History Blog 

Dennis Reed, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Reed, of Jefferson City, formerly of Hannibal, won first-place in the fence painting contest at Hannibal on Aug. 18, 1956. The event was held in conjunction with the Mark Twain Day in Hannibal. Gov. Phil M. Donnelly proclaimed the week of Aug. 12-18, 1956, Tom Sawyer Week. Archive photo, Steve Chou collection. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY A simple fence-painting contest conducted on Saturday, Aug. 18, 1956, unwittingly served as

By MARY LOU MONTGOMERY The 1901 Hannibal City Directory, accessed via the Hannibal Free Public Library’s website, carries this illustration of “Peck’s Bad Boy” Mop Wringer. The inventor was E.J. Peck, a South Hannibal hardware merchant. It is unclear where the name “Bad Boy” came from. This is the only reference found to this name. In mid June, 1900, Edward J. Peck’s primary focus was on a device of his own invention, and its potential for adding dollars to the till of his ha

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY The officers of the Fire Department planning committee met at 7:30 p.m. June 13, 1902, for the purpose of discussing the construction of a new fire house. The meeting was held at the hardware store operated by Edward J. Peck, located at 620 Union. It was in that single-story building - long since demolished and replaced a two-story brick building still standing — that the fire committee had this, and many subsequent, meetings to plan and fundraise for a Fo

Gabriel Anthony Juarez, born in 1997, of Hannibal, was bound over to Circuit Court following a preliminary hearing on Monday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Marion County Associate Court at Hannibal. Evidence was presented before Judge Jennifer Richardson, who determined there is probable cause that a felony occurred on all counts. Juarez is charged with three felony counts: Domestic Assault, first degree, serious physical injury; Murder 1st degree; and Armed Criminal Action. The charges

Theodore Likes, photo originally from a Hannibal National Bank collection, served as a Hannibal police officer for a number of years. In 1937, he was employed as a security guard for Hannibal National Bank. He died in 1946 at the age of 74. During most of his years in Hannibal, he lived at 1121 Union St. Photo from Steve Chou’s collection. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Two men met at the intersection of Maple and Broadway in Hannibal on Aug. 1, 1915. One walked away with a $10 speeding

Carrie Griffen, with the scissors, marks the one-year anniversary of the Hannibal Music Academy and Performance Hall on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Pictured with her are students, teachers and supporters. The HMA is located at 901 Broadway. Hannibal Area Chamber of Commerce photo. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY For the Courier-Post A year ago, Hannibal native Carrie Griffen  took a leap of faith, based upon a vision. She foresaw a studio where individuals could hone their music skills, and

A group of supporters stood outside the Marion County Courthouse in Hannibal on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in order to encourage the Marion County Prosecutor, Luke Bryant, to seek the death penalty in a murder case against Gabriel Anthony Juarez. Juarez is charged in the death of Emily Traynor, 22, at the apartment they shared on North Sixth Street in October 2025. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 12, 2026, before Judge Jennifer Richardson in Associate Circuit

Gabriel Juarez Marion County Jail photo from their website. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY For the Courier-Post In mid October 2025, a  warrant was issued by the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri for the arrest of Gabriel Anthony Juarez, 28, of Hannibal, Mo. The warrant charged him with: A felony of domestic assault in the first degree; A felony of murder in the first degree; and Committed the foregoing felony of Murder in the First Degree, with and through, the knowing use, assi

Steve Chou took this photo of the long-time grocery store building on the northeast corner of Adams and Fourth, South Hannibal, circa 1995, prior to demolition. (Note: Fourth Street was renamed Sycamore circa 1912.) MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Horses were still very much a part of transport and business operation during the first decade of the 20th Century. The local newspapers carried mentions of every-day occurrences that may seem unusual today, but at the time were quite commonpla

The entrance to the historic Riverside Cemetery is now fully passable thanks to renovations made to the road in 2025. Efforts are ongoing to raise more money in order to continue the renovation and maintenance projects at the post-Civil War era cemetery. Photo by Meryle Martin Dexheimer.MARY LOU MONTGOMERY A select group of musicians with ties to Hannibal assembled at the Hannibal Arts Council on the evening of Dec. 21, 2025, for a dual purpose. First: To provide quality jazz