Rich Hill 1911 Yearbook

Tonights blog came from the 1911 Rich Hill, Year book. I like how in these old High School annuals how the students describe the entire Rich Hill, community.

Rich Hill is a beautiful little city of between three thousand and four thousand inhabitants, located in Bates county, in the southwestern part of the state of Missouri. It is not, as its name would imply, planted on a hill or many hills, but on an upland or rolling prairie, the land falling gradually to the north, where all streams empty into the Marias des Cygnes river, and to the south, where creeks and streams empty into the Little Osage river. The city is beautifully located on these high, rolling uplands, where the drainage is natural, thus making it a most healthful and delightful place in which to live.
The city is well laid out, having broad streets and spacious alleys between each block. The business district is substantial, with its many walks of concrete, stone and brick. In the residence district are many beautiful homes, surrounded by large shade trees and elegant lawns.
The people of Rich Hill are congenial, and are always ready to extend the hand of welcome to any stranger who may come into the city.
The educational advantages are good. There are three fine brick school buildings, and all are supplied with good, competent teachers. It has a first-class four year High School, with five teachers and an attendance of 159. All of its work is accepted by the State Superintendant and by the M. S. U. Many country graduates are taking advantage of this school by coming to R. H. H. S. for a higher education.
Rich Hill is well supplied with its own natural gas. It also has an electric light plant, which furnishes the city with light, making the streets bright and pretty at night.
The brick and tile factory, located just outside the city, is another great benefit to the town. The ice plant, which manufactures ice, and furnishes it to the people, is a great help to the city. Both of these factories have a large output daily.
Another very great help to the city, is the dairy, located near by. Milk wagons make visits twice daily, thus enabling the people to obtain clean, wholesome milk, cream, butter and ice cream very conveniently.
Rich Hill also has its own waterworks system. The water which supplies the town, is obtained from wells of great depth, and is clear, pure and whole­some. In connection with the waterworks plant, Rich Hill has the best equipped fire department of any town of like size in the state.
The city has one daily newspaper and, until recently, had three weekly newspapers. However, one of these has been discontinued, and now we have but two weekly and one daily newspapers.
Rich Hill is also noted for its fine churches. It has nine nicely built church buildings, each of which gladly welcomes everyone to its services.
Two beautiful little parks are located in the city, one in the central part, and the other in the east part of town, at the end of Park Avenue. These parks look very handsome, with their pretty shade trees, lawn swings, seats and band stand, and are a great comfort to strangers coming into the city.
Many rich fields of undeveloped coal surround the town, as well as numerous local mines, which are a great benefit.
Rich Hill, with its many business, social, religious and educational ad­vantages, its healthful climate and congenial people, is a most desirable place in which to live.

Frances Samuelson, 12.

The Old High School Store

Here is an update on this blog, I recently visitied with Mrs.Carolyn King the wife of former Paul King the couple owned and operatered Kings Store which was located across the street from the old Rich Hill High School. Mrs. King was able to give me a date for the Rich Hill Mining Review article in the Wagon wheels edition, of May 2,1986.
Thank you, Carolyn for the date and information.


The story for tonights blog was written by Randy Bell and published in the Wagon wheels edition of the Mining Review. Unsure of the date!

The one great thing about Rich Hill when I began going to High School was that we could go and eat our lunch at the store across the street.

Paul King was right. I didn't really doubt that he was, especially considering the subject in question. Still I wanted to see for myself. . .
Paul was making his daily trip across the Rich Hill High School yard, looking for any bits of litter that might have come there via his place of business. I told him I like to visit with him in a couple of days to do a story on "the store." I went on to tell him that certainly many a Rich Hill student over the years had enjoyed a chili dog and bottle of pop at the store. A little history, a look at the changes the years had brought to this unique business might make interesting reading.
He replied that he, along with his wife, Carolyn, would be glad to talk with me "but" he said "you know, things haven't -really changed that much."
He was right. It has been almost 20 years since I'd hurried at the sound of the noon bell, out the west door of the high school, around the edge of the shop, across the road and up to the counter of the store for a sandwich or candy bar. But it was just about exactly as I remember it.



Apparently most Rich Hill students for over 50 years could say the same. Depending on when you were in school, the booths may be moved and the candy case may be in a slightly different spot and, of course, the prices have changed, but the more we talked with the various owners of the store about changes the more I realized—it hadn't really changed that much.
"The Store" is what we always called it in high school. There's a sign over the door now with the name King's Store but to five decades of students, and even to the owners, it's been "The Store." It sits just across the street, west of the high school.
What is now The Store was a garage back in 1936 when Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Davis bought the property. It was in the midst of the depression years and Doris' parents moved from Hannibal to Rich Hill. Her father, handy with tools, converted the building to The Store, making the benches and adding the windows. It was 1938 when he and his wife opened the Store to the first wave of hungry students. But the couple ran the business for only a year when Doris' mother took sick and in March of 1941 she died.
Doris was living in Kansas City at the time and with the death of his wife, her father lost interest in the business and Doris came back to run The Store.
For a quarter, in those years, you could have a bowl of chili (15C), a candy bar (5C) and a bottle of pop (55). The Store featured a lunch
counter, school supplies, pop, ice cream and of course, the candy counter.
Doris ran the store for 13 years, seeing many students through their entire school career.
With Lowell working for the state and often away from home, Doris pretty much ran the business by herself. Then, like now, the store was open before school, during the lunch periods, and after school. Lunch periods were the hectic time and Doris had everything ready before the kids poured in. In the early years Mrs. Davis had high school girls help her through the lunch period. They worked for about 20 minutes and in exchange got their lunch. Later Mrs. Davis would be aided by her twin sons, Richard and Robert.
"To this day I don't like chili because I made so much of it in those days," laughs Mrs. Davis.
She ran the store until 1954 when the Davises sold it to Jasper and Lucy Smith.
"Prices remained fairly stable in those years with little change," recalls Mrs. Davis.
Another whole era of school children knew Mrs. Davis in a different role, that of school teacher. After selling the store she returned to teaching (she had taught in her home town of Hannibal before marrying and coming to Rich Hill) first at Foster and then at Rich Hill retiring in 1970.
In the store or in the classroom she had no discipline problems to speak of.
"You have to let them know who's boss then there's no problem," she said. In The Store "it was noisy but that didn't bother me any. I loved working with the children."
Jasper and Lucy Smith ran the business for almost five years but I failed to talk with Lucy at any great length on the subject. In about 1960 the Smiths sold to Elmer "Bingo" Davis who owned the store until March of 1964. At that time, and for the next 21 years, the store became King's Store.
The menu is about the same, except for the prices. While the prices go up so does the cost and it all comes out about the same, said Paul.


The candy'case is still stocked. Brands of candy bars remain fairly constant but there are many more brands of gum now than in years gone by, said Carolyn. We sell more gum and sandwiches now, and less candy, she said. The Kings no longer handle school supplies due to their suppliers not handling them.
Paul drives a school bus including a trip to Nevada for Vo Tech School. Therefore he misses the first lunch hour but is back to help on the second lunch break, their busiest time. Carolyn's mother helps out through the first lunch period.
With 21 years in the store and many years as a bus driver Paul has had plenty of experience with students. They, like the store, stay pretty much the same. He sees some similarity between the bus driving and the store. The kids have been in class all day and when they run out to the bus or over to the store they're ready to blow off some steam, he says. For the first few minutes it's pretty noisy but then they settle down. He says he has very few discipline problems on the bus or at the store.
Carolyn thinks the children are less rambunctious than in past years. They are pretty orderly in the store and are good to clean up the tables when they're finished, she said.
While fashions, music, expressions, modes of transpor­tation for students have ran the gamut of change in the past 50 years, it appears The Store has remained a constant through it all.

Jim Reed

Sometime during the 1980's I began reading a book called A Dynasty of Western Outlaws. I was surprised while I was reading to find an outlaw by the name of Jim Reed from the Rich Hill, Missouri area. To read more about Jim Reed simply follow this link: A dynasty of western outlaws

They say that several members of the Reed family are buried at Fairview Rider Cemetery which is located just a few miles west and south of Greenlawn Cemetery outside of Rich Hill.

Jim Reed (1844-1874) - Jim Reed was born 8 miles south of what is now Rich Hill, Missouri. He grew up in this same area, his family was friends with the Shirleys, who would have the dubious honor of raising the girl who would end up with the nickname of the Bandit Queen - Belle Starr. Reed grew up to ride with Quantrill's Raiders during the Civil War, along with the James and Younger brothers. When the war was over, he was with the James-Younger Gang when they fled to Texas after they robbed the bank in Liberty, Missouri in 1866.
There, he reconnected with Myra Belle Shirley (Starr) and the two soon married on November 1, 1866. Their first child - Pearl was born in 1868. In the meantime, Reed had become involved with the Tom Starr gang, rustling cattle. Reed was soon a wanted man, allegedly for murdering a man named Shannon. Jim and Belle then fled to California with their young daughter and soon had a second child in 1871 named Edward.
Soon afterwards, Reed returned to Texas with his family and became involved with the James-Younger Gang as well as continuing to ride with Tom Starr's gang. In April, 1874, he robbed the Austin-San Antonio stage and though there was no evidence that Belle Reed participated, she was named as an accessory in the indictment.
With the law hot on his tail, Jim Reed was killed by a deputy sheriff at Paris, Texas , in August 1874. His widow, Belle then sent her children to Missouri to live with their grandmother and dropped out of sight for a few years until she re-emerged as an outlaw in her own right.

Don Eoff sent me this link on Belle Starr and Jim Reed

Thanks Don

Souvenir Book

I found this interesting souvenir book at the library. There was no date in it. I would guess that the book was printed around the 1900's. The little booklet had some very interesting pictures, I wish that the pictures would have copied better.


Rich Hill was founded in the spring of 1880, and is situated in the southern part of Bates County on an elevated section of prairie overlooking the Marias des Cygnes river on the North and East, and as its name indicates is rich in natural wealth. The question of fuel for the city was settled by nature in the surrounding coal mines and for drainage by the rolling prairie. It is a city of churches, schools, and of manufacturing and mining industries; is surrounded by fine agricultural country: timber is abundant in the nearby river bottom. Ever since the organization of the town prosperity has marked its onward progress in the development of its material resources and moral advancement. Tens of thousands of dollar are invested in mining industries. The zinc smelters employs a large number of men constantly. The beautiful residences, handsome business blocks, elegant churches, industrial institutions, park and street scenes pictured in This booklet will tell the story of the city better than tongue or pen. Population 5000.
Harry B. Marsh, Pub. Rich Hill Tribune Print.

City Hall

Park Ave.

Presbyterian Church

West Park

Rich Hill Gas Plant

Bank

F&M Bank

Pete Heuser

In Memory of Pete Heuser (June 27,1927 to November 23, 2008)

The Bates County Lawn & Garden Tractor Pulling Association is selling Stickers with the name Pete in Pete Heusers memory. The money raised from selling the stickers will be added to the Pete Heuser fund for the new scoreboard.
To purchase a Pete sticker contact Ron Tabor, Boone Ross or Tom Bridgewater.

In Memory of PETE

Pictured above the former Pete Heuser, he really enjoyed garden tractor pulling.

History of the Rich Hill Red Buds

Tonights Blog Comes from the Mining Review May 21, 1970



Above -Four Students in Vocational Agriculture department of Rich Hill High School, take time out from their planting of red bud trees to pose for a picture for their instructor, Milton Schnare. The boys are left to right Ivan Fisher,Roger Farrell, Dan Coffman and Dean Fisher.

In February 1958,the Community Garden club started a beautification program in Rich Hill. At a meeting of the club at that time the members voted to meet with the city council and get permission to plant twelve red bud trees in the East Park. Mayor Marvin Hurst and members of the council were delighted about the beautification program and voted to buy twelve trees. It was voted to plant the trees on each side of the walk in the East park.

Members of the city council thought it would be a good idea to plant two rows of trees in the space between the driveways on Park, between the park and 71 Highway. The garden, club and a number of interested per­sons joined with the city council and decided to solicit business people for money to buy the additional trees.Mrs. Marion Moreland, volunteered to solicit the downtown district and Mrs. Elmer Ellis volunteered to con­tact the business people on the highway. The money was soon obtained.

When the Boy Scout Troop and their leaders heard of the project they volunteered their services in planting of the trees and in the second week in April found Mayor Marvin Hurst, Street Commissioner Harry Davis, members of the Boy Scouts' and garden club mem­bers, in the park planting the trees.

Since that time several trees have died and this year fifteen trees were needed to replace the missing trees. The Review published an article about the needs. The necessary funds were given by several persons and the trees bought. At that time Milton Schnare, instructor of Vocational Agriculture in the Rich Hill High School and four of his students went to the park and planted the trees.
Those contributing money to the fund for the trees this year were Mrs. Ruth Welborn, Raymore, Mo. Postermaster James Wheatley, Security Bank, Fred Marquardt, Miss Mable Waston Mrs. Oreine Klumpp, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. S. Newlin, Dr. and Mrs. Claude J. Allen, Mrs. Mary Northup, Mrs.Ruby Yarick Mrs. Ida Kenney, and Rich Hill Mining Review.
A large number of citizens, at different times, have suggested for this beautiful part of our town, such as Red Bud Lane. The project is one which every person who participated is justly proud.

Rich Hill in 1950

Tonights blog pictures are possible because of the generosity of Peggy & Paul Droz sending me copies of some of their old Rich Hill pictures from the 1950's. Thank you Peggy

I plan on finding out more about these mail buses so be looking for more information in my future blogs.