Immigrants find place to call home
This article from 1996 discusses the immigration of Hispanic people to the Monett area.
Local History - Articles
Labor recruitment
John M Gracie hired a Springfield company to film his 24,000 acre Arkansas plantation to recruit workers. His advertising campaign was a major success, and he hired and moved twenty families from the Springfield area.
Springfield Schools 1932
It was estimated that 12,000 students would attend Springfield public schools in 1932. 
Motorcycle Club
The Rhodes Cycle Company of Springfield organized a meeting of motorcycle enthusiasts for the purpose of promoting rides to nearby towns.
Soldiers claims wanted
An act of Congress allowed qualifying military veterans additional government land, which a Springfield entrepreneur offered to purchase in this 1876 advertisement.
Jordan Valley Beautification
The history of the Jordan Creek Valley is recalled during a campaign to beautify the area in 1915.
A soldier's skeleton
A soldier's skeleton was found in a field at Wilson's Creek in 1914.
Ray Eldon Pike
Ray Eldon Pike, a popular musician in the Springfield area, died in an automobile accident in 1932. Here are his obituaries and pictures of his bands.
The Normal Heart
The Normal Heart, a play about the Aids epidemic in the early 1980's, premiered peacefully at SMS after a month of rallies, petitions, and news conferences in 1989.
Edward Rickman
Edward G. Rickman turned 100 in 1964. A brief biography outlines his remarkable life.
Japanese Garden Festival
In 1995, the Japanese Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene Park held a Japanese Garden Festival sponsored by the Botanical Society of Southwest Missouri.
Footbridge Facelift
The Jefferson Avenue Footbridge received a facelift in 1954.
Church Tear Down
In 1929, the First Presbyterian Church decided to sell their property at Jefferson and Olive streets to build a new church at their current location on Cherry Street.
1950 Census
The National Archives and Records Administration will release the 1950 census on April 1, 2022.
Dr. Carlie Souter Smith
Dr. Carlie Souter Smith passed away in 1981. She was a well known eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist in Springfield. She was one of the first women to serve on the Springfield City Council.
Stay Informed
You can receive the latest Local History articles via email or, via RSS feed. Signing up is quick and easy, just click the applicable link below.
Email list RSS feed