Seventh-day Adventist School

In August, 1944, the members voted to build an elementary school. The nine lots west of the church were purchased from George Lohmar for a playground and the new school building. But while the new school was being erected the members voted to have school in the smaller room of the church. So on the first day of school 1944 with seven pupils enrolled and Miss Gertrude Seward as their teacher, the Marceline Seventh-Day Adventist Church School began.

St. Bonaventure School

Catholic Schools are a familiar institution throughout the United States. Normally, where ever there is a Catholic Church there is also a Catholic School. Marceline’s first Catholic School was a private school known as St. Rose’s Hall. It was located on the present site of the Davis Paint Store. The first teachers were Miss Bernadette Lodgson, Miss Nore Trew, and Miss Anna Menke. With the close of St. Rose’s Hall some years later another school was opened. It was located where now stands the Walsworth Publishing Company. Miss Nora Trew also taught in this school as did Miss Verna McKenna and a Miss Foley. It was in 1918 that the first Parish Catholic School was established by Father Peter Cullen. He purchased the Eagle Lodge Hall for this purpose and gave the school the same title as that of the Catholic Church, namely St. Bonaventure. St. Bonaventure was a priest who belonged to the Order of St. Francis. Since the Church was named after this Franciscan Saint, it was only fitting that the Sisters of St. Francis should teach in the school. The first sisters who taught in St. Bonaventure were from Clinton, Iowa. Through the efforts of Father McCartan in 1942, the school Sisters of St. Francis from Savannah, Missouri, took over the teaching in this school. Because of the success of the grade school, St. Bonaventure High School was opened in 1922. For 21 years it operated successfully under the administration of the local pastor and because the school was small it could not compete with the larger high schools. It was prudently closed in 1943. The present Catholic Grade School in Marceline was given the name of Father McCartan Memorial School as a token of high esteem and reverence for Monsignor T. J. McCartan, who generously served the parish as pastor 30 years. It was dedicated in the fall of 1957 and, in this Diamond Jubilee year of Marceline, has a present enrollment of 108 pupils. It is one of the finest equipped private grade schools in the state and has received recognition for its Reading Laboratory Program.

History of Marceline Schools

Prior to 1887, the children of the pioneering families in Marceline, who desired to attend school, were obliged to attend the rural institution known as Hayden’s School which was across the street from where the residence of Don Taylor now stands, at the northern city limits, west of state highway No. 5. This being before schools were required to conform to a standard grading scale, the majority of the enrollment of twenty children of this first school attended only two or three terms, or until they had learned to read and write fairly well. While the Hayden School was originally intended to serve a rural community, it was decided after the first year, with the children of railway employees attending there, that more pupils would attend the school if it were moved farther south, toward the rapidly growing city. The one-room building was subsequently moved to the location currently occupied by the residence of Charles Wylie, and in the same block where the Charles Whisenand residence now is. R. J. Cunningham, whose home was near St. Catherine, began as teacher in the spring of 1887. He was succeeded by William E. Parks. To accommodate the school children of Marceline, which had boomed from a sparsely settled farmland to a city of 2,500 in five months, twin frame schoolhouses were erected in time for the 1888-89 term. One of these buildings was located on the present site of Mrs. Stephen Wallar’s home on West Ritchie Street, west of the Masonic Temple. The other building was on East Howell Street, where the Second Baptist Church now stands. Joseph A. Neal and Miss Myrtle West taught at the school on West Ritchie Street while Miss Jo Baker and Miss Effie Pendleton taught at the school on East Howell Avenue. As early as 1889, George Moorman, colored, taught the Negro children of Marceline in an abandoned carpenter shop on East Walker Street. Besides the first teacher, Mr. Moorman, George Leonard, Leon Bryant, William Neal, and Miss Dora Warfield also taught in the old shop-school. Townspeople had long felt that this building was inadequate. Philip Urbach was given title to the old carpenter shop, for removing it and moving the hand-hewn Hayden School from the north end of town to the vacated lot. With the revamping of Hayden School, Miss Manae Carter was employed to teach the first term. She was succeeded by Miss Eustacia Carter, Mrs. L. A. Botts, Meredith Herndon, the Rev. Leroy Johnson, Miss Carrie Turpin, and Augustus Anderson, the present teacher of Lincoln School. The mellowed old building, with native oak joists played a vital part in the early history of Marceline. It was destroyed by fire in September, 1931. The Negro school children attended classes in the Second Baptist Church for the next two terms, but this temporary inconvenience proved worthwhile when they were at last admitted to their new fire-proof building in September 1933. With the moving of the old Hayden School to the south part of town, there once again re-occurred a shortage of schoolroom space. Until such time as the busy citizenry of Marceline could take time to erect another school building, a two-room brick building on West Santa Fe Street was rented from the late J. R. Wrenn. In the short time that the Wrenn building was used as a schoolhouse, the pupils were tutored by George Porter, L. D. Kennerly, and the Misses Jo Baker, Anna McLaughlin, Ada Sights, and Belle Wheelock (Miss Wheelock later became Mrs. R. J. Wheeler, of Brookfield). After the plans for the Central School building had been conceived and approved, faculty and furnishings were moved from the Wrenn Building to the second floor of the Alhambra Hotel at the corner of Gracia Street and Kansas Avenue – the corner now occupied by the Marceline Oil Company. Classrooms on the second floor of the hotel Alhambra proved to be a little more than temporary as time went on, with very little progress made in the construction of the new building. The plans for the school were slow in taking form because investors lacked confidence in the bonds which were issued. About this time, when the public schools were having so much difficulty with their housing program, two private schools were thriving very well in Marceline. One, St. Rose’s Hall, operated by Miss Bernadette Logsdon and Miss Nora Trew, served as a select finishing school, with a 12-year curriculum embracing religion, art, elocution, and music. Among the graduates of that school were Frank Steiner, Myrtle Sears (Steiner), Callie Griffin, and Pat Connelly. The other private school existing in Marceline at that time was Professor Rooney’s School of Business which taught advanced penmanship and bookkeeping to several of Marceline’s older citizens. When the school children moved into the new Central grade building in October 1894, it was thought that this new “house of knowledge” would be sufficient to satisfy Marceline’s needs from that time on – they were reckoning without thought to the phenomenal growth Marceline was soon to experience. Central Elementary and Junior High School The Central School faculty for the balance of that 1894-95 term, the first one to occupy the new brick school building, consisted of Joseph A. Neal, – principal; William E. Parks (who had returned after a two-year absence), and the Misses Jo Baker, Grace Eagan, Lillian Maupin, Julian Gillispie, Anna Connelly, and Viola Kendrick. Of this group, Miss Connelly and W. E. Parks were of invaluable assistance in the compilation of this history. In January 1895, the principal, Mr. Neal resigned to accept the office of circuit clerk at Linneus. His vacancy was filled for the remainder of the term by Hugh Campbell from Kansas. The first graduating I class in the spring of 1896 consisted of the Misses Birdie Judah, Kate Davis, and Jennie Hemmings. Miss Hemmings later became Mrs. W. J. Randolph of Marceline; and Miss Davis, otherwise known as Mrs. F. B. Marshall, is principal of a grade school in Oklahoma City. For

Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen

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. On December 31, 1873 at Port Jervis, New York, a few firemen met after the untimely death of one of their fellow workmen and decided to form some kind of organization to alleviate the dire circumstances in which deceased firemen’s families were left. They banded themselves together into the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen with an insurance feature for relief of the deceased brother’s family. At times it was a strenuous problem to raise sufficient money to meet their obligations, but they never failed. From this meager beginning has developed the present Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen with one hundred and twenty-five per cent of assets for every dollar of insurance. The motto of this organization is: Protection, Charity, Sobriety, and Industry. Marceline Lodge #486 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen was organized at 2:00 p.m., December 31, 1896, by Charles W. Maier, Vice Grand Master, in Knights of Pythias hall over the State Bank. The session continued until a motion was made to adjourn for supper and to re-assemble at 7:30 p.m., which was done. The charter members and the offices to which they were elected were: J. Piper, Master; James Kain, Vice Master; L. A. Sheldon, Secretary; M. Maloney, Collector; E. Edwards, Receiver; F. Prince, Past Master; A. D. Young, Delegate to Grand Lodge; J. C. Showmaker, L. A. Sheldon, and F. O. Payden, Board of Trustees; M. Maloney, Protective Board (Chairman);, J. Fry, Protective Board; F. Prince, Protective Board; M. W. Shumaker and C. M. Rhodes, Members. Dr. McMillen was appointed Medical Examiner. Congratulations were extended by visiting Brothers William Bock, Frank Caldwell, and Charles Boyles of Lodge #391, Fort Madison, Iowa. The quarterly dues for a member carrying a $1,500 policy was $5; $1,000 policy, $4; $2.50 for a $500 policy. Initiation fee was $5. In April, 1897, the Committee had a meeting with the coal chute foreman endeavoring to have coal broken up before being placed on tanks of engines. Also M. Maloney had a meeting with Roundhouse Foreman Mr. Weaver in an attempt to have an employee on duty in the oil house at noon so firemen could draw oil and supplies upon arrival instead of waiting until long after dinner to perform this duty. Firemen were required to supply engines and fill lubricators. On June 20, 1897, at a regular meeting M. Maloney, J. D. Fry, and L. A. Sheldon were appointed as a committee to visit the businessmen of Marceline requesting them not to handle H. S. Block t Co. cigars and informed the businessmen either to boycott H. S. Block & Co. or be boycotted by the firemen. On November 7, 1897, M. Maloney presented a bill for 2 trips to Fort Madison on seniority cases. His bill was for $6.30 for three days lost time, on a work train. The rate at that time was $2.10 per day for 12 hours. At a July meeting the Lodge paid M. Maloney $35 as salary for attending the Grand Lodge Convention in Toronto, Canada. Shortly after 1900, efforts were made to organize the firemen on the old Hannibal and St. Joe R.R. The mention of a union organization there was considered a dischargeable offense since the disastrous 1888 strike of the Engineers. Men were discharged by wire when found to belong to a union. This was a condition on other roads and with other unions in many places. Firemen had to be very secretive about any union activity. The firemen on the Burlington properties slipped away to B. of L.F. & E. Lodges on railroads where unions were recognized or at least tolerated and there joined the Brotherhood. Many of those at Brookfield drove to Marceline, tied their horses in out-of- the-way places, and were initiated. Some of this was done in the beer storage room of the White Elephant saloon owned by Shupe Walker, who slipped them in and out the back door. Others were obligated in the coal house behind Sam Myers Store – just across from where Myers Clothing Company is now located. Sam Myers stood on the back porch of the store and kept a lookout for spies and spotters. In June of 1903 Lodge #634 was formed in Brookfield. Much credit is due the hardy pioneers who often chanced the loss of their jobs and the subsequent black-balling in order to organize and maintain their union. Especially active in maintaining Lodge #486 were L. A. Sheldon, J. B. Piper, R. Guthrie, J. C.- Dieterich, J. J. O’Connor. F. A. Prince, Bert Oldham, R. R. Kelly, A. I. Bowen, and the long-time champion of the firemen, their local chairman (grievance man) Mike Maloney. Maloney would go to the bat with anyone in defense of his firemen. On several occasions I have heard him say when being complimented on a run by an official of the company, “Don’t compliment me, compliment that boy on the left side. I couldn’t have gone anywhere if he didn’t have the ‘putty’ for me.” If a railroader in the earlier day was discharged for union activities or other causes which officials deemed undesirable, the man would receive a service letter which might sound fairly good, but when held to the light showed a water mark of a hatchet. The result of showing this letter meant “no job” for the holder. Consequently, a good business grew up on did Union Avenue at Kansas City across from the old Union Depot. There, one could get a ready-made service letter or one made to order for a few dollars. One railroad would not answer questions concerning their service letters. Had all the service letters being carried from that railroad been genuine, they would have had

Theodore Roosevelt Post #264, American Legion

Marceline’s American Legion (Theodore Roosevelt Post #264) was organized in 1919 at a meeting held in the law office of Lon R. Owen located on the second floor of the Marceline State Bank building. Dr. Roy M. Cater was elected commander, W. S. Eichenlaub adjutant and Tracy Lancaster, treasurer. The local American Legion post has held meetings in the following locations: (1) in a building which stood where Wolfe-Briggs Motor Company now stands, (2) in a room at the Allen Hotel, (3) on the second floor of the building now occupied by Walsworth’s, (4) in the basement of Carnegie Library, (5) on the second floor of the Western Auto Store, (6) on the second floor of the building now used for Payden’s storeroom, (7) above Reece’s Confectionery, (8) in a cabin located on the grounds of Marceline High School and (9) at its present hall at 211 North Kansas Avenue. Membership has been about 60 since before World War II, except for a one year period when over 100 members were active and Alvin Dorman was commander. Charter members of the local American Legion post who have maintained continuous membership are Lewis O. Adair, Tracy M. Lancaster and Charles F. Strickel. The charter for Theodore Roosevelt Post #264, Marceline, was issued on February 9, 1920 and the following charter members are shown thereon: Mark H. Karnes, Harry Conklin, A. Pilicer, D. C. Bunch, A. C. Carter, R. M. Cater, G. Speather-berry, W. S. Eichenlaub, Charles Strickel, Floyd L. Snider, Lewis Adair, James Sweezer, Lawrence E. Lane, J. P. Saunders, P. L. Paterict, Ray Staubus, Robert Pankey, James W. Coons, Norris L. Barnes, Richard Guthridge, James A. Riley, W. E. Downing, T. M. Lancaster, R. McKinney, Emil M. Swenson, Geo. G. Oldham, I. H. Hoefer, E. W. Osborn, Wm. G. Smith, Joseph B. Scott. The American Legion in Marceline has sponsored the following: (1) a Drum and Bugle Corps, (2) Boy Scout Troop #99, (3) delegates to the Missouri Boys’ State, (4) junior baseball and softball leagues as well as participating in numerous other local civic projects from time to time.

American Legion Auxiliary

The Auxiliary Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt Post No. 264 of the American Legion, Marceline, Missouri, was organized October 5, 1920, with the following charter members: Mrs. Vivian Lancaster Mrs. Belle Stuver, Mrs. Rosa Roof, Miss Marguerite Roof, Mrs. Mary Lancaster, Miss Blanche Svensson, Mrs. Ailah Steiner, Mrs. Ruth Heryford, Mrs. Olga Scott, Mrs. Frances Bowen, Mrs. Ruth Cat, Mrs. Dan L. Eichenlaub, Mrs. Margaret E. Hoefer, Mrs. Margaret Jones, and Mrs. Sallie Roe. Mrs. Ruth Heryford served as the first president and has had continuous membership in the unit since it was organized. Mrs. Pauline Strickel and Mrs. Lewis Adair have been members forty- two years. The purpose of the organization is expressed in the preamble which is as follows: “For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent Americanism. To preserve the memories and incidents of our association during the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; to participate in and contribute to the aims and purposes of the American Legion; to consecrate and sanctify our association by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.” To accomplish these purposes, the State and National organizations have established a number of projects for which the local groups work and contribute. One of the largest programs of the Auxiliary is rehabilitation. They contribute to the needs of the hospitalized veterans which are not supplied by the government, such as stationery, stamps, toilet articles, and gifts for them to send to their loved ones at Christmas. The source of funds for rehabilitation is observance of “Poppy Day” on Friday and Saturday preceding Memorial Day. Part of the money which is paid for the poppies is given to the veterans who make them. Funds are then solicited for the poppies and are then used for the needs of veterans and their families. Poppy Day was first observed here in 1925. Again in 1928 and 1929 and then in 1933 and every year since. At first only 200 poppies were purchased but since 1946 over one thousand are purchased each year. In 1931, a Ladies Drum and Bugle Corps was organized and the group was active for five years. They were sent by the local unit to several District and Department Conventions of the American Legion and Auxiliary. Mrs. O. G. Hetrick was the Drum Major and. most of the personnel were members of the auxiliary. For several years the State Auxiliaries and the National American Legion Auxiliary have sponsored a Girls’ State and Girls’ Nation. This is a project for teaching girls how to run the government. Mrs. Lyle Armstrong (Mary Adair) was the first girl sent by the local unit to the Girls’ State in 1941 held at the William Woods College at Fulton, Missouri. A girl has been sent every year since that date with the exception of two years during World War II and this was because of the gas and tire restrictions. For almost fifteen years, Unit 264 has sponsored an Americanism essay contest in both Junior and Senior High School groups. Awards have been given to first and second place winners in both groups each year. Two of the winners have gone on to District and become first place winners: Glen Clarke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clarke and Nancy O’Connor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. O’Connor. The president of Unit No. 264 for 1963 is Mrs. Fannie Hunter and there are 36 members.

Boy Scouts of America

Troop 99 – Marceline, Missouri The Boy Scout movement in Marceline began in 1911 with the Rev. J. D. Mendenhall as Scoutmaster of Troop #1, sponsored by the Methodist Church. Leaders in this movement through the years have been Rev. E. V. Claypool, Rev. Fred J. Smith, Rev. F. E. Edwards, Rev. George P. Sturgis, and later Dr. P. L. Patrick. During the winter months of 1929 the Theodore Roosevelt Post No. 264, The America Legion, Marceline, with their sons growing up, believed their boys should benefit from the Boy Scout Program. Therefore, the American Legion Post authorized Charles F. Strickel, one of their members to organize a Boy Scout Troop under their sponsorship. In about six months everything was completed and the registration forms sent in. Troop 99, Marceline became an official member of the Central Missouri Area Council. The following is a list of Scout Leaders since that date: 1930-1940 Charles F. Strickel; 1940- 1941 Charles W. Blackwell; 1941-1944 Earl E. Eyler; 1944-1950 Raymond Jones; 1950-1951 Robert L. Downing; 1951-1952 Wilbur O. Ralston; 1952-1956 H. W. Stauffer; 1956-1957 Howard Deering, Jr, In 1957 the scout troop disbanded until February, 1961. History of Troop 99 In February, 1961, the Marceline Rotary Club became the sponsoring organization for Boy Scouts, Troop 99, which had been inactive since 1956. James Adair, Scoutmaster, organized Troop 99 and registered forty boys, with four adult leaders. The First Christian Church provided a meeting place for the Scouts. During the year, nine more boys were added to the roster. Several overnight hikes were taken during the summer of 1961. Lyle Armstrong became scoutmaster on April 13, 1962. The active membership of the Troop had fallen to 20. During the year we have earned a National Camping Award, which requires over 50% of the troop to spend at least 10 days and nights camping. Of the original 20 scouts enrolled 13 are still active and 11 additional scouts have been added. Fifteen scouts and Scoutmaster Armstrong attended a 3 day (work) Camporee at Camp Thunderbird near Cairo, Missouri, during May. Twelve scouts and Assistant Scoutmaster Adair attended summer camp at Camp Thunderbird for one week during July, 1962. These 12 scouts, while at camp, earned a total of 24 merit badges. Three scouts were qualified for membership to “The National Rifle Association.” Three scouts were awarded special awards for the one-mile swim. Eight of the 12 advanced one rank. One scout, Phillip Malone, was chosen for a national award, The Order of the Arrow. Our troop now consists of the following: 7 Tenderfoot, 7 Second Class, 3 First Class, and 7 Star Scouts. During 1962 to March 1963, 76 merit badges have been earned. This represents a lot of hard work on the part of the scouts. Vascoe Caswell has been added as an assistant scoutmaster as of October, 1962. Four of these scouts are now engaged in service to their church and their minister toward earning a God and Country award, a religious award which takes a year or more to achieve. Plans are being made to attend Camp Thunderbird again this summer. Two scouts, Phillip Malone and David King, are making plans to go to Camp Philmont in New Mexico for a week in June. Phillip Malone will attend the National Order of the Arrow at the University of Illinois in August. Looking toward the summer of 1964, the boys have embarked on the earning of funds so they can go on a 6-day canoeing trip into Northern Minnesota and Canada. Dr. G. T. Malone, chairman of Troop Committee, has been a member of the committee since 1961, and has given his help many times and is always willing. The troop committee men are Jack C. Wrenn, treasurer; Verne Milam, James Farris, Harry L. Porter. James Adair is institutional committee representative. Marceline has had a fine record of Scouting in the past years and the hopes and aims of the scoutmaster are that the record may be equaled if not excelled. It can be accomplished with the help from the men of the community. There are plenty of boys- more than just one or two men can take care of and there is no better organization for young men than the Scouts. Rover Crew 99 In the late 1930’s, after ten years active Boy Scout work with Troop 99, it was found that the regular troop and the Explorer Troop were not enough to take care of a situation that had arisen. A number of the early members of the troop were now “old men” in their 20’s and wanted an organization of their own. After a thorough investigation of Senior Scout groups, it was decided to form a Rover Crew of men over 18 years of age, if the necessary leadership could be secured. The problem was solved by securing a new scoutmaster, Chas. W. Blackwell, for Troop 99 while the former scoutmaster, Chas. F. Strickel, became Rover Leader with Arnold Fawks as first Captain of the Crew. It was not difficult to secure members for the new organization. In a very short time a charter was obtained and Rover Crew No. 99 was on the way. The Crew was just getting started when World War II came and almost to a man the members entered the service. For three years the Crew did not hold a regular meeting. It was seldom that more than three or four members were in Marceline at the same time. The organization boomed. Perhaps more than any other reason this was due to a quarterly bulletin sent to every Rover wherever he might be. The letter listed every man and gave his address. Some were rather vague listings, but to the men in the service they gave a lot of information and many were the reunions in far-off lands. Then the casualty reports began to come in. Arnold Fawks and Paul King were lost at sea. Milton Bellis and Junior Mathews were shot down with their

The Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Seventh-day Adventist church as a congregation was organized in 1913, with Elder French of Hamilton as pastor. For two years the congregation met in the homes of the members. In 1915, they purchased the present church building on West Crocker Street from the Holiness Denomination. While the congregation of the Marceline church is rather small, numbering only 25, it is part of a world-wide membership of over one million church members, with 1,833,007 Sabbath School members. The present pastor is George Sharpe. The local elder is George V. Newkirk. The women of the local church organized a Dorcas Society in the year of 1939. Under the leadership of various women through the years, this society has done much missionary work by giving food baskets, clothing, buying fuel for needy families and at one time sending two hundred pairs of shoes, donated by local merchants, overseas to be distributed. This society had a very unique way of providing funds for their missionary work, by baking and selling bread, pies, cakes, cookies, rolls and glazed donuts. For the last two and a half years this kind of work has been curtailed because of ill health of some of the members.

St. Bonaventure Church

In the spring of 1888, Rt. Rev. John J. Hogan of Kansas City requested Rev. Walter Tormey of Brookfield, to select lots in the new town of Marceline upon which to build a Catholic Church. Fr. Tormey secured the lots. Rev. Thos. J. Burke came to Marceline in August, 1888 to assume duties as pastor. Immediately he began the erection of the St. Bonaventure Church. Frank Pone el et and John Barbarett were the contractors. The parishioners quarried and hauled rock from the Gucker farm east of Marceline for the foundation. The altars were made in Marceline. Fr. Burke designed and superintended their building, doing much of the work himself. The Communion railing was also made here, some of the planning being done by L. E. Pancost. The Church was dedicated in November, 1888. Some of the early pioneer families of St. Bonaventure were Francis Clarke, Wm. Howley, R. Durbin, Jas. Connelly, Wm. McLaughlin, John Sennerick, C. Othic, John Donovan, Thos. Martin, R. Lodder, P. W. Kelly, S. Schorgl, James O’Nell, Geo. Gucker, B. Ewigman, A. Ewigman, and Frank Smith. While the Church was being built services were held in Sennerick’s Hall on East Lake street. Fr. Burke was succeeded by Rev. Peter D. Cullen, November 1897, who remained until March, 1925. During Fr. Cullen’s pastor age St. Bonaventure School was founded. In 1932 Rev. Thomas J. McCartan came to Marceline as pastor. He found the parish staggering under an accumulating debt. With a determination characteristic of him, he set to work to reduce it. What he has accomplished in the face of depression is almost beyond belief. Father Peter O’Rourke was sent as the new pastor of St. Bonaventure’s, after the retirement of Monsignor McCartan in 1957, and was given the task of constructing a new grade school. After completion of the school Fr. Francis O’Duignan was sent as the new pastor. In the spring of 1960 the present Church was gutted by fire; instead of building a new Church it was decided that the present one be renovated. Services were held in the school gymnasium during the interval. The priest and people of the Church were especially grateful to the Rev. Neil Dubach of the Marceline Methodist Church and the Rev. Charles Weston of the Marceline Christian Church who so generously offered their churches for services. The Fr. Fred J. Barnett was assigned to St. Bonaventure Church in September 1960 and is the present pastor.

First Baptist Church

The town of Marceline was about 4 months old when a handful of Baptists held a meeting and effected the organization of the First Baptist Church. The first meeting was held in a rented hall on Sunday, May 19, 1888. The Rev. J. M. P. Martin of Linneus preached and at the conclusion of the service all who felt interested in the organization of a Baptist Church were invited to remain. There were seven charter members, three women and four men. The hall was used for the services for some time and it was not until the following year that plans were made for Marceline’s First Baptist Church. The building erected was of frame structure and with a few minor changes served the congregation until March 1, 1914, when it was destroyed by fire. The fire extended so rapidly that but few articles could be saved. Fortunately, the records were preserved. For a time the homeless organization worshipped in a rented hall in the upstairs of the building now owned by the Zurchers. Seen, however, undaunted by their loss, they erected an improvised tabernacle on one of the hills overlooking the town. This tabernacle was the scene of some of the happiest experiences in the life of the church. Here it was that men envisioned a new and beautiful edifice to house the congregation. Accordingly, plans were laid and on one Sunday during the services pledges taken. The amount pledged on that day is not known, but it was sufficient to lead the faithful ones in believing that their vision, wild as it seemed, could be realized. The present building is that fulfilled dream. It is a massive brick structure with 39 rooms and 96 windows, 66 of which are in art glass, including several memorial windows. A spacious auditorium and a Sunday School room with a combined seating capacity of near 700 provides adequate room. The cornerstone of the new church was laid in July 1914, and dedication services were held September 1, 1916. This new church was a $30,000 building free of debt at the time of dedication. J. H. Huff, who was pastor at the time the first church burned, was chairman of the building committee. The building and equipment is testimony sufficient of the thoroughness of this group. Included in the equipment was a beautiful two manual organ. Andrew Carnegie contributed $700 toward this one article. Among her pastors have been men of outstanding ability and achievement. The church has sent out several young men to the ministry: B. F. Heaton, Elmer A. Love, Albert Kondy, Warren Haley, Martin Essig, Roger Briggs, and Marsh Dorrell. In recent years, many improvements have been made on the building, including remodeling of the Sunday School room, and the modernizing of the kitchen as a memorial. At present, the front vestibule is being improved with a large corner planter, guest book holder, and coat and hat racks. Church property includes the building and the parsonage, located on North Kansas Avenue. In April 1957, Rev. Kenneth Kelley came to serve as pastor and has been very instrumental, along with his family, in the growth and upbuilding of the church membership. Total membership is now 660, which includes 529 resident members and 131 non-resident members. The church is fully organized with Sunday School classes for all ages, a Training Union, W. M. U. Society and Auxiliaries, Men’s Brotherhood and Auxiliaries, an organized Adult Choir, and Vacation Bible School. On January 15, 1961, dedication services were held for the improvements made in the church sanctuary which included new ceiling light fixtures, tile flooring, walnut pews and choir railing, a Hammond organ, and a grand piano. There have been five Deacons ordained recently. On October 28, 1962, services were held and the men ordained were Omer Rutliff, Ernest Eads, Dale Boley, Chester Ray, and Ross Vardimari. Deacons already on the board are Earl Haley, Arthur Jones, Milton Smiser,. Buford Green, Richard Hainds, Delmar Foley, Wm. Hood, Glynn Maxwell, and Ernest Moss. Members of the Trustee Board are Harold Kienast, W. E. Saunders, Dale Bunch, George Burch, Ray Porter, Delbert Eads, Gene Staats, David Wilson, and Glen Hughes. The Westville Mission was established in August 1962 and the First Baptist Church sponsors the Sunday School and preaching services. There are twelve charter members in this mission. According to the original record book, the following is a list of pastors and the dates they served: J. M. P. Martin, April 8, 1888 to May 3, 1890; P. M. Best, December 6, 1890 to May 12, 1891; Lee Harrell, September 15, 1891 to April, 1892; Glen E. Kennedy, April 9, 1892 to October 1, 1895; M. L. Kent, September 30, 1895 to June 29, 1896; J. F. Leake, Sept. 25, 1896 to Feb. 28, 1897; H. W. Bellamy, May 16, 1897 to December 4, 1898; R. L. Lemons, May 14, 1899 to August 20, 1900; Rev. King, March 15, 1901 to May 5, 1901; J. C. Cox, April 30, 1902 to April 1, 1906; W. D. Bolton, May 15, 1906 to October 1907; Rhee Woods, May 20, 1908 to July, 1910; Ed. H. Clark, June 4, 1911 to January 1912; John H. Huff, July 6, 1912 to June, 1916; J. C. Cox, July 9, 1916 to Jan. 1, 1918; Oliver Reed, May 1, 1918 to December 26, 1918; Fred H. Beard, April 1, 1919 to April 18, 1920; J. E. Chappelle, September 1, 1920 to January 25, 1925; E. L. Huckell, April 15,1925 to October 1, 1927; H. H. McLeod, February 10. 1928 to October 9. 1932; W. D. Hurst, February 14, 1933 to December 31, 1936; A. Novak, January 15, 1937 to December 1941; Roy Boatright, January 1942 to October 1944; D. W. Rainwater, July, 1945 to August 1, 1949; Fredrick S. Farris, February 1, 1950 to April 1, 1952; Ray Barnes, May 18,1952 to December.