MCHS

The Marion County Historical Society has been preserving local history for nearly fifty years.

In the 1960s MCHS rescued two important historic buildings, the Molly Brown (Margaret Tobin) birthplace and the stone Welshman’s House. The Molly Brown House was in a sorry condition and about to be demolished when MCHS members stepped forward to save it. The group held the home open for tours for several years. MCHS also stepped forward to save the little stone house called the Welshman’s House, which was located on Denkler’s Alley. When the state highway was slated to come through and the little house was in the way, MCHS numbered each stone and reassembled the house on its present site next to the Hannibal Visitor’s Bureau. Actually, the Welshman’s House was used as Hannibal’s Visitor’s Bureau until the present structure was built.

Happily, the Welshman’s House is once again in use, as a meeting place for MCHS. The house is also a repository for historical documents and papers relating to Marion County’s history. Some historic documents were being thrown out by the city when they were rescued by both historic groups. MCHS’s next project will be to spruce up the Welshman’s House to make it more attractive, and also to do further organizing of the documents stored there so they can be used for historical research. Meetings of the group have been held in different locations, including historical buildings in Palmyra, as well as Hannibal. In February 2008 MCHS held its first meeting in the Welshman’s House which was being used for storage by the city. The group gathered in front of the fireplace in the cozy little house to make plans for preserving the house and historic documents related to Hannibal and Marion County.

MCHS has accomplished some very large projects during the past ten years. One project was the creation of Hannibal’s newest historic district, the Maple Avenue Historic District. This district encompasses approximately the area between Seventh St. and Maple Ave., Broadway and Hill St. This project was funded by state, city and the MCHS combined resources and energy. Members of MCHS did almost all the footwork, documenting the structures to be included in the district, and it involved hundreds of hours of sometimes very tedious work. Creating the historic district qualify home and building owners in the district that have buildings that contribute to the history of the neighborhood to apply for Missouri tax credits when doing substantial renovations to their properties. The tax credit program helps in the expense of preserving and renovating these historic homes and buildings so they will be around for future generations. For tax credit information go the Links page.

Another recent large project accomplished by MCHS was the second reprinting of The History of Marion County Missouri, first published in 1884. The book was reprinted by MCHS in 1979, and copies were becoming scarce, as are the original copies. MCHS reprinted the book, using money that had accumulated in the treasury. The reprinted books are available in both Hannibal and Palmyra in several locations. Call Jim Talley for information (573) 769-4307 or e-mail

MARION COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

FEBRUARY 5, 2008

Marion County Historical Society met Tuesday, February 5, at 7:00 p.m. at the stone cottage known as the Welshman’s House. It was decided at the last meeting that the regular meeting date and time would be the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., but the actual months of meeting are yet to be decided.

This was the first meeting in the Welshman’s House since possession of the house was transferred from the Visitor’s Bureau back to MCHS. A reminder for those who may be still learning Hannibal’s history, it was Marion County Historical Society which saved the stone cottage from destruction when the state highway came through, taking part of Denkler’s Alley where the house sat. The stones were numbered, dismantled, and the cottage was rebuilt on the present site.

Since the last meeting work has been done to make the doors and windows water tight, a heater/air conditioner has been installed, with a thermostat calibrated to keep the inside air from being too chill or too hot. An overhead light fixture/fan has been installed, and the archives have been pushed around to make the space inside usable. A big thanks needs to go to Bill Conley who did most of the installation work.

The meeting was called to order by president, Jim Talley. Minutes of the last meeting were read by Candace Klemann and approved. The treasurer’s report showed $1843.47.

There was discussion of the content of an article being prepared by Candace Klemann for Hannibal Magazine. The article will highlight the two historical groups in Hannibal; include mention of historical figures from Marion County and also photos. The article will be published in the April issue and will have the schedule and information for the Historic Home Tour which Friends of Historical Hannibal is sponsoring Sunday, April 20, 2008.

There was a webpage update from Nancy Talley, who is creating it. It will encompass both historic groups.

Maintenance of the building was discussed. It was decided to arrange a few workdays to accomplish the projects, beginning in March. Some of the projects are: removing flaking paint from exterior doors and windows, followed by sealing the old wood with linseed oil, then painting; painting interior walls and woodwork; painting floors; creation of a lattice frame around the heating/air unit to hide it, or possibly moving that unit to the backdoor; making the front door operational, with a path leading from the sidewalk to the door; addressing a drainage problem at the back of the house; doing some perennial planting; and creating a sign to be placed near the house.

Another needed project is to sort through the papers now stored in the cottage, to organize and catalog contents of the paper collection. There is a need for more shelving and for filing cabinets, and a request for donated furniture is going out.

There is discussion of moving the filing cabinets containing Esley Hamilton’s research documents for the creation of historic districts from the Arts Council Building to the Welshman’s cottage.

We are reminded dues are due (overdue), and the money can be paid to Joyce Conley at 1001 Hill St. The dues are $10.00 for one person, $15.00/family.

Bob Kilmer’s property is the site of a proposed picnic, possibly for both historic groups, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 27^th. More information regarding this event will be forthcoming.

The meeting was adjourned and refreshments were enjoyed. Thank you, John Klemann, and Bob Kilmer.

Respectfully submitted

Candace Klemann, Secretary