Lost Towns
The lost towns and forgotten villages of Greene County were mapped by Arthur Paul Moser.
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Local History - Articles
Firefall '82
Springfield's first Firefall concert took place in 1982. With musical entertainment provided by the Springfield Symphony, fireworks were timed to correspond with such selections as the 1812 Overture and God Bless America.
MoreSpringfield Traction Company Expands
Springfield Traction Company expanded streetcar service to cover the new Frisco repair shops in 1909. The new routes would include the Atlantic Street line, north of the shops, and the Park Avenue line, to extend to the south side of the shops.
Temperance Lecturers in 1886
The Springfield Daily Leader announced that temperance lecturer Francis E. W. Harper was coming to town and compared her lectures to another speaker, John Sobieski.
Tent Theatre
Drs. Robert K. Gilmore and Irene Coger, founders of the MSU Tent Theater, were surprised by the turnout of the first season in 1963. Instead, every performance had a full house.
Leon "Abner" Weaver
The death of Leon "Abner" Weaver, famous in vaudeville and movies, was noted in the News & Leader May 28, 1950.
Snow in April
A snow surprise hit Springfield in April 1971.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul A. Frey
In 1931, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Frey was honored by the John J. Pershing Post No. 9 United Spanish War Veterans. He was granted honorary membership in the post.
The Alsup Family Feud
The Alsup feud is recounted on the eve of a proposed dam in Douglas County. The feud came to an end in a shoot-out with lawmen who were trying to arrest Shelt Alsup, former sheriff of Douglas County. Alsup and his five-year-old daughter were killed.
Drury College swim team 1983
The Drury College swim team consisting of Sean Allison, Dave Volland, Kurt Keuser and Ron Staab took first place in the NAIA 400-yard medley relay in 1983. They set a new NAIA record with a time of 3:25.5.
World War II inductees
A large crowd of well-wishers gathered outside the Greyhound Bus depot to bid goodbye to two contingents of Greene County African-Americans leaving for Jefferson Barracks in 1942.
When is Groundhog Day?
Do you witness Groundhog Day on February 2 or February 14? The Springfield Leader did not take sides in the controversy, but instead saw it as an opportunity to forecast the weather twice. MoreCold Billiards 1892
A description of the hazards of shooting pool in the winter of 1892. MoreMartin Luther King Service
Springfieldians plan a tribute to slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 6, 1968, by establishing a King's Family Foundation Fund and an interracial and interdenominational public service at the First Baptist Church on South Avenue. MoreKY3
Springfield Television, Inc., that would become KY3, applied for a FCC permit to build a 60,000 watt station at 999 West Sunshine in 1951. The tower and antenna would be the tallest structure in Southwest Missouri. MoreStay Informed
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