability. Please reply by May 20th.
Anna Hopkins has finished the January issue of the newsletter.
Lindley Prairie Cemetery Board will be printing an updated copy of their cemetery book which may be available by Memorial Day.
Delbert Taylor’s genealogy collection has been sorted. Some items in the collection were salvaged and placed in a collection box in the Research Library. A few items were placed for viewing during the meeting.
The “Niche” continues to produce income and members continue to donate therefore the Society board members voted to purchase some shelving for the Niche. One set was purchased with Museum Maintenance funds and the other from donations.
Please continue to bring in donations so that we will be well stocked for the White Elephant Sale during the Walnut Festival this year. Dates for the festival are Sept. 23 and 24. Donated items must be clean, usable and if electronic, must be in working order. Please, no shoes and no clothing will be accepted. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Here’s an interesting bit of information. On display in the museum is an old school desk which came from Sand Hill School and was donated several years ago by Judy Cain. Information concerning this desk has recently come to light through the Cedar County Republican’s “CCR blast from the past,” containing an entry from the “Sand Hill Items,” March 16, 1922. It states, “Professor Lincoln Baker freighted new seats for the Sand Hill School from Dunnegan on Monday.” Lincoln Baker was the grandfather of member and CCHS Vice President Judith Baker Cain, who donated the desk.
About eleven years ago, Chris Barber taped Ezell Goodwin’s program, “Some backdoor history of Stockton, Mo,” that he presented to the Society. Chris will replay a digitized copy of that program at the next meeting.
Just a reminder: The Society will only be able to provide minimal research assistance and look-ups for patrons. We will no longer be able to fulfill requests for genealogy due to lack of available staff. However, the museum research library is still open for those wishing to complete their own research. Society members can suggest other resources, libraries and internet sites. Society publications containing a multitude of information are always available for purchase.
Donations this month: A child’s crib, donated by Susan Zitt. A booklet and a magazine story about the flood disaster of 1951 and a 1945 calendar donated by Janice Floyd. These items came from her mother, Freida Floyd. A book “MoSGA 4-generation Charts,” by the Missouri State Genealogical Association, donated by Connie Maupin.
Our next meeting will be April 25, in the Stockton museum at 106 W. Davis St. The museum is now open winter hours only, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., during monthly meetings. The museum will commence summer hours Saturday May 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is FREE. Meetings are open to the public and free coffee is always available. For information, appointments or purchase of publications, call 427-276-1142. Contact the society by email at cedarcomohistsoc@gmail.com or by mail at P.O. Box 111, Stockton, MO.