History Blog 

First graders seated around a table at A.D. Stowell elementary school, from left, Ray McCullough, Jim Hammock, Jimmy Latta, Bob Green and Darrell Skinner. Photo contributed by Jim Hammock. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Jim Hammock, born on the day before Halloween, 1949, has been a resident of Booker Street on Hannibal’s South Side for much of his life. Among his vast collection of memories is the day he started first grade at A.D. Stowell Elementary School in the mid 1950s. “I didn’t

Jim Hammock describes this as the “tiny” house where his grandparents raised their large family. Jim and his wife Wilma purchased this house at 1700 Booker in 1977, and following many remodels and expansion, he still calls this house his home. Photo contributed by Jim Hammock. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Booker Street, a north-south corridor located at the peak of one of Hannibal’s highest hills, was platted in 1859, when the 80-acre Wardlaw Addition was first registered with the cou

Vintage Cartivision machine, part of Robert Spaun's collection. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Before Beta Max and VHS, there was Cartrivision, which was an analog videocassette format introduced in 1972. Robert Spaun was looking at a catalog that came in the mail from Olson Electronics. They were selling the Cartrivision Video Tape Recorders. The company started in 1970, and by 1973 they were bankrupt and gone. They made thousands of Cartrivision units during that time. “They had a lar

Street scene during an early Hannibal Folklife Festival. In the background the old Ice House Theater and the grain terminals are visible. This was taken during the same era that Robert Spaun used his early video equipment to shoot footage of the festival. Photo contributed by Michael Gaines, Hannibal Arts Council. Note, Mary Lou Montgomery, author of this story and the accompanying sidebar, is Robert Spaun’s sister. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Late afternoon, on a crisp November day,

This photo of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, at Ninth and Broadway, Hannibal, Mo., would have been taken shortly after the church building was completed, circa 1907. Notice to the right - or west - of the building is a shack. This would likely have been a building associated with John J. Conlon’s lumber dealership. The lumber yard encompassed approximately two thirds of the block fronting Broadway, until Conlon sold land upon which the Methodist Church would be built.

Mike Ewing, left, and Sarah McUmber-House perform together at a vintage Folklife Festival. Ewing and Sarah’s husband, Dale, made up the regional entertainment group, Spooner Creek Rounders. (Photo contributed by the Hannibal Arts Council.) MARY LOU MONTGOMERY The Hannibal Arts Council unveiled its official 50th anniversary Folklife Festival poster on Thursday night at the organization’s annual meeting, signifying the start of the season of celebration. Sarah McUmber-House, a

The Hannibal Market House, 700 block of Broadway, circa 1927. At the time of this photo, Alfred G. Schnitzer was operating the City Market House, in the storefront at left. In the center of the building is visible a sign promoting T.C. Moon’s used car dealership. The current Hannibal Police Department was built on this same lot circa 1976. Photo from Steve Chou’s collection. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY A building known as the Market House long stood in the 700 block - on the south si

Carrie Griffen poses in front of the pipes of an historic organ recently removed from the Second Baptist Church in Bowling Green. Plans call for the reassembling of the organ in the Hannibal Music Academy Performance Hall in Hannibal. Contributed photo MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Carrie Griffen’s transformation of the century-old Methodist Church building at 901 Broadway into the Hannibal Music Academy Performance Hall has taken yet another step forward. Since her work began on the e

Danny Joe McMurphy can be seen smiling at the camera on Sunday morning, Dec. 11, 1949, in front of his parents’ eating establishment, “7th Street Cafe” in Hannibal. The day this photo was taken was an historic one in Hannibal. Shortly after noon, a tornado ripped through town, from west to east, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Photo contributed by Danny Joe McMurphy, Sullivan, Mo. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Edward Payne and Ruby E. McMurphy, who garnered culinary arts ex

This early 20th century photo shows the DeGaris Flats, at left, and the Hornback building, at right, 500 block of Broadway, Hannibal, Mo. Hannibal Arts Council photo; Steve Chou collection. “Rowdie,” one of the resident fire horses stationed at the West Side Engine House, 192 Market, along with the firefighters* assigned to the station, responded to a call at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 1909. The fire alarm came from the the DeGaris Flats, located in the 500 block of Broadway