history

Jeremiah Buntin: Pioneer of Oak Hill Cemetery
This past week, the headstone for my grandmother’s grave at Oak Hill Cemetery was finally set. Visiting the Cassville cemetery to see the stone brought to mind an obituary I had read a few months ago in a Springfield newspaper from 1845 for Hugh W.

Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights: Rescuing the Experiment
As the snow fell at Mount Vernon in March 1785, George Washington was deeply concerned. Two years after the Treaty of Paris ended the War of Independence, America faced imminent ruin.

Through the Years, May 1
50 YEARS AGO: FASCO’S PROPOSED CASSVILLE PLANT — This is the design drawing of the electric motor manufacturing plant FASCO Industries Inc., of Rochester, N. 1. proposes to build in Cassville. Company plans are to begin immediately after a two-proposition bond program passes here on May 21. The 150,000-square-foot steel and masonry structure would be located on approximately 45 acres purchased by the investments of local businesses in the amount of $50,000. Employment the first year is projected at 400 persons with a three-year growth to over 500 persons. Bond issues pending include a $250,000 water and sewer expansion program for the city of Cassville under a general obligation bond and a $3 million industrial revenue bond for plant construction and equipment. Neither will affect local tax levies. The large manufacturing complex will present this basic view from the Sales Barn Road just south of Cassville.

Through the Years, April 24
30 YEARS AGO: WATCH THE BIRDIE--Cassville’s Flat Creek Emu Farm will soon be the subject of a video presentation designed to promote the fast rowing type of farming. In the photo above, Jerry Crowe, owner and a video crew doing the filming go over some of the subjects that are to be covered in this segment of the film. Crowe said the video will be used with other Flat Creek Emu promotions to anyone interested I purchasing the program. It will go through the Processes of raising the birds and their market value. All this was well and good, and proceeded well, until the mischievous birds began picking at the belts of the crew or breaking the equipment and sometimes picking their pockets of handkerchiefs.

New view in absence of Hall Theatre
Demolition of the Hall Theatre at the corner of West and Eighth streets, which was destroyed in a March 1, 2022 blaze, has opened up a new view of the courthouse square and idea of what the future may hold for the location. Presently, the city of Cassville, which was allowed to demolish the structure after months of court proceedings, plans to convert the area into a parking lot.

Through the Years, April 17
50 YEARS AGO: AUTOMATED PLANT — New equipment additions are playing an important part in higher production at Garrett Manufacturing Co. in Cassville. Typical examples of this is shown in these photos.

Lynn Hilburn: Work still needed on Bayless-Salyer house
We have finally completed the placing of the columns on the front porch at the Bayless-Salyer House at 9th and Townsend streets. The Barry County Historical and Genealogical Society would like to thank the people, families and businesses who have contributed money to pay for the purchase and installation of the new columns.

Through the years, April 10
40 YEARS AGO: COFFERDAM AT CREEK BRIDGE PROJECT — Workmen (at right) install the first part of a cofferdam at the Flat Creek bridge replacement on Sales Barn Road in Cassville. The area in which concrete is to be poured has now been completely circled and pumping has started.

Through the Years, March 27
40 YEARS AGO: AMPLE WATER PROVIDES FALL--Spring moisture in the area makes every runnable stream flowing at near full tilt these days. One example is a 90-foot waterfall from atop the spring bluff at Roaring River State Park. This photo Monday shows a healthy stream of water cascading past well worn rock bluffs. Merle Rogers, park naturalist, said the stream is flowing about 35 million gallons of water daily. Average for the spring is 22 million. Contributing to the water situation is the 7.07 inches of rainfall and snow moisture measured in March. Thus far in April, readings Monday were 1.11, says Mary Ann Thomas of the U.S. Forest Service. For the year rainfall stands at 12.55 inches. This March was the wettest since the 7.48 inches recorded in 1978.

Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — Lincoln in Peoria
With the flourish of his signature, President Franklin Pierce set America down the path toward civil war. On May 30, 1854, the fourteenth president signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, repealing the Missouri Compromise and opening the territories to slavery through popular sovereignty.