Dessert Auction

UPDATE: July 4

HAPPY FOURTH AMERICA!!!!

Wanted to post an update for those faithful followers of our blog. The Joplin Tornado in May impacted so many of our lives in ways that no one could even imagine. All of our volunteers for the Courthouse Project diverted attention to disaster relief. We can't even begin to name those fellow McDonald Countians who were physically, emotionally, and mentally impacted by the disaster. But.... as we all celebrate our Country's Independance Day and as Joplin continues to rebuild, it is time to re-group and move forward!

We will be holding a meeting at the Museum this Saturday, July 9, at 11:00 a.m. to discuss future plans and to get our project back on track. Watch for future posts with a new set of plans for our Project.

May 21: Courthouse Restoration Project Fund Raiser

IF YOU HAVE READ THIS PAGE PREVIOUSLY, PLEASE REVIEW THE TIMES! DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS WE HAD TO REARRANGE SOME OF THE EVENTS AND WE DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS OUT!!!!

Work Day April 9

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!!!! April 9 we will be piling trash on a trailer, and cleaning! We need all of the help we can get. The electrician will be coming in after this phase and we have to complete the wiring before we can begin the drywall phase. Please, PLEASE, P-U-L-E-E-E-Z schedule in some time, even for a few hours on Saturday to stop by, sweep a little, load a little, or just give a GREAT BIG cheer to the volunteers!

Business Expo - 2011

We had a great day at the Expo March 26! The booth space was terrific - in the hall area as people walked into the main room! Dorothy and Virginia were both there by 8:00 a.m. getting set up for the public! Virginia brought along information about the Powell Bridge (you can check out their blog from our links page) while Dorothy prepared the Society's portion. How great it is to have such hard workers for the Society! A couple of memberships were collected, some folks were able to pick up their 2011 calendars, and a lot of publicity was obtained about the Secession event scheduled for May 21! Dorothy was excited to recite all of the facts she has compiled about the Secession while Carol canvassed the public for volunteers to protect our Territory!! Bill Lant was available at the County's booth and I overheard him talking to a few folks about the funder on the May 21 event as well. Our Fund Raiser to save the Old Courthouse is shaping up to be a great success and how exciting to have so much fun celebrating our 50 year anniversary of being the ONLY COUNTY IN THE NATION to ever seceed from their home state! That would be McDonald County. What moxie!

Heating and Air Estimates

Well, we have good news and bad news.... The good news is that Mike's Heating and Air has told us the project to install central heat/air is doable! We were concerned because of the heavy brick walls and our desire to leave the rooms as original as possible. The bad news is the cost. It will run us somewhere in the area of $15 to $20 thousand..... Boy, do we need some donations!

Secession Presentation - Sunday, March 20

COME JOIN US, 2:00 P.M., AT THE "NEW" COURTHOUSE TO LEARN ABOUT THE FACTS OF THE SECESSION EVENT FROM 1961! MORE DETAILS WILL BE REVEALED BY DOROTHY, AND A SPECIAL GUEST WILL READ HER PARENTS' ACCOUNT OF THE PERIOD WHEN HER FATHER WAS THE LEADER OF THE TERRITORIAL MILITIA

Work Day - May 12 - Asbestos Checked!

Looks like I slipped again! Didn't get a message sent to announce the work day. Sure glad you all are getting used to us working every Saturday! We had a great turn out! Jenny sent pizza for all the volunteers. We had 10 folks work the entire day and 4 pop in for a few hours! Whew, what a great day! - Also, for all of those concerned folks who have called me, please rest assured we have no asbestos! Bob Hamilton is AHERA Certified. He showed up and ruled out any asbestos. Of course, we already knew we were safe, but it's a great idea to have that label behind the name just to cover the bases. So now everyone can rest easy and come on over to see the progress! We are moving right along with the tear off phase. It's amazing how much bigger the rooms appear without dark paneling on them. By the way, was anyone around in 1900 to tell us how folks got to the second floor of the courthouse? We thought we might uncover some stairs or something, but no such luck.

Surname Funding Project

This is another opportunity created by your Board to raise funds for the Courthouse Restoration Project. What you will receive for your contribution is a space to permanently display your chosen surname. You can provide your family's history and the Society will place your information in a notebook to be shelved alphabetically in the Research Area of the Museum. It is not the intent of the Society to replace any genealogical efforts in the county, but to enhance and expand the portions of the museum that already provides family information. Examples of expansion are the displays on the Centennial Farms or the Veterans. We already have one contribution pledged for this expansion and are anticipating more. Pledge now and begin preparing your family's heritage to begin this wonderful expansion effort of the County's growth.

Adopt A Room Funding Project

Your Board has created a variety of opportunities for you to actively participate in the restoration process of the Old Courthouse. For those of you who can, we have made an option available to adopt a room. When you do so there will be a gold plaque inlaid into the woodwork where all can see upon entering your room. You will be able to design the inscription. We recognize that the dollar amounts are high to adopt a room; but if groups or families join together to help defray the total the project is doable and can be a success! Perhaps two generations may desire to honor their ancestor who settled in the County. The cost divided by several families would be minimal.

Work Day 01-15-11

The workday on 01-08-11 was a success!  Items from the second floor were brought to the first floor.  Some of the carpeting was taken up from the upstairs courthouse.  There is a huge mess up there now!  Whew!  Sandwiches were good.  Come help us on Saturday!  We will be pulling paneling, cleaning, moving stuff.  There will be a task for everyone.... We need people to set up lunch, people to organize donation lists, people to get physical with the labor, and people to just come by and be a cheerleader.  There is positively something for everyone.  Please come be a part!

Workday!

I talked with Jennifer this morning.  She is bringing soup and sandwiches to feed everyone on Saturday!  What a great way to work up an appetite.... Happy workday!  See you there.

Bring Tools!

Virginia is bringing her tools to the workday on Saturday!  Forgot to mention that.... We need everyone to bring what they have.... Cleaning supplies... brooms... hammers... etc.  See everyone soon!

January Meeting

The guest speakers for January will be Virginia Hall and Jim Tatum. The meeting is the 3rd Sunday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. The theme is bringing the past into the present.... Virginia will talk about the changes of the Courthouse from its beginning in the 1870s to the present plans to be our museum. Jim will follow with a presentation about the Crowder College annex to be built in the Jane area.

Courthouse Workdays

We will begin the restoration project with a series of workdays beginning January 8th at 10 a.m. We will work until we're tired (probably 3:00 or so). Come join in the fun and the beginning plans for the new Museum!  How exciting.

McDonald County, Missouri

McDonald County is located in the extreme southwest corner of Missouri bordering Oklahoma and Arkansas. The County has a proud history rich in pioneer spirit and American values. The mission of the McDonald County Historical Society is to preserve the County's history by documenting, researching, and sharing information, data, and research with the public.