OLD’N NEWS From Around the County – Court House News
The following is an extract from the 1884 History of Randolph and Macon Counties concerning the building of the first court house. ‘The contract for building the first court house was let on the 13 of June, 1831. It was a brick structure, two stories high, built in a square form, one room below used as a court-room and three above used as jury rooms. One of these small rooms was used for a number of years as a Masonic Hall…..’
This room is where the first Masonic meeting in Randolph county was held. The building was torn down in about 1858 or 1859 after it was determined that it was unsafe. The old bricks were used to build the Christian Church in Huntsville.
History Center News
This is a little update on some of the current projects that are in the works at the Historical Society:
1. The painting of the mural on the south side of the History Center building will begin late in May and continue through June.
2. Ralph Gerhard has been researching the history of rural schools and the Carnegie Library to name a few.
3. Mark Morgan is working on a system for backing up data on our computer, as well as integrating surnames from various databases into one system.
4. Ingrid Jones, Carol Eckhardt and Cecy Rice are getting ready to send the 2nd quarter Old’N Newsletter to all members.
5. Carolee Hazlet continues to raise money for the 4th Street Theater Restoration and to supervise the interior demolition of the theater floor.
6. Pam Smith is researching an area near Yates known as the White Oaks community. A White Oaks Family Reunion Celebration is in the works for September.
7. Rita Daly, Bonnie Kilgore and a big committee are finalizing plans for annual ice cream social on 21 June.
8. Carla Brockman is gearing up the historic sites committee for action.
9. Aubrey Van Houten and Bob Schafer are continuing their construction of the History Center Model Train.
10. One of J W Ballinger’s projects is the development of a DVD featuring Wabash steam engine pictures by Charles Winter.
11. Sheryl Morgan is planning a bookmark and brochure for the Historical Society.
12. Wahlan Kilgore and J W Ballinger have the train running at Rothwell Park and Randolph County Historical Society members will be volunteers on one of their first actual running days.
13. Ron Brockman just built, painted and delivered a nice stand for the original Tannehill Park lion to the Historical Center.
14. Dr Robert and Vivian Tompson have been working nearly full time for the last few weeks on the annual General Omar Bradley Luncheon and Symposium.
15. And lots of etc’s.
GENERAL OMAR N BRADLEY LUNCHEON & SYMPOSIUM
Monday 12 May will be a historic day for Randolph County. We will be visited by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, The Honorable Anthony Principi, where he will be the principal speaker at the annual General Omar Bradley Luncheon and Sympoium sponsored by the Moberly Rotary Club. Dr Robert Tompson, Vice President of the Randolph County Historical Society and Karl Rice, Co President of the Society are Chairman and Vice Chairman for this event. The Rotary Club sent an invitation to the festivities to all Historical Society members. Secretary Principi, who heads the second largest government agency, will be the highest ranking executive branch person to visit Randolph County.
Mural Project
Norma Crafton, art instructor at the Moberly Middle School, has arranged with David Lowenstein to paint the mural. David is a noted muralist and has done murals in many states and in Europe. The work is being done in collaboration with the Moberly School District, Main Street Moberly and the Randolph County Historical Society.