Northwest’s New Computer Library Terminals 1984

Posted on April 13, 2026 by roger

AI colorized St. Joseph News-Press March 11, 1984 photo of the computer library terminals at the newly opened B.D. Owens Library replaced the old card catalogs of Wells Library when Owens opened in 1983.  Northwest embraced computers blindingly fast.  Northwest in the library doubled down on a remarkable computer connection, providing a mini-museum of alumni. Jean Jennings Bartik (1924–2011) was one of the original six women who programmed the ENIAC, the world’s first general-purpose electronic computer. The university houses the Jean Jennings Bartik Computing Museum in Maryville, which honors her work and showcases an original ENIAC decade ring.

Since I’m trolling other papers to post material more recent than 1977, I found this article in early 1985 Gallatin article that explains the techie background of Northwest’s efforts

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Nodaway County Courthouse with Telephone Booths on Corner 1980s

Posted on April 13, 2026 by roger

In the early 1980s, the St. Joseph News-Press ran this great black-and-white photo in an advertising supplement about Maryville.  The photo before the Nodaway Historical marker was placed in front of the courthouse.  I got a kick out of seeing the two telephone booths on the grounds of Main.  This has gotten me searching for more, but they have been surprisingly hard to photograph.  This photo was AI. colorized/enhanced.

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Iconic Portrait of Educator Laura B. Hawkins (1878-1959)

Posted on April 13, 2026 by roger

Perhaps the most iconic high school portrait photo in Maryville is that of educator Laura B. Hawkins.  This photo still graces the Laura B. Hawkins Education wing of the Christian Church, and a scholarship is still awarded each year in her name.

Her portrait had a strange, ghostly hold on me, and I swear it moved around the Washington School, which is possible.  When it was dedicated on the occasion of her 50 years in education in Maryville at a Laura Hawkins Day presentation in the Washington School, the 1949 Yearbook said it was on the top floor of the school, by her classroom. I could have sworn it was on the main floor close to the principal’s office (which was possible because it was a principal.  For many years, I thought the portrait was of Journalism teacher Opal Eckert, and when I found it wasn’t Opal, I wondered why the school had such an “ancient” photo in the hall.

Here are a couple of stories about her background

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St. Patricks Bell Going to Moila Shrine St. Joseph in 1965

Posted on April 12, 2026 by roger

On March 16, 1965, the day before St. Patrick’s Day, the church bell from the steeple of St. Patrick’s Church was removed and shipped to the Moila Shrine in St. Joseph.  The space was to be used for Carson’s Apartments.

The caption for the top photo says
Fred Foster is showing Dr. Roy Canon the inscription on the bell, while Virgil Nelson stands behind Foster. and Charles Riley, right, look on.

The images in this are from the online Forum and have been colorized and enhanced using AI.

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Last Class of St. Patricks School 1961

Posted on April 12, 2026 by roger

I believe this was the last class with St. Patrick’s name to graduate from the school on First Street in 1961. This was the highest grade there, which was 8th grade. In 1962, when St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s merged to form St. Gregory’s, the school was renamed St. Gregory’s. The building was closed in 1963 when the new school in its present location opened. This class has 25 students. There were 5 in the 1959 class. I have so many questions, including where the students ate in 1962. Previously, the cafeteria was in the basement of St. Patrick’s Church, but it was condemned in 1961. I’ve spent more time working on this photo than any other. Among the annoyances is that the caption lists students in alphabetical order rather than in the order in the photo. The original online Forum was very low resolution and dark, so I had to use AI to brighten it, which may have introduced artifacts or altered faces.

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Carrie Nation’s Plans for the Parnell Picnic 1907

Posted on April 11, 2026 by roger

Carrie Nation, the temperance crusader famous for her hatchet, only had one scheduled visit to Nodaway County — to attend the Parnell Picnic on September 27, 1907.  She was supposed to meet Homer Cook, president of the Maryville Normal School (Northwest Missouri).  She was to talk about hatchets, and he was going to talk about hammers.

Carrie was a very colorful character with more than 30 arrests, and things seemed to happen when she appeared. Interesting things happened with this event.

Carrie has strong ties to the area.  Her family lived in Belton, Missouri, where she is buried, and she died in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Here’s a sequence of events based on news articles.

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New Dark Green Gaberdine Custodian Uniforms at Washington and Eugene Field, 1950

Posted on April 11, 2026 by roger

New dark green gaberdine custodian uniforms were rolled out in 1950. Here’s the caption from the Forum. HAPPY UNIFORMITY–Pausing long enough from their work to display their. New uniforms are Bill Short, Everett Baker, Eugene Field, Ollie Majors, and Howard Comer. Because of their friendly smiles and greetings, they are well known at both local public schools. Mr. Short, Mr. Majors, and Mr. Comer work at Maryville High.

The above image is an AI Colorized and enhanced version of a very dark online copy of the Forum, so it is not certain how accurate the faces are.

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Byland Double B Farm

Posted on April 11, 2026 by roger

One of the most iconic sights coming into Maryville from the south on 71 were the horse farms on the east side of the highway between Five Mile Corner and Maryville.  Here’s the story of the Double B Farm owned by Dr. Byland.

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Sue Wright Marries Bobbie Dean Owens at Graham Methodist Church 1957

Posted on April 11, 2026 by roger

Sue Wright married future Northwest president B.D. Owens in August 1957 at Graham Methodist Church

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My Three Angels Nodaway Community Theatre at American Legion 1968

Posted on April 10, 2026 by roger

In 1968, the Nodaway Community Theatre performed shows at a theatre-in-the-round in the American Legion.  Cast members included prominent residents (including former Mayor Charles Koebel, pictured above) as well as prominent Northwest instructors.  The Forum ran full-page ads for the shows supported by local businesses, and the shows were bundled with dinner at Armstrong’s.

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