Missouri Towns

A spin of the globe

Posted at June 04, 2008 10:54

Callao, Missouri’s, long history began with a finger, a globe, and chance.  The story goes that the name of the town was chosen by a blindfolded man who placed his finger on a spinning globe, says Callao resident Melanie Thurnau. The finger landed on Callao, Peru, and the small Missouri town was named after the South American city. 

About three thousand people are expected to arrive in the 320-person town to celebrate the fifty-fourth annual Harvest Fiesta and the town’s sesquicentennial. The event, held June 12-14, will feature barbecue, carnival rides, parades, antiques, and live music.

Agriculture and livestock have been the main ways of life in Callao since its beginning. Today the town boasts antique shops, feed stores, a post-office, a bank, two churches, an elementary school, a small manufacturing plant, and some of the best hunting and fishing in the state, Melanie says.

The reasons to attend the Fiesta are numerous but the main reason is to keep the spirit of the town alive, Melanie says. “We’re a small little community with lots of friendly people. We’d like to see our town stay on the map,” Melanie says.

The main event of the Fiesta will be the opening of a fifty-year-old time capsule. Other events include a baby show, the musical groups Black Diamond Jubilee and Ike Jonson and The Roadhouse Rangers, an auction, and an antique tractor collection. New Fun Time Shows will also feature carnival rides.

Call 660-676-7437 for more information.

—Becky Layne

MissouriLifeLines June 2008

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