Newton County Historical Park & Museum

10/07/2024

We're so grateful for all the visitors that came to see us this weekend during History Alley! Thank you so much to all of the demonstrators that spent the day sharing thier craft and knowledge, we appreciate you!

09/13/2024

The national Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in New England in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy, author of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures". In the late 1890's this new denomination began expanding through the opening a series of Reading Rooms in downtown areas all over the U.S. These reading rooms were established as a places where one may study and contemplate the Bible and Christian Science literature in a quiet atmosphere, similar to a library. They were often in rented rooms above downtown businesses and were run by independent local "societies" of Eddy's growing movement.

In or around the year 1918, a group of Neosho area residents known locally as simply, the "Christian Science Society" began meeting in one such Reading Room in downtown Neosho. As interest and membership grew, they would regularly host national guest speakers for lectures in rented local halls like Neosho's Whiteway and Orpheum theatres.

In the mid-1920's, the local society was outgrowing their rented space and petitioned the national church for a local franchise. The following appeared in the Neosho Daily Democrat on September 25, 1928:

"Laying of Church Corner Stone
The ceremony of the laying of the cornerstone of the First Church of Christ Scientist, Neosho, was held at five o’clock yesterday afternoon. A brief ceremony was held during which selections from the Bible and from Science and Health were read, and the cornerstone was placed.

The work of this building has progressed rapidly, it is to be of white Carthage stone, interlined with hollow tile, and as nearly as possible of fireproof construction.

The auditorium will have a seating capacity of 125 and arrangements will be made so that all of the rooms can be opened into one space, increasing the seating capacity to approximately 200.

The beautiful lot on which the church is being built, has a 75-foot front on Wood street, and extends 150 feet on McCord street, and was a gift to the congregation from Mr. and Mrs. Frank Reed.

Services of this organization were held at the Knights of Pythias Hall until April 3, 1920, when the second floor front rooms over the Newton County Hardware Company were leased and a Reading Room opened, and regular Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services were held, and on July 12, 1926, the Christian Scientists of Neosho, organized a Christian Science Society.

In May 1928, application was made for change of title from Christian Science Society to First Church of Christ Scientist, Neosho, Mo., and on August 17, 1928, the Mother Church, the First Church of Christ Scientist of Boston, Mass., granted this request.

The church in Neosho now under construction, is being built by J. B. Wagor and H. C. Roark, contractors and it is now planned to hold the first service in the new building on Thanksgiving Day.”

Local records show that this congregation met at this location through the early 1980's, after which time the building was sold to the Neosho School District and the remaining church members transferred to the Joplin congregation. The building served several functions for the school district over the next four decades, including as administrative offices, and as well as hosting the local Head Start program.

In mid-2024 the building was purchased for the purpose of opening a community center. Plans are underway to open it in the fall as, "The Conservatory ", offering a space for events, classes, meetings, performing arts and much more. Many of the "updates" from the 70's, 80's, & 90's have been removed (with more to come), restoring it very much to it's early 20th century character.

Together with the Newton County Historical Park & Museum, Historic Downtown Neosho, and many of their downtown neighbors, they are hosting an open house and wine share event tonight, Friday, September 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Attendees are invited to bring a bottle/pack of their favorite wine or beer to share.

Additional details are at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1037320717927401

09/06/2024

We are excited to be partnering with Neosho Arts Council to provide this workshop. This will be a wonderful opportunity for area residents to learn how to preserve family heirlooms and fabrics for generations to come! Hope to see you there!

Join us October 19 for a free workshop, Textile Conservation on a Budget! Learn to Preserve and Protect textiles with Dr. Amber Clifford - Professor of Anthropology and Director of the McClure Archives and Museum at the University of Central Missouri.

If you have quilts, uniforms, vintage clothes, hats, fiber art or any textile that you'd like to learn to preserve and display properly without braking the bank this workshop is for you! Plus you can bring your items for Dr. Clifford to view and give advice on!

Everyone is welcome to join us October 19 at 10:00am at the Newton County Historical Park and Museum (inside the school house) in historic downtown Neosho!

Presented by Neosho Arts Council and Newton County Historical Park & Museum

Additional support from Southwest Missouri Bank The Neosho Daily News Briar & Thistle and The Hobo Hideaway

06/22/2024

Thank you Venture Realty for sponsoring an incredible evening filled with fun, friends, history, and of course... wine! In case you missed it we have plenty of photos to share and hope you'll be able to join us next time! Even Herman Jaeger was able to make an appearance!

06/08/2024

Recent storms blew boards off the cupola on the school house so we had Justin Carnahan and Wes Franklin shimmy up the roof and get to work! They also replaced the rope for the bell! Thanks guys!

If you would be interested in volunteering your time for the preservation of history please feel free to message us!

03/18/2024

Spring is upon us, and things are opening up in Historic Downtown Neosho - including your favorite local historical park.

Starting today, the Newton County Historical Park & Museum is switching over to spring and summer hours. We are open Monday through Friday, 10 to 4.

We're one block north of the courthouse square on N Washington St, right across from RISE Elementary School.

We can't wait to see you!

***

11/24/2023

Fort Crowder was built in 1941 as a training center for the U. S. Army Signal Corps, and at its peak occupied nearly 43,000 acres in southern Newton and northern McDonald counties with nearly 47,000 troops stationed there. In addition to training radio operators, code clerks, teletypewriter operators, they also had programs in carrier pigeon breeding and training, motor transport training, Army band training, and cook training.

During WWII, the Crowder Quartermaster's 28-man bakery staff used an average of 6,000 lbs. of flour to bake over 9,000 loaves of fresh bread daily for the troops, with a peak capacity of 16,000 loaves every 8 hours.

Pictured is a group of Crowder soldier sharing a meal on Thanksgiving Day 1944.

03/27/2023

On This Day in History......................

March 27, 1912: In Washington, D.C., Helen Taft, wife of President William Taft, and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, plant two Yoshino

02/03/2023

NEOSHO, Mo. — The term “they don’t build them like they used to” perfectly describes the structure that houses the Newton County Historical Society, and there’s a reason for…

09/08/2022

On This Day in History........................

In a controversial executive action, President Gerald Ford pardons his disgraced predecessor Richard M. Nixon for any crimes he may have committed or

08/31/2022

On This Day in History..........................

Shortly after midnight on August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales—affectionately known as "the People’s Princess"—dies in a car crash in Paris. She was 36.

08/05/2022

On This Day in History..........................

On August 5, 1962, movie actress Marilyn Monroe is found dead in her home in Los Angeles. She was discovered lying n**e on her bed, face down, with a telephone

07/27/2022

On This Day in History......................

On July 27, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee recommends that America’s 37th president, Richard M. Nixon, be impeached and removed from office. The

07/13/2022

THE NEWTON COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY, JULY 14th FOR MAINTENANCE. WE WILL BE OPEN FOR NORMAL HOURS ON MONDAY, JULY 18th.

THANK YOU

07/08/2022

NEOSHO, Mo. — Long before European settlers came to Southwest Missouri, Native Americans lived in the Four-State Region. In fact, the word “Neosho” is thought to be derived from the Osa…

07/08/2022

NEOSHO, Mo. — One of the best-known artists in U.S. history was born and raised right here in Neosho. “Became a prolific artist and his work is in museums all over the world,” said Brad…

07/06/2022

Come and see us...............I'll be watching for you!

NEOSHO, Mo. — The term “they don’t build them like they used to” perfectly describes the structure that houses the Newton County Historical Society, and there’s a reason for…

06/22/2022

On This Day in History........................

On June 22, 1944, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill, an unprecedented act of legislation designed to compensate returning members of the

06/20/2022

On This Day in History......................

On June 20, 1975, Jaws, a film directed by Steven Spielberg that made countless viewers afraid to go into the water, opens in theaters. The story of a great

06/16/2022

On This Day in History..........................

On June 16, 1884, the first roller coaster in America opens at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York. Known as a switchback railway, it was the brainchild of

06/14/2022

On This Day in History.........................

June 14, 1777: During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress adopts a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate

06/02/2022

On This Day in History........................

On June 2, 1935, Babe Ruth, one of the greatest players in the history of baseball, ends his Major League playing career after 22 seasons, 10 World Series and