History Blog 

Carrie Griffen poses in front of the pipes of an historic organ recently removed from the Second Baptist Church in Bowling Green. Plans call for the reassembling of the organ in the Hannibal Music Academy Performance Hall in Hannibal. Contributed photo MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Carrie Griffen’s transformation of the century-old Methodist Church building at 901 Broadway into the Hannibal Music Academy Performance Hall has taken yet another step forward. Since her work began on the e

Danny Joe McMurphy can be seen smiling at the camera on Sunday morning, Dec. 11, 1949, in front of his parents’ eating establishment, “7th Street Cafe” in Hannibal. The day this photo was taken was an historic one in Hannibal. Shortly after noon, a tornado ripped through town, from west to east, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Photo contributed by Danny Joe McMurphy, Sullivan, Mo. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Edward Payne and Ruby E. McMurphy, who garnered culinary arts ex

This early 20th century photo shows the DeGaris Flats, at left, and the Hornback building, at right, 500 block of Broadway, Hannibal, Mo. Hannibal Arts Council photo; Steve Chou collection. “Rowdie,” one of the resident fire horses stationed at the West Side Engine House, 192 Market, along with the firefighters* assigned to the station, responded to a call at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 1909. The fire alarm came from the the DeGaris Flats, located in the 500 block of Broadway

A story-and-a-half stone house, with basement, is identified as once being situated 327 Cypress Street. It was photographed during 1965-66, prior to the demolition of this and neighboring dwellings in preparation for the construction of Missouri 79. This photo is from Steve Chou’s collection. Beginning as early as 1877, this house is believed to have been occupied by the John and Margaret Boyle family. In 1957-59, Grace Grandstaff lived at this address. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY A

Billy Dexheimer, left, portraying Tom Sawyer, and Sara Lipp, as Becky Thatcher, circa 1997. They were married in 2002. Dexheimer family photo. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY In a time-honored tradition unique to Hannibal, five boys and five girls - each completing seventh grade - take the stage in Central Park at the hottest moment of the Fourth of July, in anticipation of the announcement of who will serve as Hannibal’s official Tom and Becky for the ensuing year. The naming of the “o

Steve Chou took a photo of this house at 524 Union St., Hannibal, in 2005, prior to its demolition. Calculations show that this is the house where Jake Beckley, baseball great of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, grew up. His mother and sister lived in this house until their respective deaths, in 1928 and 1929. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY On March 3, 1896, Chris Walker, letter carrier for the Post Office, and his wife, Frances Dunn Walker, opened up their home - the third dwel

The Southside Christian Church is featured in this undated photo, which is part of Steve Chou’s vast collection. To the right of the church is the parsonage. This parsonage was previously the Joseph Peyton residence; the house was moved in order to make room for the church construction. Elder Elba Martin (1913-1996) and his family lived in the parsonage from 1951 until 1965, and his daughter, Ruth Martin Ellison, retains fond memories of growing up in this historic dwelling.

This photo of Teddy (Ruth Martin’s dog) shows off the vast woodwork inside of what formerly served as parsonage for the South Side Christian Church. The house originally served as homestead to the Joseph Peyton family. Photo contributed by Ruth Martin Ellison. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY Ruth Martin Ellison of Hannibal grew up in the historic Peyton homestead, when it was a parsonage for the South Side Christian Church. She was 4 when her family moved to Hannibal. In 1951 her father,

#31 Ed Billingsley's house on the river bluff. Identified by Donna Loy Brown. #20 #6 #7 #5 Louis L. Michael's house, 410 Cypress Street #2 #4 Guy W. Givan's house, 332 Cypress Street #3 at left, is the Walter H. Gregory house, 328 Cypress street; house to the right was the Marguerite F. Perkins house, 330 Cypress. #1

Kristy Trevathan, along with volunteers from the “Clean Green Hannibal Team,” added 56 native plants to the landscape around the Tom and Huck Statue this week. The native plants are well suited to the rocky, hillside environment. Contributed photo. MARY LOU MONTGOMERY As of Tuesday, a total of 56 native plants, in 13 different varieties, grace the landscape of the time-honored Tom and Huck Statue, located at the north end of Hannibal’s Main Street. The perennials, obtained f