Nodaway County Historical Society

Here are a few of the events we have hosted in the past. If there is one you enjoyed and would like to see again, please contact us and offer your helping in planning the event!

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March 14th @ 1-4pm: Pie Day, $5 for a slice of pie

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Sunday, November 12th @ 1pm – Stairway of Stars Induction Ceremony for Dr. Joe Powell - Celebrate the work of renowned local vet Dr. Powell as he is inducted to the NCHS Stairway of Stars.

 

Friday, October 27th @ 7pm - Murders & Bloody Marys - Learn about the murder of Doc Talbott and the execution of his sons, while sipping a Bloody Mary. Narrative reading by Dr. Theophil Ross.

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Saturday, September 9th @ 11am - Railroads in the Midwest - Dr. Rob Voss from Northwest discussed the history of railroads in the Midwest, with a focus on the local region.

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Friday, August 25th @ 5-7pm – 140th Celebration of Hickory Grove Schoolhouse & BBQ Fundraiser ($15 for bbq dinner)

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Sunday, August 27th @ 1pm – The History of Toys – Join our special guest Dr. Madeline Rislow from the Toy and Miniature Museum in Kansas City (thanks to the Missouri Speakers’ Bureau and Missouri Humanities). She will discuss how two Kansas City women’s love for toys became a national museum.

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Saturday, July 15th @ 1-3pm – Ice Cream Social ($5 for homemade ice cream and cobbler)

 

Sunday, July 9th @ 2pm – The Honey War – Program by Lois Jean Ellison about the 19th century border war between Missouri and Iowa

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Sunday, June 11th @ 1-3pm – Caleb Burns Open House - Take a look at the historic house, view our hat collection, and examine historic samplers.

 

Saturday, May 13th @ 11am – Local Historical Societies - Learn about the historical societies across Nodaway County with presentations by the societies themselves.

 

Saturday, May 6th, 2-4pm - Derby Day at the Museum - Celebrate our county's horse-y heritage at the museum. Watch clips of our horses competing at the Derby and win a prize for the best hat!

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Thursday, May 4th, 5:30pm - NCHS Museum @ The Black Pony - Visit the NCHS Museum at The Black Pony - learn more about the museum and our upcoming programs!

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Saturday, April 8th, 11am - Cattle & the Clyde Convent - Professor Elyssa Ford will present on the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and their amazing cattle herd in nearby Clyde.

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Friday, March 24th, 11am - Alma Nash Historical Marker Dedication @ the Pocket Park Downtown; reception at the museum.

 

Tuesday, March 14th, 1-4pm - Pi(e) Day at the Museum; $5 for homemade pie.

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Sat., Dec. 10th, 9am-12pm: Christmas Bake Sale & Kids Crafts. 

 

Wed., Nov. 30th, 7pm: History Alive! event at the museum. See history come alive and interact with Nodaway County historic notables with a class from Northwest Missouri State University.

 

Sun., November 6th, 1pm: Author reading with Ilene Devlin on her WWII memoir Emma's World.

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Sun., Oct. 23rd, 2pm: Brother Thomas gave a program on the early residents of Conception Abbey and the Clyde convent.

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Sun., Oct. 9th, 12-2pm: Oktoberfest dinner with German and Eastern European food ($10 at door).

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Sept. 24-Oct. 24: Special exhibit from the Missouri State Museum: Boom! The Rise and Fall of Missouri's Black Business Districts.

 

Sat., Sept. 24th, 2-4pm: African American History -- Northwest graduate Abigail Cottingham discussed the early history of African Americans in Nodaway County. ​

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Fri., August, 19th, 5-7pm: BBQ Fundraiser -- Enjoy locally-raised beef bbq and help support the museum with your ticket purchase ($10 at door). Visit our newly appointed horse room and temporary exhibit on local rodeo women.

 

Sat. July 16th, 2-4pm: Ice Cream Social -- $5 homemade ice cream and dessert break during the Nodaway County Fair.

 

Mon., June 27th @ 5:30 pm: Annual Meeting & Member-Volunteer Appreciation -- A celebration of our members and volunteers!

 

Thursday, May 5th @ 5-7 pm: A fundraiser at Taco John's in Maryville.

 

Sunday, May 22nd @ 1-3 pm: Afternoon Tea & Open House – Afternoon tea and a tour of the newly restored Caleb Burns House.

 

Saturday, June 18th @ 2pm: Maryville Public Library & Historic Preservation - MPL director Stephanie Patterson discussed the history of the Maryville Public Library and the National Register for Historic Places nomination process.

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Saturday, April 30th @ 2pm: Derby Day – Celebrate the Kentucky Derby winners with a beer tasting by local brewery The Black Pony and a visit to our horse room, which includes information about Kentucky Derby winners.  

 

Monday, March 14 @ 1-4pm: Celebration of the museum’s opening for the 2022 season on Pi Day (3.14) with a slice of pie, $5 per slice

 

Sunday, March 27th @ 2pm: Nat Sisson Program – Program about early Maryville resident and Civil War participant Nat Sisson by retired history professor Tom Carneal.

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Christmas Bake Sale & Coffee Shop - December 11, 9am-1pm. Support the museum in this fundraiser and buy some delicious Christmas treats. 

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Grand Opening: Toy Room - Saturday, November 20, 2pm. The grand opening of a dedicated hands-on children's space in the museum.

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Halloween Horrors - Sunday, October 31, 2pm. Local author Jason Offutt told spooky tales of ghosts and the paranormal, also featuring exhibits on crime in Nodaway County.

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Mary Graham's Birthday Party - Saturday, September 4, 2pm. Celebrate the birthday of Mary Graham, who the communities of Maryville and Graham are named after, with cake and a historical presentation in costume. 

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Ice Cream Social - Saturday, July 17, 2-4pm. $5 homemade ice cream and dessert break during the Nodaway County Fair.

 

Suffrage Talk - Sunday, August 29, 2pm. Local author Amy Houts discussed her new book Maye's March for Women's Votes.

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Annual Meeting - Monday, June 28, 5pm. Annual (public) board meeting and celebration of our our volunteers.

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Virtual Event: Women's Suffrage - November 2, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. To commemorate the centennial of women gaining the right to vote, Dr. Elyssa Ford presented a virtual program on women's suffrage in Nodaway County.

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Christmas Bake Sale & Coffee Shop - December 14, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Support the museum in this fundraiser and buy some delicious Christmas treats. Featuring a special program on Christmas in the 1930s by Tom Carneal and Bob Bohlken. 

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Talk: Genealogy Tips - Sunday, November 17, 1-2pm. Erika Lees presented a program on genealogy tips and tricks and highlighted some of the online source available to get started in your family history search.

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Fall Fest Luncheon - Saturday, October 5, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Fall Fest Fundraiser Luncheon (a variety of soups and pickles), $10 per person.

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Talk: Baker Cemetery - September 22, 2p.m. Presentation at the Barnard Historical Society Depot on the rehabilitation of the nearby Baker Cemetery.

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Ice Cream Social - Saturday, July 20, 12-2pm. Cool off during the county fair with homemade pie & ice cream for $5. 

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Annual Meeting & Banquet - Monday, June 24, 6 p.m. A celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Nodaway County Historical Society. Open to the public and to our members. Tickets $15 in advance.

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Caleb Burns Open House - Sunday, June 9, 2 p.m. An opportunity to explore the historic Caleb Burns house with volunteers available made available to provide interpretation and demonstrations.

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Program: Travelling Trunks Expo - Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Teachers were invited to the museum to learn about our travelling trunks available free of cost to classrooms.

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St. Patrick's Day Irish Luncheon - Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A traditional Irish meal with lamb shepherd's pie, soda bread, and bread pudding with lemon whiskey sauce. $10 at the door.

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Christmas Bake Sale & Coffee Shop - Sunday, December 8th, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Support the museum in this fundraiser and buy some delicious Christmas treats.

 

Program: Herb Dieterich Display & Induction - Sunday, December 1st, 2 p.m. A special induction of Herb Dieterich into the Stairway of Stars. NCHS intern and Northwest student Alexandria Green researched and designed the display, and Ada Mae Wilmes, a 1950s graduate from Horace Mann High School, gave the presentation.

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Smithsonian Exhibit Closing - December 2, 1-4 p.m. Last day of the "Hometown Teams" and local sport exhibits!

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WWI Program: "Endless Conflict?" - Sunday, November 4, 2 p.m. Dr. Devlin Scofield, assistant professor of history at Northwest, gave a program on the enduring legacies of the First World War in recognition of the centennial of the war's end.

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Smithsonian Exhibit Grand Opening - Sunday, October 14, 2 p.m. "Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America" exhibit opening. Local sport exhibits also on display and accompanying programs through December 2nd: www.nwmissouri.edu/hometownteams.

 

Fall Fest Fundraiser - Saturday, October 6, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Our annual fall fundraiser lunch of chili, bean soup, and more!     

 

Program: Arts and Crafts - September 22, 2 p.m. Event featuring local weavers, woodworkers, and caners who displayed their handicrafts and demonstrated their skills.

                                        

Pie & Ice Cream Social - Saturday, July 21, 2-4 p.m. Cool off during the county fair with homemade pie & ice cream for $5. 

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Call for Objects - Wednesday, June 24, 4-8 p.m. and Sunday, July 14, 12-3 p.m.

Call for the community to bring out their local sport photos, objects, and stories to help us create locally-focused exhibits for the Smithsonian "Hometown Teams" travelling exhibit.

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Annual Meeting & Banquet - Monday, June 25, 6:00 p.m. Annual meeting and banquet featuring Stairway of the Stars new honoree Dr. Bob Bohlken. Tickets $15 in advance.

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Historic Sites Open House - Sunday, June 10, 10 a.m. The Caleb Burns House and One-Room Schoolhouse were open to the public with special interpreters at each location.

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Talk: Trains & Railroads in Nodaway County - Saturday, April 8, 2 p.m. Dr. Jon Rickman, retired from Northwest Missouri State University, regaled the audience with stories about the county's long railroading past.

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St. Patrick's Day Irish Luncheon - Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A traditional Irish meal with lamb shepherd's pie, soda bread, and bread pudding with lemon whiskey sauce. $10 at the door.

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Christmas Coffee Shop & Bake Sale - Saturday, December 9, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In addition to our annual Christmas coffee shop and bake sale, five local artists and crafters joined us to sell their wares.

 

Oral History Training - Sunday, December 10, 2:00 p.m.  NWMSU student Megan Fickler presented on oral history techniques and provided insights into her oral history interviews with Nodaway County Vietnam and Korean War veterans, a project funded by the Missouri Humanities Council.

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Talk: Radio in the 1930s & 40s - Sunday, November 19, 2:00 p.m. Retired NWMSU communication professor Dr. Bob Bohlken discussed radio in the 1930s & 40s.

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Fall Fest - Saturday, October 7, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Fall Fest Fundraiser Luncheon (soup and pulled pork sliders), $10 per person.

 

Joint Program: Orphan Train - Sunday, September 24, 2:00 p.m. Joint program presented with the Holt County Historical Society (at the Maitland Methodist Church).

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Talk: Native American Culture - Sunday, September 10, 2:00 p.m. Marla Burnsides is a part of the Ioway tribe, which was a group that come through Nodaway County.  Burnsides discussed that history and shared stories of her grandmother and time on the reservation near White Cloud, Kansas.  

 

Program: Old Arts and Crafters - Saturday, September 16, 2:00 p.m. Local weavers, quilters, caners, tatters, and more joined us to share their crafts with visitors.

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MHC Talk: Traveling the Jefferson Highway - Sunday, August 6, 2:00 p.m. Missouri Humanities Council Speaker Michele Hanford joined us to discuss the storied past of the Jefferson Highway. For more information on this road, click here.

 

Talk: Downtown Maryville - A presentation by Tom Carneal on downtown Maryville from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries.

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Talk: Motion Pictures in Maryville - Saturday, July 15, 2:00 p.m. A presentation by Sandy Messner and Jim Cook about historic theaters in town.

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Garden to Table Fundraiser Meal - Friday, July 21, 5-7:00 p.m. A fundraiser meal of fried chicken & garden fresh vegetables. $10 per person at the door.

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Annual Meeting & Banquet - Monday, June 26, 6:00 p.m. Annual meeting and banquet featuring Stairway of the Stars new honoree Opal Eckert. For more information, click here.

 

Family Research Program - Saturday, May 20, 2:00 p.m. Dr. George Gille told the crowd how to do online genealogy searches. For more information, click here.

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Music Program - Sunday, April 30, 2 pm. Local resident Tony Brown and guests Jesse Graber and Steve Goeke from Kansas City entertained the crowd with traditional folk music and helped the museum raise money! For more information, click here.

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WWI Centennial Program - Sunday, April 2nd, 2pm. Featured speakers include retired Northwest faculty Bob Bohlken, Tom Carneal, and Harmon Mothershead. For more information, click here.

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Grand Opening: Military History Exhibit - Wednesday, December 7th, 6-8pm. The unveiling of the new permanent installation on military history, designed by Northwest students in Dr. Elyssa Ford's "Local History Practicum" class. The exhibits include objects, labels, interactive components, and websites. For more information, click here.

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Christmas Bake Sale and Coffee Shop - Saturday, December 3rd, 9am-3pm. Join us and enjoy some delicious baked goods and warm coffee, all while supporting the Historical Society!

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Talk: Something's Spooky in Northwest Missouri - Friday, October 21st, 7pm. Get ready for Halloween with a spooky night at the museum!  Join local author and ghostly expert Jason Offutt for a night about the different, supposedly haunted, houses in the area. For more information, click here.

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Harvest Soup Luncheon and Fundraiser - Annual fall fundraiser. Bean soup, chili, cornbread, pie, and beverages will be served, and takeout is available.

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Talk: Outlying Towns - Tom Carneal discussed some of the outlying communities in Nodaway County.

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Archaeology Month Program - We had archaeological artifacts on display, and people brought in their own unidentified artifacts for collectors to take a look at them.

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Talk: The Plattsburg Land Office - Elizabeth Huerta presented "The Case of McLaughlin and H.F. Felix and the Illegal Activities of the Plattsburg Land Office."

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Talk: Maryville Houses: Changes in Architecture - Tom Carneal gave a tour of Maryville that included unique details and styles of architecture from around the world are are all visible around town.

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Talk: The Panama Canal Transition - Joe Cornelison, who led the transition process, discussed the transition of the Panama Canal from U.S. to Panamanian ownership. 

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Annual Banquet - Monday, June 27th, 6pm. We celebrated our museum and membership at the annual banquet and inducted our new Stairway of the Stairs member. The honoree this year was Uel Lamkin, a former president of Northwest. Tickets required.

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Talk: Cowboys - Harmon Mothershead spoke about cowboy culture, trail drives, loneliness and the skills needed to be a cowboy. Jeff Bradley also entertained with cowboy songs.

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Talk: Archaeology - Life in an Earth Lodge - Fred Scott talked about Native American life on the Plains, with a special focus on the earth lodge. Amelia Leuschen, an intern from Northwest, also shared some of the recent archaeological acquisitions from the the museum.