August Past in Springfield, Missouri

1831	First marriage in settlement was Junius Rountree, son of Joseph Rountree and Martha Miller, daughter of Joseph Miller.
1833	Judge Charles "Hoss" Allen held first term of circuit court in this district. John D. Shannon was first sheriff.
1833	Results finally came in from the first election in Greene County which began August 5 and concluded August 8. First judges elected were Joseph Rountree, Alex Younger and D.B. Miller. Clerks were J.M. Rountree and Thomas F. Wright.
1835	John Polk Campbell and wife, Louise T., made a deed giving 50 acres for town site, including two acres for Public Square.
1854	First legal execution in Greene County was hanging of Willis Washam of Taney County for murder one month after his conviction on circumstantial evidence. Many believed Washam was innocent. This was one of two legal hangings in the entire history of Greene County.
1858	Greene County appropriated $40,000 for a new courthouse and jail at northwest corner of College Street and the Public Square.
1861	The Battle of Wilson's Creek was fought. General Nathaniel Lyon was killed and the Federal Army and sympathizers retreated to Rolla. The battle was considered a Confederate victory on the field, but it set forces in motion that won the war for the nation.
1861	Gen. Ben McCulloch and Gen. Sterling Price marched their Southern troops into Springfield about noon.
1867	First Springfield street lights were turned on--four coal oil lamps on Square, with one at each street entrance. Soon five more gleamed on Boonville Ave. from the Square to Jordan Creek.
1883	A monument to Gen. Nathaniel Lyon was dedicated on Public Square. It was moved to National Cemetery in 1885.
1900	A metal footbridge over Frisco tracks north of Commercial Street opened. It extended from Jefferson and Commercial , north to Chase. Cost was $8200.
1901	The United Confederate Veterans of Missouri and Daughters of the Confederacy erected the large monument honoring Confederate general Sterling Price in the center of Confederate Cemetery.
1922	The Springfield Public Library has announced it soon will offer patrons rolls for their player pianos. A Springfieldian who wishes to remain anonymous, gave 22 player rolls to start the new department.
1927	Springfield began operation of a municipal tourist park near the Federal Building (now Springfield City Hall). Campers were furnished water and cooking space, and during the peak of the tourist season a total of 67 automobiles were registered to say overnight at the tourist park.
1937	Last electric trolley operates
1950	A blast, believed from gas buildup, destroyed three 2-story buildings in the vicinity of Boonville and Water.
1953	A hooded Indian cobra was killed in shrubbery in 1400 block of East Olive, not far from a pet shop. This began excitement that ended after nine or ten cobras were killed, and -- on Oct. 25 -- one captured. A City Hall artist unofficially redrew snake circling shield on city seal to resemble cobra ready to strike and it was used for decals.
1954	The city was rocked by a series of explosions when a carload of 105 millimeter shells exploded in the Frisco Railroad west yards. There was a five-hour bombardment of that part of time with one person injured by shrapnel.
1960	Royal-McBee (later Royal) Typewriter Company began manufacture of portable typewriters in new building at 2401 East Sunshine. The plant closed in 1969 after bitter strike, with about 1000 employees affected.
1961	Lester E. Cox was named general chairman of the Wilson's Creek centennial observance, including a dedication at the Battlefield, Aug. 10. In two appropriations, during administrations of Governors John Dalton and Warren E. Hearnes, the Missouri General Assembly gave $701,800 for purchase of 1734 acres of battlefield.
1968	Final presentation of deeds to the U.S. government of Wilson's Creek land purchased by the state was Aug. 10, 1968. A formal establishment program, Sept. 22, 1972, followed success of U.S. Rep. Durward G. Hall and Senators Stuart Symington and Thomas Eagleton in obtaining authorization (but not appropriation) of $2,285,000 for development of the battlefield.
1970	Springfield got the state's fourth largest mall with opening of Battlefield Mall in August.
1985	Three thousand southwest Springfieldians left their homes when a faulty valve at Solid State Circuits leaked chlorine gas.
1987	Hammons Tower opens. It was built at cost of $15 million and has 22 stories with 234,800 square feet.

Page maintained by Richard Grosenbaugh - Last updated February 6, 2003