Missouri's Bicentennial
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n July 2021 the Library District will host a traveling exhibit for Missouri's Bicentennial. View the online version now and discover Missouri's Struggle for Statehood.
Local History - Articles
New Year 1933
Harry Durst, Mayor of Springfield in 1933, welcomes the New Year portrayed by Joan Crawford Rice.
Christmas dinner
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In 1986, Hamby's, St. Mary's Guild of Christ Episcopal Church and Northside Christian Church joined forces to deliver over 140 meals to homebound elderly residents.
Death of Nathan Boone
Colonel Nathan Boone died in 1856. A brief biographical sketch of his military career was provided in the Springfield Advertiser and Randolph Citizen.
Thanksgiving 1910
A short background piece on the history of Thanksgiving followed by a tongue-in-cheek look at the day.
John S. Phelps Funeral
The 1886 burial of ex-governor John S. Phelps is described in depth in the Springfield Daily Leader. The article lists the many Missouri dignitaries in attendance, the order of procession, and describes the service before he was laid to rest in Hazelwood Cemetery.
Greenlawn Cemetery
Judge Ben J. Diemer made the announcement that he was opening a cemetery on the north side of town. In 1905, Greenlawn Cemetery consisted of forty acres and Mr. Diemer intended to plant over two hundred maple trees.
Ashworth/Dade House
The former Ashworth home was located on land that had been used for the first school in Greene County. A former resident gives a description of the Jordan Valley in early days.
School enumeration
A short article about the school enumeration taken in Springfield in 1896.
Ava Fire
Around midnight of August 15, 1898, four buildings and most of the contents on the Ava public square were consumed by fire in just one hour.
Celtics Play in Springfield
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Springfield basketball fans enjoyed the rare opportunity to see the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, play the St. Louis Hawks in the Parkview High School gymnasium in 1963.
Fair Grounds Platted
The "old fairgrounds", one of many in Springfield, was sold to E.C. Jones in 1907 to be platted as the Driving Park Addition.
1918 Influenza Pandemic
An influenza epidemic spread across the world from 1918-1919. It was first identified in United States military personnel in spring 1918 and by September of that year it had spread across the country.
New Displays
The Wild Things of the Ozarks and All Aboard: The Frisco Railroad are two new displays now showing in the Local History Department.
Condemned cannon
A condemned cannon from the Rock Island Arsenal exploded in Cabool in 1902. Fifteen years before eight cannons were sent to Greene County to ornament a park. The cannon arrived after the park scheme died out and the county court distributed the cannon among the townships.
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