Historic word: Gossamer
In October 1857, a Main Street merchant in Hannibal, Missouri, advertised "Blue Gossamer." Wikipedia offers a definition: Gossamer...
Hannibal history: Splendor of the steamboat Gordon C. Greene revived in 1961, but short-lived
Local Legacies By Mary Lou Montgomery Published in the Hannibal Courier-Post Saturday, March 24, 1979 Steamboats with calliopes puffing...
Old words: omnibus and cotillion
Hannibal History: A cotillion party was planned at the Marion House on Hannibal's Market Street in 1858. In an article found via...
Bathing recommendations from 1857: Hall’s Journal of Health
I found this precious and telling article in the (Hannibal) Tri Weekly Messenger May 21, 1857. I accessed it through...
Define: Specie payment
In an old letter I found, the writer refers to the Missouri Bank suspending specie payments in October 1857. Not knowing what "specie...
1937 Underwood typewriter
My father, William B. Spaun, moved to Hannibal, Mo. in August 1937, and set up a law practice in the Hornback Building, located at 500...
Hannibal history: Retired railroader shared memories of early Hannibal (1938)
The following story contains a lot of interesting information. It was originally published in 1838, on the newspaper's 100th anniversary....
Memories of Market Street
In the Market Street story I posted on Oct. 6, there is a mention of the Marion House on Market Street. In researching, I've often...
Hannibal history: Depression taught Hannibal, Mo., woman lesson of hard work and thrift
Published in the Hannibal Courier-Post Aug. 9, 1980 Mary Lou Montgomery Local Legacies Growing vegetables in a garden because there was...
Hannibal history: In 1915, button company in Hannibal, Mo., made pearl buttons from shells
Published in the Hannibal Courier-Post March 8, 1980 MARY LOU MONTGOMERY LOCAL LEGACIES During 1915, Hannibal was a thriving industrial...