September, 1888 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized. The first pastor was Rev. S. A. McPherson until 1898. The church was located on the corner of Santa Fe and Missouri Avenues.
Sometime in the early 1890’s several families came to Marceline that were members of the Old School Presbyterian and they organized their church. Services … > More >
The Marceline Junior Chamber of Commerce is a comparatively newcomer on the scene when compared with some of the older organizations in town, however, since the club was founded in 1954, a great many things have been accomplished for the community.
In 1888 when Marceline, Missouri was incorporated, the first marshals were Joseph Turner and I.A. Runyon. Others who served as officers were Mike Burns, Wesley Ellis, George Ellis, Bill Conklin, Sam Parker, R.C. Freeman, Calvin Wilson. At this time the Police Department consisted of only two officers. Chief of Police and a night Police.
Note: The following article containing a history of the first 50 years of Marceline was reproduced from the 1938 Golden Jubilee edition of the Marceline News. Floyd C. Shoemaker, secretary of the State Historical Society of Missouri, has written the following interesting and complete history of Marceline. Mr. Shoemaker is a Linn County product, having … > More >
The job of educating the children of Marceline began in a one-room school north of the present city limits in 1887 and in 100 years has, through excellent leadership and determined community support, grown into a modern, top-rated school system on an attractive campus at Santa Fe Street and Missouri Avenue.
Some of this is not on record. The Masonic Lodge archives do not include all minutes of the Temple Board, or any history kept by the Appendant bodies (York Rite, Shrine, Order of the Eastern Star), who were hosted by Lodge 481.
The original Masonic Lodge was built in 1888 on the … > More >
Mary Ann Sportsman and M. G. Oldham both of Chariton County, were united in marriage July 29, 1857, moved to a home two and one-half miles southeast of Marceline, and became the parents of nine children: J. G. Oldham, H. H. Oldham, M. G. Oldham, Richard Oldham, Alva Oldham, Sally Oldham, … > More >
The Cater Opera House was built by Dr. W. A. Cater in 1902 and was formally opened in October.
In the early days, stock companies appeared here for one-week stands, with a change of program every night. The Mayhall Stock Company of Goren, Missouri, which played here many seasons, was one of the favorites. The … > More >
Nearly a century ago the casualty rate among locomotive firemen was so high that very few insurance companies would insure firemen and then only at a rate that was so high as to be prohibitive considering their compensation. This resulted in many widows and orphans being left destitute.
In the oldest record book of the First Christian Church, we find these words: “At a meeting of the members of the Christian Church residing in the city of Marceline, Missouri, held at a vacant house on Santa Fe Avenue on the 3rd Lord’s day in May 1888 for the purpose (sic) of taking … > More >