February 11, 1845, is the birthday of Alexander Dockery, Governor and Congressman from Gallatin and Chillicothe.
On this Day in Missouri History
On March 4, 1928, the Bunion Derby, an 84-day footrace along the 3,422 mile length of the new Route 66 began.
On March 4, 1928, the Bunion Derby, an 84-day footrace along the 3,422 mile length of the new Route 66 began.
On March 5, 1915, the state Legislature was considering a bill to ban clairvoyants, seers, and fortune tellers.
On March 4, 1928, the Bunion Derby, an 84-day footrace along the 3,422 mile length of the new Route 66 began.
On March 3, 2005, Steve Fossett completed the first solo around-the-world flight.
On March 1, 1851, Bollinger County was established on this date.
On February 27, 1881, Harry J. Kiener was born in St. Louis. Kiener was known for his boxing, wrestling and swimming and was a member of the U.S. track team at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis.
On February 26, 2016, Netflix announced it would be doing a new television series starring Jason Bateman. “Ozark” was to be a “dark drama” set and filmed around the Lake of the Ozarks. Missouri laws made filming here prohibitive so it was played out in Georgia.
On February 25, 1875, the Marine Engineer’s Association was formed in St. Louis.
On February 24, 1870, the State Agricultural College and the Rolla School of Mines were created through the University of Missouri.
On February 23, 1843, the Name of the County of Kinderhook was changed to Camden.
On February 22, 2014, over 10,000 people in and around Springfield turned out for a candlelight vigil and marched to honor 10-year-old Hailey Owens, who had been murdered earlier in the week.
On February 21, 1947, The federal government had already allowed each household to purchase five pounds of sugar in the year’s first three months. Now they announced that families would be able to get a total of ten pounds more between April and the end of September.
February 20, 1891, is the birthday of one of the greatest baseball players of all time, John Wesley Donaldson, who was born in Glasgow, Missouri.
On February 19, 2013, $10,000 per bottle of wine and other items went up in flames when a worker broke a gas line at J.J.’s up-scale restaurant in Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza. Somehow, only one person died in the explosion.
On February 18, 1927, The Weston Chronicle reported that the Royal Smoke House had a new brick oven out back and would be preparing barbequed meats – especially pork ribs, which had become very popular in the last few years.
On February 17, 1857, Iron County was established. A special act by the Missouri Legislature led to the formation of Iron County, carved out of parts of Dent, Madison, Reynolds, St. Francois, Washington, and Wayne Counties.
February 16, 1766, is the birthday of Louis Valentin DuBourg, the first Bishop of St. Louis.
On February 15, 1977, Kevin Williams of Nevada blocked 20 of Mt. Vernon’s shots in a high school basketball game.
On February 13, 1890, Professor James T. Dougherty of De Soto patented a chalk eraser on blackboards.
On February 12, 1899, Missouri was in the middle of a terrible cold snap. It was -16˚ in St. Louis. Columbia recorded its coldest day ever, with 26˚ below zero. There it was -20˚ or colder for eight straight days! On the 12th, Springfield dropped to 29˚ below zero – it’s the coldest night ever!
On February 10, 1971, Satchel Paige was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
On February 9, 1979, pets and livestock were a big concern in Southwest Missouri on this date. The temperature fell to 17˚ below zero in Springfield.
On February 8, 1839, on Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church was founded.
On February 7, 1947, a cow derailed the northbound train on St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern railway near Hematite. James Franey, the engine driver, and W. Childs, the fireman, were killed.
On February 5, 1911, the second Missouri State Capitol was destroyed by fire. A bolt of lightning hit the dome of the Missouri State Capitol, sparking a fire that tore through the building. Firefighters across mid-Missouri rushed to Jefferson City to try and save the building.
On February 4, 1882, the Pierce City Weekly Empire declared no lard or butter in the market. They also said that “hen fruit” was 15 cents since the hens were on strike.
February 3, 1918, is the birthday of the fastest woman in the world, Helen Stephens from Fulton, MO. Known internationally as “The Fulton Flash.”
