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Civil War era was not kind to Missouri's courthouses

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McDonald County, Missouri Courthouse

JOPLIN, Mo. — As we turn our calendars to a new year, you’ll find that many historical anniversaries are set to take place in 2023. In Missouri, several of those anniversaries are associated with county courthouses. However, not every anniversary is a celebratory one. For example, 2023 marks the 160th anniversary of the arson fire that destroyed the Vernon County Courthouse (including the entire town of Nevada).

The damage to Missouri courthouses has a tremendous bearing on families in each and every way. Not only are these historic buildings ripped from each of our lifetimes, but also the archives they kept: Marriage, wills, probate, land records, as well as others. Once destroyed, these paper artifacts are permanently lost.

When you look at the dates, most Missouri courthouses that were lost to fire, took place from 1881 to 1885, and it’s not just a coincidence. This was the time of the US Civil War, and when you have a slave state (Missouri) next to a free state (Kansas), small skirmishes and battles were quick to break out in nearly every county in the “Show-Me State.”

Thanks to the historical records website, “Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness” (RAOGK), the dates and information surrounding these courthouse fires have been archived for future generations to access and learn about. The following list from RAOGK reveals which Missouri courthouses went up in flames during the Civil War period of April 1861 to April 1865:

List of Missouri Counties with Burned Courthouses (1861-1865)

  • Barry County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in 1861, some records destroyed.
  • Bates County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in 1861, some records destroyed.
  • Barton County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in November 1862.
  • Chariton County Courthouse – A fire in the clerk’s office, apart from the courthouse, destroyed all county court records on November 11th, 1861, and fires set by Confederates on September 20th, 1864 destroyed the courthouse.
  • Christian County Courthouse – Arsonists destroyed the building and all court records in 1865.
  • Dade County Courthouse – The courthouse was destroyed during the Civil War on October 6th, 1863. Some records were destroyed.
  • Dallas County Courthouse – Confederate troops burned the building on October 18th, 1863.
  • Dent County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in 1864. The next courthouse, built in 1864, also fell victim to fire in May 1866. The fire destroyed county records.
  • Greene County Courthouse – A fire destroyed the courthouse on October 28th, 1861.
  • Holt County Courthouse – Courthouse fire in February 1965. Records saved.
  • Howell County Courthouse – In the fall of 1863, guerrillas burned West Plains and the Courthouse. Most records were destroyed. The county reorganized in 1866.
  • Jasper County Courthouse – Courthouse was destroyed by fire in October 1863. County records were saved by moving them to Neosho, Missouri.
  • McDonald County Courthouse – In 1856 a log courthouse, reportedly built in Rutledge, was demolished by Rioters. Bushwackers burned the courthouse in 1863, destroying most records. Deeds before 1863 were recreated.
  • Newton County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in 1862, destroying many county records.

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  • Oregon County Courthouse – In October 1863 this courthouse was burned in a Civil War incident, destroying many county records.
  • Ozark County Courthouse – Courthouse destroyed by fire in 1858 or 1859, all early records were destroyed. Second courthouse destroyed by fire sometime before February 1864. Some records were lost. Third courthouse destroyed by fire November 28th, 1934.
  • Reynolds County Courthouse – The courthouse has burned twice. The first time was in December, 1863, when the Confederate army burned it. A new courthouse was built in the fall of 1867 on the same foundation as the prior one. This courthouse was burned in late November, 1871. Both times all records were destroyed. Temporary quarters again burned May 27th, 1872, while a new “fireproof” courthouse was being built.
  • Saline County Courthouse – In August 1864 the courthouse burned as a result of Civil War activity.
  • Stoddard County Courthouse – During Price’s raid in September 1864, the courthouse was burned by some stragglers, but fortunately the records had been removed.
  • Shannon County Courthouse – Courthouse was burned by soldiers in 1863 destroying this early courthouse along with all county records.
  • St. Clair County Courthouse – The courthouse apparently was burned in September 1861 by Gen. James Lane. One account claims that Lane’s raid only partially destroyed the courthouse; by some accounts it was rebuilt and used until November 1864, when it was again burned in Civil War activity. Probate Court records were destroyed.
  • Taney County Courthouse – The courthouse was burned in 1863 by Union troops trying to keep the fortress out of the hands of Confederates.
  • Vernon County Courthouse – Both the courthouse and clerk’s office were destroyed when the town was burned in 1863. County Court records are missing from 1861-1865.
  • Webster County Courthouse – Courthouse was accidentally burned by troops in 1863.
  • Wright County Courthouse – Courthouse was partially destroyed in 1862 and then reportedly burned on January 11th, 1863.

New Joplin school officially opens

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin’s newest school officially opened today, combining West Central and Columbia Elementaries.

The first day of the spring semester is a big deal on North Main Street.

“I really like it,” said Brynn Walters, Joplin Student.

The new gymnasium and playground and cafeteria make up the brand-new Dover Hill Elementary School.

“I like the lights, designs and I like the library, how big it is,” said Paiten Vincent, Joplin Student.

Everything is new on campus and even figuring out where to go for lunch and make it back to class is a challenge.

“In fact, I talked to my fifth-grade teachers this morning and they said their kids were just almost in Shell Shock this morning. Just coming in the size of the rooms and just the how beautiful the campus looks,” said Bret Ingle, Dover Hill Principal.

The footprint is much bigger, more than 70,000 square feet, which means more elbow room for everything from the cafeteria to classrooms.

“We’re going from trailers at one campus to humongous music rooms and art rooms and having a gym that’s available to us at Columbia. We haven’t had a gym available for the last few years,” said Ingle.

There are now options for collaborative learning, including two spaces called “Learning Parks” where classes can combine.

“So we have a couple of spots where if a couple of teachers want to combine their classes to come out, they can work together. We also have collaborative spaces in the backs of each pod of grades,” said Ingle

School history is also front and center, both in a mural in the media center, and a timeline in the cafeteria hallway.

“It’s kind of a map in the background. It shows shots from West Central to Columbia to Dover Hill and it just shows the timeline of both buildings and how they were built and renovated. And then the timeline for construction,” said Ingle.

All leading to the newest nest for these Joplin Eagles.

Jasper County to open new Courts building

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JOPLIN, Mo. — More than two years of construction is officially wrapping up as Jasper County gets ready to launch its new courts building.

Officials will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday for the project at 7th and Pearl.

The public ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., followed by an open house through noon.

The new building houses court operations, along with the Joplin office of several county officials.

Construction began in December 2020, following voter approval of the project in 2019.

Survey asks citizens to rate Joplin services

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Citizens now have a chance to provide their input about city services in an online survey.

It’s all a part of a Benchmark and Level of Service Study currently underway.

The survey is being conducted by city officials through MATRIX Consulting to assess the current level of services provided by the city staff, given the available resources.

“This study will provide an assessment of our current services, staffing levels, and other resources to establish appropriate benchmarks,” said Nick Edward City Manager. “It will help evaluate the level of services provided, including the efficiency and effectiveness of those services in order for the city to provide the highest quality of services to citizens and visitors.”

Joplin residents get the opportunity to provide meaningful feedback on municipal services through this online survey. It will also compare the benchmarks to other comparable and high-growth Missouri and Midwestern cities, as well as national standards.

“The city desires effective, efficient, quality services to attract and retain people and businesses to our community, and this study will help identify our current status in reaching this goal,” said Edwards.

If you’re on a desktop computer, you can take the survey here.

If you’re on mobile (smartphones, tablets, etc), you can scan the QR code below.

Scan this QR Code to take the survey

The survey is open from January 3rd until January 20th, 2023.

If you would rather complete a printed survey, all you have to do is visit the Joplin Public Library at 1901, East 20th Street in Joplin.

The results of the survey will be reviewed by city staff and presented to city council as a tool for planning resources as the city addresses future projects and action plans developed following the city’s listening tour. For questions or assistance in completing the survey, please contact city administration at 417-624-0820, ext. 1200.

2023 Jasper County budget

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CARTHAGE, Mo. — Federal funds are boosting the bottom line in Jasper County. Specifically “American Rescue Plan Act” or ARPA funds pay for everything from the new drug treatment program at the county jail to general operating expenses.

“It’s just a base 10 million that we were able to keep from the American rescue plan, Act funding and that will go to sustain you know, long-term operations and whatever capital projects we have,” said Sarah Hoover, Jasper Co. Auditor.

Costs are also going up for court operations, as the county gets ready to launch its new courts building in Joplin.

“Too early to say that it is too early to say exactly. What we do know is of course, that our insurance has gone up. The cleaning costs have gone up. There’s really a lot. It is quite a bit bigger than our old building, I think three times the size actually. And so of course those things are gonna go up,” said Hoover.

And the Jasper County budget has grown to cover the cost of utility bills and gasoline, trying to keep pace with inflation.

“We do know it is a lot higher than 2022. We have, you know, our road patrol. And it’s out there using a lot of gas and so we did see a big increase there,” said Hoover.

Some county tax revenue is up.

“The latest calculations look like sales taxes are up about 4%,” said Hoover.

But they aren’t planning on any big increases in 2023.

And finally, county employees will also benefit from the new budget.

It factors in a three percent cost of living increase, as well as four months of premium pay.

That means extra pay ranging from $500 to $4,000 depending on years of service and whether they’re full-time or part-time.

Local nonprofits benefit from Sparklight grants

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Sparklight and the Cable One family of brands awarded more than $110,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in need this holiday season across its 24-state footprint through the company’s Charitable Giving Fund.

The Charitable Giving Fund, which annually awards nearly $250,000 in grants to local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations served by Sparklight and the Cable One brands, concentrates support in the following priority areas:

  • Education and Digital Literacy
  • Food Insecurity
  • Community Development

Twenty-eight nonprofit organizations received grants during this award period, including Texarkana College Foodbank in Texarkana, TX and Citizens About Progress in Springhill, LA.

Food insecurity was already rampant among college students before the pandemic. Nearly 1/3 (29%) of college students have missed a meal at least once a week since the pandemic. The Texarkana College Foodbank is committed to using its $5,000 grant to help fight hunger on campus and reduce holiday stress as college students navigate inflated living expenses and economic shifts, allowing them to focus on successfully completing the fall semester.

“We are so thankful to Sparklight, and their readiness to step up to help us meet this need for our students. This grant will allow us to ensure that students have consistent access to food and enable them to focus on their education without added stress,” said Phillip Parrish, Foodbank Coordinator.

Citizens About Progress (CAP) trains future leaders of the Springhill, Louisiana community through education, enrichment, public service volunteering and mentoring to improve their quality of life. The $5,000 Charitable Giving Fund grant will be used to help fund its afterschool program.

“Citizens About Progress (CAP) is forever grateful for this grant. As with many small nonprofit organizations, funding is always a challenge to keep programs operating at no cost to those in need. Citizens About Progress was at the end of a funding cycle when we got word that our application was approved. This very timely grant funding allows us to continue providing high-quality programming for youth in elementary grades in Springhill. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” said CAP President, Terrell Mendenhall.

Nonprofit organizations have the opportunity to apply for a grant during open application periods each spring and fall. Applications for spring 2023 grants will open between April 1-30, 2023.

You can find more information about the Charitable Giving Fund, HERE.

Joplin Public Library usage statistics

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JOPLIN, Mo. — With the start of a new year, the “Joplin Public Library” is gathering usage data of their materials from the previous year.

There were more than 175,000 visitors to the facility in the last year.

The total number of items that were checked out, in one form or another, exceeded 400,000.

More than 3,700 new library cards were issued.

More than 41,000 wifi sessions were logged.

Other services provided at the building in 2022 include more than 900 meals served to area children, 124 vaccines given out, and 147 blood donors.

"Joplin Reads Together" book club

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JOPLIN, Mo. — If you haven’t been to a book club yourself, you probably know people who have been.

Getting the entire Joplin community into that habit is the goal behind an initiative called “Joplin Reads Together.”

Sarah Turner-Hill, the adult programming coordinator with the Joplin Public Library, says it works by having as many people read a predetermined book as possible and then holding a huge book club-like event afterward.

“So we’ll announce our book selection January 31st and then in April is when the actual “Joplin Reads Together” will take place, we’ll have programs throughout the month, including like, book discussions and things like that,” said Sarah Turner-Hill, Library Adult Programming Coordinator.

Of course, we’ll let you know what book will be the subject of the activities.

Turner-Hill says community reads might be new to this area but they have taken place in many other cities across the country.

Getting in shape: a common resolution

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JOPLIN, Mo. — One of the most common new year’s resolutions is getting in shape.

As a result, most fitness facilities have an increase in memberships this time of year.

But how many of those new customers are likely to stay with that resolution?

Jason Ansley, with Midwestern Built Crossfit, says a high percentage of new members stick it out for the long term.

“We have coaches that help you, our members kind of help take care of you and things like that so it’s just a higher level of accountability so we do see a higher percent follow through,” said Jason Ansley, Co-Owner, Midwestern Built Crossfit.

According to a website called sundried.com, 95 percent of new year’s resolutions are fitness related.

First-Day Hike 2023 at Wildcat Glades

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Around a dozen people got up this morning to kick off the new year with a hike.

It’s something “Wildcat Glades” in Joplin hosts every New Year’s Day.

According to the “American Hiking Society,” first-day hikes are a nationwide event, encouraging communities to get outside.

Last year in the United States, nearly 55,000 people started the year off with a hike.

Today at “Wildcat Glades,” hikers got a chance to learn about what birds stick around for in the winter months.

They also got a sneak peek at where to find the first flowers and greenery that will pop up this spring.

Each hiker was equipped with a mesh bag to pick up any trash they found along the two-mile journey.

“I think if people can come out and realize how special it is, um, and just enjoy the trails that we have. There’s not a lot of places you can go that you have, um, these nice trails, and water and trees and all of these different habitats just right, basically outside of town so, it’s really nice for people to come out and enjoy it and see, um, the hard work that the City of Joplin and that Wildcat Glades and that all of our partners put into this area,” said Maddie Jackson, Naturalist, Wildcat Glades.

“It was great! It was fun, it was refreshing. I like to walk a couple of miles every day anyway, so this is a great start to the New Year,” said Cathy Stwalley, Hiker.

Over the last year, volunteers and staff of “Wildcat Glades” picked up over three tons of trash from the area.

The non-profit group has many upcoming events already on the calendar.

You can find a full list of events on Wildcat Glade’s Facebook page, here.