| Weston Historical Museum Weston, MO 64098 |
| Articles from 'The Weston Chronicle' It's Your Museum... Enjoy by Carolyn Bless Larsen |
| It’s Your Museum--Enjoy! By Carolyn A. Larsen, Curator Today's Column Some of you may remember when Weston had a bowling alley. For others this will be news. It held its grand opening in April of 1961 and was called the 501 Bowl. The proprietor was Mr. John Reynozo. The business was housed in the building owned at the time by the American Legion and was at the corner of Thomas and Blackhawk, directly across from the Weston Police Station today. (The site of the old Renz Livery Stable.) Mayor John M. Yeaman officially bowled the first ball down the alley. From then on, the alleys were kept “hot” all evening and prizes were won by: Ladies High games: Elizabeth Crockett 165 and Ruby Norris, 148. Junior: Sonny Layton 158; and Robert O’Neill, 142. Men: Charles Edland, 195; and Cleo Anderson, 195. A prize was also won by Dale Poos. Donna Demint won the Grand Prize, which was a Bowling Ball. Reynozo ran the bowling alley for six and one- half years when he announced that he wanted to get out of the business. Mr. and Mrs. George Rittman, then of Leavenworth where Mr. Rittman was a guard at the Federal Pen, leased the building and business in July of 1967 from the American Legion. The family moved to Weston with their children. It took very little time, once a bowling alley was open, for leagues to organize and lots of friendly and funny rivalry went on. Perhaps one of the oddest summer teams was that of Mrs. Ida Allison, in her early 70’s; Mrs. Theresa Grieshaber in her early 80’s; Miss Delores Riley who was in her 50’s but handicapped; and Carolyn Bless who was 21 years old and who had never bowled in her life time. This team won third place and Carolyn won an award for most improved player. That was extremely easy, almost a given, when you start with no real average and go up from there. The team had formed with the idea of just having fun, and we did that for certain. Those ladies were serious about their bowling and they were great teammates. God bless them! The Rittmans after ten years in the business left it in 1977, whereupon Mr. and Mrs. Dean McClurg took over and ran the bowling alley until 1984. The Legion at that time decided to sell the building and the Bank of Weston purchased it. They later sold to Jerry Goodpasture who owned two buildings on Main Street near Hill’s Garage. To be honest, there had been other bowling alleys in Weston and one that I know of was the one that Mr. George Marr bought in February of 1905. At that time he hired Chris Berntsen to run it for him. Does anyone know where that bowling alley was housed? Does anyone know where and when any others were in Weston? The number to call is 816-668-9986 or 816-386- 2799. C’mon in and see us. We’d love to see your smilin’ face here in your museum. |
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| The Historic town of Weston has many popular events scheduled throughout the year. For more information 816-640-2909 www.westonmo.com |
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| It’s Your Museum--Enjoy! By Carolyn A. Larsen, Curator July 13, 2011 column IT’S Your museum. . . On March 21, 1853, twenty related members of the McClure, Bond and Bruce families left Shaker Prairie, Knox County, Indiana in five wagons heading for Oregon Territory. By-laws were drawn up and signed by the company and Vincent Scott McClure was elected captain. There were also three unrelated young men who accompanied them. Their main route consisted of crossing the Wabash River into Russelville, Illinois. They then traveled through Lawrenceville, Maysville, Xenia, Fredericktown, Lebanon and arrived at St. Louis on April 1, 1853. The foregoing is part of a synopsis of a rather long, complete and very descriptive diary written by Andrew S. McClure which has been published by the Lane County Historical Society in Eugene, Oregon. Dated Friday, April 15, the diary reads: “Last night the boat jammed around and ran from shore to shore unmanageable for some time, in the after part of the night the current carried the boat into shore. She landed about ½ mile below Weston and awaited daylight. When the boat landed the officers expressed their determination not to go any further. The men had quite a time in coming to terms with the boat’s crew as they seemed disposed to act the rascal. They parlayed for about half a day but finally came to the terms offered by our party which was two thirds of the passage to Council Bluffs. About one o’clock they accepted the proposed terms and it was full six o’clock before we were ready to start for the country. We started for the country and calculate to go about two and one half miles. We made arrangements to stay nearer town as it was late and Cousin N. was very weak. We made arrangements for her to get in the house and the rest of us have hoisted our tents and will try for the first time camping out. We found a farm where we could get pasture and feed about half past six o’clock and after milking our cows and unyoking we proceeded to pitch our tents and build a fire. I presume that no person who enjoys a pleasant home will be able to realize the joy felt by all when we found ourselves off the steamer and in an open pasture with no covering but a piece of drilling. . . . Cousin N. is very sick tonight, she was unable to walk ashore and was carried in a chair by two men up in town until the teams could be got ready. She was scarcely able to ride and has gone to the house that she may be better attended. We are encamped on the land of a Mr. Wells, one half east of Weston; he is a very clever fellow and seems to feel for the needs of families who emigrate. There are some persons here putting up to cross the plains. (Note: John Wells owned land and a ferry in the vicinity of the Rialto area. He may also have owned a very rustic hotel in that area too.) Saturday, April 16: “this morning all hands slept until 7 o’clock and after breakfast was prepared all hands drew near and each one with his plate and cup in hand replenished his plate and withdrew.” There is more to this diary and more about Weston which I will use another time in this column. C’mon in and see us in your museum. It is cool inside, inviting and lots of interesting things to see. We love seeing your smilin’ faces. |
| Carolyn's Column July 20, 2011 IT’S Your museum. . . It’s your museum. . . . Did you know that in May of 1945, the Warneke family, who had owned a dry goods store in Weston for several years and then left, returned to Weston and bought a tavern? The tavern or saloon was that of Rumpel’s or presently R.J.’s on Thomas Street. Did you know that during that same year, 1945, there were two barber shops in Weston? There was the Linville Barber Shop and the Honaker Barber Shop. Neither of which do I know where they were located. Anyone out there who can help me out on this? There are also several other places I would like to know the location of in downtown Weston during the 1940’s. Those include Hall’s Garage, the Ralph Pettis store, Roene’ s Café, the Playmore Pool Room, Bartlett’s Grocery and Frank Hollied’s shop. See me at the museum, call 386-4063 or use my email address cabl80bless@yahoo.com to let me know if you know anything about these particular shops. Our diary from the travels of the McClure, Bond and Bruce families continues on April 16th: “This morning we had trouble collecting out stock and it was two o’clock before we got the cattle milked and fed today. Cousin Nan came out in camp and seemed much better. All those who have been complaining seem fresh and well. All enjoy the fresh atmosphere and the excitements of camp life with a degree which is astonishing. Some of the men went out for corn and bought it for $1.12 ½ per barrel Kentucky measure which contains five bushels. This is the cheapest corn we have found since leaving Shaker Prairie. The gentleman who owns this asks forty cents per bushel but plenty can be bought for twenty and twenty- five cents per bushel. Our cattle which we thought would be almost lifeless from standing ten days crowded into the hot hull of the steamer or on the guards and scorched by sparks which are continually flying from the chimneys of the boat which uses wood for its principal fuel seem fine and stronger. This part of the country is very broken, there are hills in this pasture that are as much as one hundred feet above the level of the valley below. We see plenty of Sage hens here which seem to be quite a novelty to Hoosiers. Sun., April 17. Last night all seemed to sleep soundly and none were up ‘til sunrise. The women take hold of the task of cooking with the appearance of pleasure. The weather since we have been here has been fine. Today as has usually been the custom Sundays, all hands more particularly the young, have been engaged in writing letters home. I wrote my first this morning and have promised so many that I will be unable to fill the most of them. We will be apt to miss all the letters from our friends as we have changed our starting point. We see people bound to cross the plains every day and this is becoming a point of note to the emigrant. Cattle seem cheap here as in the interior. . . Weston is situated in the valley and surrounded by the peaks of high bluff banks which tower above the surface of the Missouri and the village, like small mountains.” This is a long diary and will take a few more columns to complete the segment about Weston and the area. In the mean time, please come on in and see us. We love seeing your smilin’ faces. You’ll love seeing some of your history here. |