A strong wind and a spark from a passing train were a bad combination. The Plymouth railway station caught fire and the blaze spread to consume every building on the north side of the tracks. Plymouth is today known as Monett, MO. 

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.