On November 16, 1928, the Forum published a letter to the editor (from a prominent citizen whose name was withheld) proposing that a towering war memorial beacon be built on the highest point in Maryville, high enough to be seen for 20 miles in all directions. While the letter is unsigned, it bears many of the hallmarks of the work of Maryville author Homer Croy, who was a frequent contributor to Maryville newspapers even as he achieved success in New York.
The proposal, which provided no firm details, contained some factual mistakes and was laughable in that Maryville’s rolling prairie terrain is not known for dramatic, large hills, but it did illuminate some interesting details about Maryville’s highest point. Since the image lacked details, this is an AI rendering.
The article claims Maryville’s highest point, by today’s Garrett-Strong Science Building north of the Administration Building (1,181 feet), is higher than the Ozarks. Missouri’s high point, Taum Sauk, is 1,772 feet. The article refers to the high point being “west” of Memorial Drive. It is north of the Drive. The Drive, which goes by the old armory, was a memorial to World War I veterans. The letter tried to shame Maryville based on a war memorial in Grant City, but that memorial is basically just an elaborate tombstone.
The article is correct in locating the highpoint adjacent to the old Wabash railroad tracks. It noted the railroad (the Omaha & St. Louis Railroad, when it came to Maryville in 1879) extensively graded the hill — effectively splitting its summit. The railroad grade is about 30 feet below the summit of the hill. Northwest Missouri has built earthwork bridges over the rail grade connecting the campus with facilities to the north.
There are many claims to the highest point in Maryville. However, the Garrett-Strong site is 30 feet higher than frequently mentioned contenders, such as the mansion at Lincoln and Walnut (1,150 feet) and the Gregory Barbarigo Church at East Edwards and Davis (1,117 feet). Even the grade level is higher than 90 Mile Corner at US 71 and FF near Wilcox, which, according to legend, was the highest point on the old Wabash between Council Bluffs and St. Louis. That grade level is 1,130 feet, whereas the grade by the Garrett-Strong is 1,150 feet. These elevations are easily checked using Cal Topo Maps.
The elevation difference between Maryville’s highest point and lowest (102 River at 960 feet) is 221 feet, and not exactly a mountainous difference. Any 3D map showing elevation differences has to be exaggerated by 30x or 40x just to see the differences.
Maryville Daily Forum, November 16, 1928, page 1 (continued on page 5)
A MEMORIAL TO SOLDIERS STRUCTURE TO COMMEMORATE SERVICE MEN PROPOSED. A LOOKOUT STATION Writer Suggests Shaft Which Would Be Memorial, Lookout Station, and Beacon Light. EDITOR’S NOTE: The following communication is submitted for the consideration of our patriotic citizens. The author, who wishes his name withheld, states in an annotation. The communication is given prominence because of its nature. His proposal for the worthy Soldiers’ Memorial is well-founded. Recently, Grant City dedicated a Soldier’s Memorial. Shall its neighboring city outdo Maryville? Maryville, Mo., Nov. 16, 1928 Mr. Editor, Democrat-Forum and Tribune, I wish to speak of a matter in which I am sure every person who claims Nodaway County as their home is in agreement. Someone has said, ” The interested. Known as The Grand Army, the Republic’s organization is the most honorable worldwide, but do we realize that this organization has almost disappeared from this community? not leaving anything of a material character to perpetuate a remembrance of former existence. Think of its honorable and most honored organization passing into oblivion…This matter of a memorial forcibly came to the mind of the writer and many of the audience at the Memorial services held on Armistice Day at the College and later at the auditorium last Sunday. Presuming this community has settled the question of constructing a Memorial in the affirmative, the next question will be what form the Memorial will take. A community building is the most common form adopted by communities because of its utility and, in ordinary circumstances, would be the better choice, but owing to some circumstances peculiar to Maryville, the writer will be pardoned for suggesting a deviation from that rule. Something of equal utility and not so expensive as a large building. Some years ago, when the Wabash Railroad was being built through Maryville, leveling to Council Bluffs, the engineers discovered that the high ridge over the College campus is the highest point of land between the Mississippi on the east and the Missouri River on the west. As a result, it puts the College campus almost as high above sea level as the highest point in the Ozark Mountains. Nothing Unusual Here. It is a common expression among our people and strangers who visit us from a distance that, notwithstanding that Maryville is in the “Show Me State,” we have nothing unusual to show strangers. That is partly true, but you may take your around for a stranger in your car for an hour, or if it were not for the high weeds growing along the fence rows, you could show him the finest farming county in the world. That certainly is something they do not have in the Ozarks. The great trouble with us is this community is not prepared to show what she really has to show, All will recognize the fact that if you had a lookout station erected to a considerable height on the highest point on the College campus from which yourself and your stranger could view the best and most beautiful agricultural and horticultural country in the world for twenty miles in every direction, Maryville and Nodaway county would have something to show and be a part of the “show me state” in fact. -It will be recalled that the world is just merging into the era of the flying machine, and not many moons hence, Maryville must have a municipal airport. This she should have right now, as an inducement to fliers to come this way. Therefore, the proposed lookout station can be so constructed as an effective beacon light to aid airships at night. Would Serve Three Purposes. Think of it, a soldier’s memorial, a lookout station, and a beacon light all in one; such a beacon light erected on the high elevation would not only serve as a lookout station from which to view the surrounding territory, but the beacon light could be seen by every man, woman, and child in Nodaway County from their own domicile. And whenever turned to the light, they would involuntarily exclaim, “That is Maryville, our county capital.” Would that not put Maryville on the map? The writer has been writing under the supposition that the proper place for such an institution would be at the highest point of land immediately west of “Memorial Avenue” on the campus. This avenue was prompted by the Daughters of the American Revolution on the College Campus some years ago and is a most beautiful and appropriate spot for the erection of a lookout station for the use of the general public. The beacon light will help illuminate the campus, while bronze tablets can be embedded in the brick-and-cement base, where the different societies may place them as they choose.
