Steve Campbell Sr. hurt in mine cave in

I found this article on Steven Campbell Sr. in the Feb. 1926 Mining Review. I am also providing a link to Steven Campbell Jr.'s original letters on Coal Mining.

Steve Campbell Sr. hurt in mine cave in

Telephone message received here Thursday evening states, "Steven Campbell Sr. former well Known Rich Hill Miner was badly injured Thursday by cavein at Henryetta, Okla. where he is employed as a mine boss."

Mr. Campbell had almost gotten out of the mine when the cavein started but at the last moment falling rock caught his left leg, crushing it just above his ankle, causing a compound fracture. He was taken at once to the Henryetta Hosptial for teatment. It is believed that Mr. Campbell will be laid up for several months before he fully recovers from the injury. Friends here regreat his misfortune.

Ed. H. McReynolds

The blog tonight was taken from the July 16, 1926 Rich Hill Review. I see many newspaper stories on Mr. McReynolds, apparently the town was very proud of his job that he had with the railroad.

Ed, H. McReynolds
Ed. H. McReynolds, former Rich Hill boy, a son of George McReynolds, holds a responsible position with the Mo. Pacific rail­road with headquarters in St. Louis. To his creative and ex­ecutive ability much credit is due for the success of the Mo. Pacific's Pageant of Progress which was re-cently held in St. Louis. He is edi­tor of the Mo. Pacific Magazine, and one of President Baldwin's chief aides.

A Crew from the 1960's

This is the Rich Hill Mining Review Crew from the 1960's. Bill Perkey and his wife still live in Rich Hill eventhough Bill no longer works at the mining review.

1883 High School

Tonights blog came from the 1980 "The Town that coal Built" a historical book by the Rich Hill Lions club.

Almost a year after the town of Rich Hill had been established, an election was called to organize a school district and elect a board of directors. Prior to the election about fifteen pupils had been enrolled in a fourteen by sixteen foot frame building that was used for classes. This building was located east of town. The following men were elected as the first board of directors: For one year term — Mr. C. H. Dallas and James Scott; For two year term — George Huckeby and J. L. Minor; For three year term — Josi-ah Lane and Dr. W. H. Harris.
A tax levy of three percent on taxable property and a four thousand dollar bond issue carried. A two story brick building with four large classrooms, a hall and stairway was built on the east side of town on Walnut Street. It was arranged so that an east and west wing could be added when needed.
The churches were used as classrooms during the 1881-1882 school term. The Rev. Mr. Henshaw, prin­cipal and six teachers were employed to teach. Miss Rolla Hedges (Booth) was in charge of classes at the Presbyterian Church on Park Avenue and Miss Sarah Baker held class at the Camphellite Church on Ninth and Walnut.
When school opened in the fall of 1882, there was an enrollment of eight hundred pupils.
The town grew so rapidly that seven hundred, eighty four houses and two hundred business houses had been constructed by 1883. With so many new families coming to town on every train, the Board of Education saw the need for another school building. A bond issue for ten thousand dollars was carried by a large majority. A two-story brick building with eight well arranged rooms was built on the west side of town. This building was well planned and displayed artistic workmanship. An early picture showed a fence around the schoolyard with a stile for an en­trance. As the need arose, additions have been added. Eight large classrooms were built across the south front with wide corridors, strong concrete stairs and large attractive windows completely across the front. There were three main entrances on the south, east and west and two smaller ones on the northeast and northwest. The interior featured a large skylight over the central part of the building, restrooms in the base­ment and ventilating system that provided for a large fan (never installed] to circulate air to and from the classrooms through vents near the floor and ceiling

Winnie

Tonights blog was on the cover of the Wagon Wheels Insert to the Rich Hill Mining Review the June 29, 1978 edition.

Mrs. H. E. "Winnie" Winegar, Rich Hill Artist above: portrait drawn by Bob Schlyer another Rich Hill Artist and retired Art Teacher at Rich Hill High School.
Travel was the theme for this issue and at first Mrs. Winegar might seem an odd subject for the cover. However, those who attended her one-person art show last week-end may see the significance. By viewing her many paintings, viewers can travel to many places and see scenic places without leaving Rich Hill!
Mrs. Winegar herself was quite a traveler, both as a child and as a ministers wife. She lived in several midwest and western states.

The above painting is an original by "Winnie Winegar"

The picture above was my wifes home in Rich Hill. Winnie was my wifes neighbor. When my wife was young she would visit with Winnie almost daily. The house burnt to the ground in May of 1980. Winnie gave this picture to my wife as a wedding present in 1982.

According to my wife winnie had many talents, she said she used to help Winnie make hand braided rugs out of old coats and clothing.

Mrs. H.E. Winegar - "Winnie" passed away in 1985.

They Sought Oil Early

Tonight's blog was taken from the book "The History of Rich Hill" By E.R. McQuitty. I have not researched this information any further than the article I found. I am however searching for information about the " Early Oil in Rich Hill.


In the spring of 1884 ten or twelve strangers came to Rich Hill, bringing with them one of the best drilling rigs of the time. After some kind of an arrangement, not made known, with Mr. Thomas McComb the crew installed the machinery on the hill on the McComb land just west of the cemetery. Today the land is the Henry Stevener farm. Drilling commenced at once and continued day and night throughout the summer and up into late winter. Suddenly the operations stopped, the drilling equipment dismantled and the strangers disappeared as mysteriously as they came. Before leaving, however, a sixty-foot pole was driven into the casing flush with the ground. It was the conjecture for years afterward that the drill had penetrated oil and the promoters, not desirous of developing the field at the time, had "locked up" the well for future development, or until such time as a scarcity of oil might demand that the well be opened. At any rate the drillers might as well have been deaf and dumb. They consistently refrained from all communication with visitors from town who frequently called by for a look around. It was known, however, that several barrels of oil were drawn from the well. Where it came from, no one knew. It could have been a genuine oil find, or the well might have been "salted. " If the latter, the purpose was never determined, as no stock was ever offered for sale nor additional land leased. Had Mr. McComb any further information than is here given the secret accompanied him to the grave several years later. The incident might have long been forgotten, but for the fact that oil deposits are known to exist in dif­ferent sections of this immediate vicinity, even seapages coming to the surface. Some other drillings have been made but no one has been fortunate enough to "hit the right spot."

Bess C. Shafer

Tonights blog is about one of the many hard working former teachers from Rich Hill. Several people have previously asked me if I had ever ran across any information about Miss Shafer? So, I started to check into Miss Shafer and the following information is what I have found. The information for this blog came from the Butler Republican Newspaper and Miss Shafers' obituary.

Miss Bess C. Shafer was born November 25, 1911 in the Rich Hill community of Fairview. Bess was born to George W. and Theodocia E. Lyons Shafer. Bess had one brother George H. Shafer Jr. She attended the Fairview School and went to high school in Rich High; Graduating with the class of 1929. She attended Central Missouri State Teacher’s College in Warrensburg graduating in 1934 with a B.S. in Education and returned home to teach at the Fairview School. She was a very good elementary teacher and an outstanding high School teacher in Mathematics and a profound influence on her students, always willing to help a student in anyway. Ms. Shafer taught in the Rich Hill Elementary School and began teaching Mathematics for the Rich Hill Junior High and Senior High School in the 1940-1941 School year.
She was active in the Rich Hill Christian Church serving faithfully as a Sunday school teacher, pianist and organist.
She received her Master’s Degree from Central Missouri State University in the fall of 1964. After completing her Masters degree she began teaching mathematics in Grandview, Mo.
She retired from teaching in 1975, from the Grandview School District and moved to Nevada, Mo. There she was active in the First Christian Church as organist and in other church activities. She enjoyed her work with Meals on Wheels. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. In 1990 she moved from Nevada, Mo. to Foxwood Springs in Raymore, Missouri. On December 11, 1998 she passed way in Belton, Missouri at Research Hospital. She was laid to rest at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Rich Hill, Mo.