John J. Pershing, commander of the U.S. armies in World War I, had lunch at Courtesy Court at 12th and North Main on May 1, 1936. Pershing was traveling from Lincoln, Nebraska to his boyhood home at Laclede, Missouri where he was going to dedicate the cornerstone of a new school. Maryville is midway between the two communities.
The Olde English style building at 1202 North Main has rich culinary history including Glen “Mac” McGinnis who sold it in 1948 to set up Mac’s Steak House by the Mary Mart Shopping Center and Thompson’s Paradise Donut Shop which opened in 1968 by Mr. and Mrs. Lester Thompson.
Pershing Visit Forum May 2, 1936
Maryville had a notable visitor yesterday: General John. J. Pershing, but only a limited number of persons knew of his presence here. General Pershing, accompanied by his sister, Miss May Pershing, and his chauffeur, passed through Maryville about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon en route from Lincoln, Neb., to Laclede, Mo., where he took part today in the cornerstone laying ceremonies at that town’s new school building.
They stopped here for about half an hour at the Courtesy Court at the north edge of town for luncheon. then continued their journey. While here, General Pershing, in conversation with June Blagg, manager of the Courtesy Court lunch room, declared he was always glad to visit Missouri because of the great friendliness of the people of this state. Speaking of the school at Laclede, which is the General’s birthplace, Mr. Pershing said that when he was a lad, his father was a janitor of the old school building, now being replaced by a new structure, and that he himself often helped carry out the ashes.
He expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to visit that town again and to take part in today’s ceremonies.
Opening Courtesy Court Forum July 17, 1930
“Courtesy Court” is the name given to the filling station and tourist camp, located on No. 71 at the north edge of Maryville, Harry Mutz, owner, announced today. This tourist camp, built in the English style of architecture, is now complete and open for business day and night.
It will be approved by the State Board of Health, Dr. C. P. Fryer, county health officer, said today, for water, sanitary conditions, and sewage disposal. The tourist camp is located on the three-and-one-half-acre tract formerly owned by Charles Eckert, and the deal for the tract included the large brick house in which the manager of the Courtesy camp, Everett Deardorff, will live. Included in the set of buildings besides the brick house, are the filling station, the caretaker’s house and ten cottages.
The cottages form a court around a graveled highway from highway No. 71. Over the filling station is a three-room modern apartment, already rented. Below is the filling station and lunch room, which carries a line of staple articles. Walter Hilsabeck operates it.
The ten cottages grouped around the court are all of the same size. The cottages are built in pairs, with a canopy to protect automobiles, joining two of the cottages. Each cottage is 10 by 16 feet and equipped with a double bed, chairs, a gas hot plate, electricity, and running water. The cottages are lined with insulating board.
The caretaker’s house is in the center of the court. In the basement are the toilets and lavatories for camp patrons. The water here is heated by an automatic gas heater. Above the basement is a modern four-room apartment that will be occupied by Harold Nicholas, an assistant at the camp. Courtesy Court was designed by A.B. Fuller, a Kansas City architect. The Chamber of Commerce proposed a standard, well-equipped tourist camp in Maryville as part of its project last year. The former tourist camp at College Park, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, has been discontinued for some time, and there was a need for a camp of the order of the Courtesy Court in Maryville.
- Pershing stopped at Courtesy Court for lunch — even a general needs a truce with his appetite.
- They say Courtesy Court is midpoint between Lincoln and Laclede — Pershing called it “strategic refueling.”
- Pershing ordered the special and told the waiter, “Make it fast — I’ve already planned the flank.”
- The locals asked Pershing if he wanted a tour. He said, “Only if it’s tactically sound.”
- He stopped there so often they renamed the pie “The General’s March.”
- When Pershing left Courtesy Court, the waitress saluted — he returned it out of habit.
- Pershing mapped his route: Lincoln to Laclede, with a mandatory Courtesy Court pit stop for morale.
- They say Courtesy Court was so courteous even the biscuits stood at attention.
- Pershing claimed the coffee kept him marching — the chef claimed it kept him coming back.
- He picked Courtesy Court because halfway is where strategy meets sandwich.