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Newspapers
Haunting of an Ex-Moonshiner, Part 1
In 1959, Gerald H. Pipes interviewed Newt and Alice Bruffett. This extensive news article has been divided into two parts. Part 1covers Newt and Alice's scary encounters with haunted houses.
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Ghosts in the House
A chilling tale of a haunting in the Cassville, Mo. area and what a witch doctor recommended.More...
Dr. William K. Hall
Dr. William K. Hall has been indexing the Springfield newspapers for many years. The result is an invaluable tool for genealogists and researchers.
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The Old City Cemetery
The Springfield Old City Cemetery near Campbell and State Streets was relocated in the 1800's...or was it?
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Charivari
Charivari or Shivaree were a loud and noisy way to welcome young newlyweds to their home. Enough noise was generated to have laws restricting "chivarees" in the Springfield city limits.
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Old Central High School
The old Central High School building at Jefferson and Olive streets was razed in 1910 to make way for the Frisco office building.
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Early Description of Springfield, Mo.
An unflattering account of Springfield, Mo. in 1835 and how the locals got even with greenhorns.
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The Ray House
One of the most prominent attractions at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is the Ray House, a silent witness to the bloody battle there on August 10, 1861.
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Ghosts on the trolley
Ghosts on the trolley lines in 1892. What started as an editorial against tellers of ghosts stories seems to have sold papers because two more grisly tales followed soon after.
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Family Pets in 1901
The importance of family pets in the early 1900’s is illustrated in an obituary of the Dameron family’s pet horse.
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Gospel for Bloomer Girls
Alternative religious services for bicyclists proposed in St. Louis’ Forest Park area in 1897.
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Workin' on the railroad
A newspaper article about the Hall family of the Frisco Railroad could inspire you to search for your family members.
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Walking…the thing to do since 1862
The healthful benefits of exercise is nothing new as seen in this newspaper article titled “Walking” from The Morning Herald, St. Joseph, Missouri, July 4, 1862, page 1More...
UFO’s in the 1800’s
Were they balloons, experimental zeppelins, political forums, newspaper hoaxes or people from Mars?
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Shipping Parcel Post in 1918
In the good old days you could ship anything, any size, by parcel post from chickens to children. Fortunately, shipping children didn't catch on. The Springfield Republican reports one of the early deliveries by the new motor trucks in 1918.
Flax
Cotton was scarce in Missouri during the Civil War. This newspaper article offers an alternative to cotton
for the Missouri farmer. More...
Don't Do It Girls
An 1860 era etiquette lesson from a Virginia newspaper reminding girls and ladies who should and, more importantly, who should not be the recipients of their photographic likenesses.
More...The ice storm of 1924 and the big sleet of 1848.
The ice storms of 1924 and 1848 are reminiscent of the 2007 and 2009 ice storms. Newspaper microfilm, available at the Library Center, and The History of Greene County Missouri, available online, give insight to how our ancestors dealt with severe weather.
A Texas County Missouri Love Story
Springfield Missouri Leader , November 24, 1925, page 1.Names of Towns in Texas County Suggest Romance. An enterprising newspaper reporter used many of the unusual town names in Texas County to create a rather odd romance. More...
Air Fare Costs in 1930
Springfield Municipal airport manager announces reduced air fare prices in this article from the Springfield, Missouri Press.
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Abbreviations in Genealogical Research
You may find unfamiliar abbreviations while doing genealogical research, particularly in newspaper articles. In this article we list some of the most common along with links to lists of other abbreviations.
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Newspapers,
Regional,
The Ice Crop
"Farming" in the dead of winter could bring a nice profit in the summer months of 1888 according to an article from the Springfield, Mo. Herald. More...