The dedication of the First House 6-ton boulder on the grounds of the Carnegie Public Library occurred on September 8, 1921. The dedication was intended to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Missouri’s admission to statehood, which occurred on August 10, 1821, but was delayed because of issues with the inscription. The dedication also included the unveiling of new plaques on the World War I memorial pillars on Memorial Drive at Northwest Missouri State.
The boulder came from East 4th Street (and had been moved previously to West 2nd). It was described as a 6-ton granite composite, supposedly the smallest of several boulders originally on East 4th, and the only one that could be moved (probably glacial erratics).
Here are associate stories.
Dedication Sept 8, 1921 – Forum article 1 and 2
TO HONOR THE PAST; INSPIRE THE FUTURE HISTORIC MARKER IS A PLACE OF INSPIRATION AND ADORATION. A THREE- FOLD PURPOSE Day Pays Homage to City and County, State and War Veterans, Says Keller in Dedication Address.
With an eloquent address by Dr. Fred Keller before a crowd reaching as far as voice would carry, the boulder marking the site of Maryville’s first house, the first historic marker to be erected by her citizens, was formally dedicated this morning. Dr. Keller was introduced by Mayor F. P. Robinson, whose address was short. The principal speaker then spoke of the day’s threefold purpose and eulogized the early settlers whose fortitude overcame the wilderness. and traced the development of the county and Maryville, then dedicating the marker as one to be pointed to a place of inspiration and adoration.
The boulder was veiled in the national colors and removed at the close of Dr. Keller’s address by Graham and Mary Donna Malotte, the great-grandchildren of Maryville’s first woman, Mrs. Mary House Graham, for whom the town was named. “We have gathered as citizens of this town, and of this county, and of the great commonwealth in which we live,” said Dr. Keller, “to pay our measure of tribute to the patriotism of the young men who were willing to lay their all on the altar of liberty.” We are gathered here to pay some measure of our respect to the great commonwealth of which we are so proud to be citizens, and we are here to pay homage to this town and this county where we are so glad to live.”
Calling attention to the fact that Maryville has never before in its history set apart a day to raise a standard or a memorial to its historic record, Dr. Keller said, “It is a fitting custom handed down through generations of men that we should place before our children, and the children to be, some fitting memorial that will call attention to the historic past. Man, of all creatures, has the power to look behind as well as to look into the future, and retrospect is necessary if we would gather a fitting perspective. “The first house built in the city of Maryville was built on this spot in 1844 by one Caleb Burns, who spent some five or six years here and then went on to California during the gold rush. “This Northwest part of Missouri came through the hands of Spain and France and eventually into the hands of America. The Platte Purchase was secured from the Indians in 1836. “The first settler in the county built a cabin near Graham.
He was Isaac Hogan, who met death at the hands of the Indians. The next was a man named Hall. He built the first still in the county, and his “tonic” was famous. Then came the Grahams, and the Prathers and the Heatons and the Hudsons, families made of sterner stuff, who, on these spreading prairies amid waving grass, were willing to remain and make their all.
In 1845, the first courthouse began to take shape.
In 1847, we had our first subscription school, taught in the old courthouse where the Price Furniture store now stands. The next school was a public school established here on the corner of Fifth and Market in 1867, in what is now known as the old Ford residence.
In 1878, the old Academy, where it now stands, was established by A. D. Workman. In two years, it had some 150 students.
In 1872, the business college was established and later abandoned. “Then came the public library, established here, where it stands as one of the greatest aids to education.
“In 1907, the State Teachers College was established, with the prospect of being a part, if not supreme, over any in the state. Since 1867, a public school system has grown in Maryville and the surrounding countryside, becoming famous across the country, and our revitalized agricultural schools have a national and international reputation. “Other educational factors are the social, fraternal, and patriotic organizations that made a part in the parade this afternoon.
We owe much to them and to other public-spirited people who were willing to give of their time and their means that we might have a successful celebration of this kind. “We owe an untold measure to the ¡young men, assembled here in their annual celebration, who were willing to give their lives on the altar of liberty that a republican form of government might continue to live and continue to spread its blessings over a free and intellectual people. *Our newspapers began in 1867 and have continued down to the present time. They were two great factors of co-operation, harbingers of goodwill, extending their blessings over the entire county. “We are proud to have with us the daughter of Mrs. Mary House Graham, for whom this city was named, and two of her great-grandchildren will now remove the coverings so that you may see the inscription on the monument.
Mary Graham was born in 1821 and died in 1903. She is buried at Oak Hill.
Story of the Boulder – Forum August 18, 1921
OLD LANDMARK • PUT TO NEW USE| Six-ton Boulder on West Second Street to Be Placed on Public Library Lawn. USE AS CENTENNIAL FEATURE: Bronze Tablet Embedded in Side Will Mark Spot Where First House Was Built in Maryville in 1844.
A 6-ton boulder, which for more than fifteen years has been a familiar object on the lawn of the Mitcheil place on West Second street, 1 to be a landmark for centuries to come on the lawn of the Public Library building, where it will be placed to mark the spot where the first house was erected in Maryville in 1844.
A bronze tablet bearing a suitable inscription will be embedded in the side of the boulder as part of the ceremonies connected with the centennial celebration and soldiers’ reunion to be held here on September 7 and 8. The tablet, which is 12 by 14 inches, has been ordered by the historical section of the centennial committee and will be here by August 22.
The history of the boulder, which is of granite conglomerate, is interesting enough in itself. Many years ago, when the streets were first graded, the huge rock rested deep in the earth, in front of the Felix Grundy place on East Fourth St.
Several others. seemingly of the same glacial formation were also found there, but only one was small enough to be excavated and hauled away. This was done.
However, the boulder has since been located on the Mitchell lawn.
Story of the Plaque Forum August 24, 1921
HISTORIC PLATE TO BE UNVEILED: Bronze Marker on Library Lawn Will Soon Be in Place for Centennial Affair. MARKS’ SITE FIRST RESIDENCE Committee Plans Suitable Unveiling Ceremonies to Take Place During Soldiers’ Reunion and Centennial.
The bronze plate, to be embedded in the side of the big granite boulder at the place where the first house in Maryville was erected in 1844, has arrived and will be in place, ready for unveiling, during the Centennial celebration on September 7 and 8. The plate is 12 by 14 inches with bevel edges and bears the following inscription in raised letters:
“On this ground was built the first house in Maryville in 1844. Erected by the citizens on the 100th anniversary of Missouri, 1921.“
It is hoped that the bronze memorial tablets, to be placed on the pillars marking the entrance to the memorial avenue at the College, will be in place by the time of the Centennial celebration, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Mrs. C. T. Bell, chairman of the committee on preparing the memorial tablets. stated this morning that the work of engraving them was progressing, but that no definite time had been set. for their delivery here.
Forum photo of existing boulder and stone.
