History Blog 

Shown are the former house, at left, and filling station owned by the J. Frank Cox family for many years on Fulton Avenue, nearby the old Burlington Railroad yards. The properties were torn down following the flood of 1993. Steve Chou photo. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY A 17-year-old who was rabbit hunting atop Lover’s Leap on Feb. 7, 1916, narrowly escaped death when he stumbled and subsequently tumbled part-way down the steep rocky cliff toward the area near the railroad yards below

Five regional women will come together in May 2 in the preparation of a theme-based dinner at Blue Skies Farm. The theme of this dinner will be “She-Fs.” The five participating “She-Fs” include Kristine Russell, Nikki Barr, Ang Brown, Kendall Kurz and Carrie Wilson. Contributed photo. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY On Saturday, May 2, a culinary spotlight will focus upon five area women who are making a name for themselves in the regional food industry. A one-night-only dinner will be s

In 1995, Steve Chou took photos of the buildings still standing in South Hannibal, prior to demolition following the flood of 1993. The brick building at right was the Boedeker building. In 1875, Moritz Boedeker operated a meat market in this building. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, J.T. Fuqua and his wife, Louisa, lived here. Mr. Fuqua, son-in-law of Moritz Boedeker, conducted a paint and wallpaper business here, and was a city alderman. Spooner Creek has been a waterway

Larry Janes, a retired union electrician, remembers the Southside of his youth as “a good place to live.” Photo by his brother,  Pat Janes. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Larry Janes of Hannibal, born in 1940, called the living quarters above the Union Bar on Hannibal’s Southside home for much of his youth. It was in this environment that he gained a respectful perspective on the role played by blue collar workers during the years following World War II. The second of three sons born to

Pictured in front of Owens Drug Store at 509 Union Street are, from left, Charles W. Owens, Henry Owens, Robyn Owens (the little one) and Patty Owens. Photo contributed by Robyn Owens Culp. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY On Friday, Sept. 16, 1910, Frank and Henry Owens, proprietors of the Union Pharmacy, 501 Union St., South Hannibal, hosted a watermelon feast for South School students. According to a newspaper article of the day, the students, under the supervision of their principal,

Historic image of J.J. Cruikshank Jr., as he prepares to trim the vines on his house. Photo contributed by Warren Bittner and Juan Ruiz. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY J.J. Cruikshank Jr., the catalyst and financier behind Hannibal’s famed hilltop landmark, Rockcliffe Mansion, is easily recognizable in a rare photograph recently returned to Hannibal. Titled “Crooky ready to trim the vines,” the image is contained within a scrapbook believed to have been kept during the years of 1908-191

The brick storefront, photo contributed by Archie Hayden, shows the newly built Union Pharmacy at the corner of Fifth (Birch) and Union, (501 Union) completed at the end of 1906. The frame building that is pictured was located to the south of the brick building, on Union Street. One man, with a mustache, appears in both photos. Research suggests that beginning in 1905, John Heavenridge conducted a drug store in the single-story frame building which originally stood on the sit

Old store: The Murphy-Lampton Grocery Store stood on the corner of Washington and Third Street (in 1912 renamed South Main) in South Hannibal. This photo was taken around 1908. Those in the photo are identified as Cornelius Murphy and Cornelius Murphy Jr., Bob Murphy and Roy Decker Rosser. Undated newspaper clipping from Mary Lou Montgomery’s collection. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY In mid August, 1895, Murphy & Lampton, popular grocers of their era, displayed an unusually large cabba

Sally Kintz, and her husband Steve, have worked together in order to build their dream house on their rural acreage south of Clarksville. While some of the work has been outsourced, they have completed much of the work themselves. The project has been a time-honored labor of love. Sally is owner of Poole Communications in Hannibal. Contributed photo MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Sally Kintz began her role as an “influencer” long before the noun had social media connotations. As the tor

Frank and Sara North have operated Becky’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor & Emporium since 2000. Photo by Mary Lou Montgomery MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Not unlike the other buildings on Main in Hannibal, 318 North Main Street has a history. Sara Anton North has been an eyewitness to that history for much of her life. As long-time co-owner of Becky’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor & Emporium with her husband, Frank, it is second nature for her to reflect upon and analyze the buildin