USA > Missouri > Lafayette County > Alma > History Of Alma Missouri > Part 3
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Music was included in the course of studies for the first time in 1935 when Garland Scott directed the chorus and Professor Willer was engaged to develop and direct an orchestra.
One of the most worthwhile activities of Alma High School has been the mimeographed publication of the "Beacon," which has grown to an eight-page paper with more than one hundred forty subscribers. The first issue of this paper was produced on October 23, 1929; Alice Bail- ey, Claude R. Short, and members of the student body took active parts in editing the paper that year. The original issue consisted of only four pages, but was published with six pages the following year; it was increased to eight pages in 1932. Since its beginning the "Beacon" has been issued twice each month during the school year with the exception of 1931-1932 when it was abandoned. The enterprise was renewed in 1932 and has since been edited by the public speaking class under the direction of Alice Bailey. Editors of the "Beacon" since its origin have been Irene Fette, Emma Fuchs, Werner Krause, Lydia Fuchs, Nola Wendt, and Aurelius Krause.
The graduating class in 1933 set a precedent which has been followed by subsequent classes. That year the class left the school an electric bell system and pictures for the English room. In 1934 the class purchased an electric clock for the study hall and planted shrubbery in front of
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the building. The gift of the class in 1935 was a trophy cabinet, and that of the class of 1936, three pieces of stage furniture. All of these gifts are very useful and highly appreciated by the pupils who follow.
One of the commendable qualities of the Alma board of education has been its policy of keeping the school plant well equipped and repaired. In 1933 a well seventy feet deep and five feet in diameter was dug on the school ground; it provides plenty of pure water. The next year the interior of the building was redecorated with the aid of CWA labor. Also a new roof was placed on the building, and a complete job of rewiring was done to eliminate fire hazards and lower the insurance rates. In 1935 window strips were put on and caulking was provided for the door and window casings. Recent improvements have also been made to the heating plant and plumbing system. During these years, the laboratory, and especially the library, have been developed by additions. The latter now contains over one thousand volumes of usuable reference and supplemen- tary books; a very practical supplement to the library has been the provision for a dozen of more of good magazines each year. In 1934 visual education service was made pos- sible for the high school through the purchase of an Edison projector and steropticon.
The present members of the Alma board of education are as follows: Henry Pragman, president; Alvin Zumbehl, vice-president; J. E. Fette, secretary ; T. C. Marshall, treas- urer; George Dieckhoff, John Schmidt, and Otto Meyer, members.
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CHAPTER VI The Railroad and Highways
In 1878 the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroad was completed across Lafayette County from east to west. The issuing of municipal bonds at that time to aid the develop- ment of railroads was prohibited by a provision in the Mis- souri Constitution of 1875. However, donations, subscrip- tions, and rights-of-way were given in aid of the line. The completion of this railroad marked the beginning of rapid development in Alma.
The first trains ran over the new road at about twenty- five miles per hour. Apparently, the road bed was not well settled at first in some places because the passenger coaches were said to have been very rough in which to ride. One account written in 1883 mentions that the heavy rains that spring had made riding on the railroad unsafe.
The Alma depot was built soon after the railroad was completed. Among the first depot agents were C. W. Cul- ver, and later, a man by the name of King. Early in the nineties T. C. Marshall was agent. He was followed by J. B. Schroll, who in turn was succeeded by "Mike" Anderson. Then Hugo Kleeschulte took charge of the depot.
One of the first foremen of the local section group was William Kline. After 1895 he was replaced by August Buck. Then Mr. Buck was succeeded by a man named Blackburn, who gave way three or four years later to Henry Tagtmeyer. The latter was followed by James Williams, the present foreman.
At first the passenger and freight rates on the local railroad were rather high. However, very satisfactory ser- vice was given. The following time table is copied from the "Alma Courier," August 11, 1894.
C. & A. RAILROAD Time Table East Bound
No. 47, Mail Train 10:13 A. M.
No. 49, St. Louis Ex. 10:22 P. M.
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No. 51, Chicago Ex. 8:19 P. M.
No. 101, Local Frt. 1:30 P. M.
West Bound
No. 48, Mail Train 5:20 P. M.
No. 50, K. C. Lmtd. 5:06 A. M.
No. 52, K. C. Ex.
6:58 A. M.
No. 102, Local Frt. 8:55 A. M.
Nos. 49 and 50 do not stop.
Nos. 51 and 52 stop on signal.
Nos. 101 and 102 are daily, except Sunday.
T. C. MARSHALL,
Ticket Agent.
In 1909 the county was the scene of much preliminary work in the construction of an electric trolly system which was to be built from St. Louis to Kansas City. The road as surveyed would pass through Alma. Considerable capital had been raised and rights-of-way obtained before the pro- ject was suddenly abandoned.
Several wrecks have occurred on the railroad near Alma. About 1900 there was a freight train wrecked in which several sheep were injured or killed. In 1906 a pass- enger train was wrecked at the crossing less than a mile west of town; some men were injured, but there were no fatal injuries. In 1917 several oil tank cars were badly damaged in a wreck two miles west of Alma; the next year several carloads of meat were derailed near town, at which time several nice hams and pieces of bacon mysteriously disappeared. Then in 1931 a freight wreck occurred in which fruit cars were badly damaged. This was an induce- ment for several of the sight-seers to sample the oranges. Two years later ten cars were derailed a mile west of town. This was followed on February 19, 1936 when ten cars were derailed near the east boundary of the city. At this time the track was considerably damaged.
Few records have been kept concerning the roads in the vicinity of Alma. An account written soon after the town was organized states that it was almost impossible to travel
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over the roads during the rainy seasons. One writer des- cribes them as being narrow, rough, and very uncomfort- able over which to ride.
For several years a special road district has been main- tained known as the Alma-Corder Special Road District. A small rate is levied each year on the taxable property in the district to take care of the roads and bridges. John Schu- ett, Sr., has served as one of the road commissioners since 1922; John Summers served nine years, beginning in 1927. He was replaced by Ed. Nienhauser. Mr. Schuett and Mr. Nienhauser are the present commissioners.
Two changes in the roads made a few years ago were the construction of the one less than one-half mile south of town and the road to Waverly which was formerly traveled by turning east at teh Three Groves church, then north.
State highway No. 23, from Higginsville to Marshall, was constructed in 1933. About two years later No. 20 was completed from Concordia to Waverly, with the exception of an underpass under the C. and A. railroad. The contract was let for this construction in 1936. Both these highways are hard-surfaced with gravel, the latter one being graveled with rock material from a quarry five miles north of Alma. Clint Salyer is the present local highway custodian.
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CHAPTER VII Business Firms and Enterprises
The first store in the vicinity of Alma was owned and operated by a man named Dickey whose establishment was located about two miles east and north of what is now Alma on the exact site of the present home of Henry Fiene. A blacksmith shop was located across the road near the old Maplewood church during the time of the Dickey store. The store burned in 1879. Then after the railroad was complet- ed, homes and stores began to appear in Alma.
The first store in Alma stood in the present location of the first house east of the high school. It was owned and operated by C. Steffens. One preserved account (June 8, 1883) states that this worthy merchant was buying shoes on that particuar day, and that he would have a full and complete line in a day or so.
John W. Lewis and R. W. Neil built the first store on what is now the main street of Alma. It was located at the present site of F. W. McClure's store and was a general mer- chandise and implement firm. After a few years Lewis and Neil sold out, and Dr. Thomas H. Field established his drug store there. A few years later Dr. J. T. Morgan practiced medicine and conducted this store. He kept on hand a large supply of the celebrated "lemon pills," and he also was avail- able when people needed teeth extracted.
Recorded accounts of 1883 reveal that G. W. Culver was learning telegraphy at the Alma depot; Frank Schultz and Company had on hand several fancy side saddles for the ladies, and R. W. Neal was well supplied with a full line of farming implements. That was a great year for grain crops. J. T. Goodwin sold fourteen Deering binders and Lewis- Peters & Company sold thirteen McCormicks. It was also reported that the blacksmiths were doing a lively business in the way of repairing machines for the bountiful harvest.
One account of 1883 reads as follows: "If any of the little girls want their dollies mended, call on our young doc- tor as he likes to accomodate the little ones." This young
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doctor was J. W. Horner, who many now remember as the friend of children. He practiced medicine in Alma fifty-one years.
In 1894 Alma boasted of a bank, hotel, school, saloon, elevator, railroad, creamery, physician, restaurant, drug store, barber shop, butcher shop, livery stable, lumber yard, blacksmith shop, church, well driller, brick and tile factory, harness and saddle shop, newspaper, one hardware and fur- niture store, two hardware and implement stores, and two stock buyers. E. Kleeschulte was a contractor and builder, F. E. Morefield advertised his ability as a mason, J. E. Hill operated the saloon, M. W. Summers sold coal for seven cents per bushel, W. O. Kueck dealt in stock, grain and poultry, Lohoefener and Weisbrodt had general merchandise, L. Scholle was the butcher, G. Nieman had the brick and tile factory, L. E. Johnson was the tonsorial artist, and J. T. Goodwin advertised hardware, implements and lumber. Hor- ner and Albin were proprietors of the drug store, and W. W. Corder offered first class accomodations at the City Hotel with a livery and transfer in connection.
The business directory of 1910 shows the Alma Bank, Alma Hardware and Implement Company, Horner and Kess- ler Drug Company, Lohoefener and Weisbrodt, General Mer- chandise, P. A. Furcht, Grocer, and Hartman Bros. Lumber Company. Theodore Buhlig had a meat market, H. H. Horst- man and the Alma Grain Company took care of the grain. Lovercamp and Rolf bought livestock, F. A. Frerking had his harness store, J. G. Mueller and Jacob Kroencke were the blacksmiths, G. Nieman still made brick and tile, Leimbrock and Bokelman dealt in real estate and insurance, and J. G. Francis operated a livery stable. At that time there was a creamery, W. W. Corder was still proprietor of the hotel, and Charles Kurtz had charge of a restaurant. The physi- sians were Dr. J. W. Horner and Dr. J. G. W. Fischer.
F. W. Lohoefener began his mercantile business in Alma in 1883 with P. H. Koppenbrink as partner. They bought the business from C. Steffens. In 1888 Gerhard
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LOHOEFENER MERCANTILE COMPANY - OLDEST FIRM IN ALMA - after 1920
Fehner bought Mr. Koppenbrink's interest in the partner- ship, but remained with the firm only a few years when he disposed of his interest to Charles Herring! About 1890 1900 John Weisbrodt of Mt. Olive, Illinois, took over Mr. Herr- ling's equity in the company. By 1910 the firm's business had grown to such proportions that more floor space was needed. Consequently, the old frame building was displaced by a new brick structure, seventy-five by eighty feet, erect- ed at an outlay of $15,000. About this time Louis H. Roehrs joined the firm, and the, style of Lohoefener-Weisbrodt- Roehrs remained until 1920, after which R. H. Lohoefener entered the firm and it assumed its present name. Loboelever Rocky
The heritage of the drug store in Alma dates back to Dr. Field's pioneer store located where F. W. McClure now has his general merchandise business. In the course of time, the following changes of ownership took place: Dr. Field to Dr. Morgan, Dr. Morgan to Dr. J. W. Horner and Dan Jackson, to Horner and Albin, to Horner and Bremer, to J. E. Koppenbrink, to Horner and Kessler, to Horner and Fette, who sold the entire property to Dr. J. G. W. Fischer and George W. Kessler in 1912. The latter partners had already built the present home of the Alma Pharmacy to which part of the stock was removed. In 1922 G. W. Kess- ler sold his equity to the present owner, Dr. J. G. W. Fischer.
After the drug store was moved to its new location, P. A. Furcht established a grocery in the original drug store building. Some years later Furcht sold out to F. W. McClure, who now has his general merchandise store there.
The original lumber yard owned by John T. Goodwin was located where the stock pens are now. Mr. Goodwin later built where the present lumber yard is located. It has had the following owners: Hartman Bros., who built the present building, Hartman and Franke, Rogge and Hartman, Klaustermeyer and Kammeyer, and Klaustermeyer and Ger- schefske, the present owners.
About 1882 George Flambers had a blacksmith shop on the corner which is now occupied by Walter Steffen's home.
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Next to it was a wagon-maker's shop conducted by Emil Eichstadt. Later, Ella Albers, Anna Heins, and Bertha Saars had a milliner's shop in the Flambers building. For a while afterwards this building was used as a residence, then John Dierker had his implement shop there. A few years later it was occupied by Henry Schumacher, with his electrical supplies. Now, again, it is used as a residence.
In 1882 the Goodwin Livery Company was located where the Hanneman Barber Shop is now. Later Sam Hays bought the business; he was followed by Wall Corder, the next owner, and then it was transferred to Ed. Nolte, Charles Holsten, John Nowlin, and Adolph Mevius.
Gutlieb Nieman started a brick yard and tile factory in 1885. He had a flourishing business and employed eight men. This industry was discontinued about 1915. At pre- sent, Herman Liesemeyer has a blacksmith shop on this place which he built in 1929.
In 1883 John T. Goodwin had a general store on the corner now occupied by the Bremer Furniture Company. P. H. Koppenbrink owned it for a while. Later it was sold to the following owners: Deke and Henry Franke, to Oscar and Charles Kappelman, Kappelman Bros. then they took their stock of goods to Kansas and the building remained vacated for a time. Then Herman Bremer bought the build- ing and replaced it in 1923 with the present structure. Mr. Bremer formerly had his stock of furniture in part of Lo- hoefener's store. The present proprietor of the furniture store to Alfred Bremer, son of the founder of the business.
The Alma Hardware and Implement Company was founded in 1887 by H. H. Horstman. Later William Klink- erman joined Horstman as a partner, but sold his interest to P. H. Koppenbrink in 1898. Mr. Horstman retired from business in 1906; Louis Fajen and E. H. Rolf bought his equity in the firm. Formerly these two had an implement store across the street. In 1908 Mr. Fajen sold his share to H. J. Dieckhoff. This partnership lasted until March, 1930, when Mr. Koppenbrink retired from business. Mr.
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Dieckhoff then went into the implement business for him- self and moved into his present building which was built in 1916. Gust G. Rist and Walter Rist took over the hard- ware business, staying in the old building. When it was torn down they moved into their present place.
After the old hardware building was torn down, a new service station was erected on the site. It was first leased to Otto and Elmer Fischer, who established the Skelly Ser- vice Station. For a short time Walter Dieckhoff operated the station. He was followed in November, 1934 by the present manager, J. E. Fette.
The building now occupied by the Alma Cash Store was built by Ernest Kleeschulte, who conducted a restaurant there for a number of years. He sold out to Charles Lover- camp, who in turn sold the business to Theodore Buhlig and George Lovercamp. Charles Kurtz was the next proprietor of the restaurant, then it was sold to Oscar Buhlig. He was followed by John H. and Martha McGuire. Since 1933 Terry McGuire has been the proprietor of the Alma Cash Store.
In 1886 John Buck had a restaurant where the Alma Bank is now located. He then transferred his business across the street to the place now occupied by F. A. Frer- king's Harness Shop. After Mr. Buck died, Gerhard Feh- ner used the building as a residence. Years later William Fette operated a saloon there, and after a few years replac- ed it with a grocery and meat market. The building was then turned into a barber shop. Henry Kammeyer, Charles Dollarhide, and Sam Morgan were the barbers in the order named. Then Mrs. Ted Evert had a dress shop there called "The Vogue." In 1930 she changed to the restaurant busi- ness and named the place "Dew Drop Inn." F. A. Frerking became the next occupant with his harness shop.
Early in the eighties George Kurtz had a blacksmith shop located where Richard Buhlig now lives. Prior to 1895 John Heller had his shop in a building located near the present Dieckhoff Implement Store. Then John G.
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Mueller bought the business from Heller, later building a shop in its present location. Mr. Mueller has now been in the blacksmith business in Alma for forty-one years. In 1920 Jacob Kroencke built his shop east of the implement store. Then Herman Stiegemeyer bought out the business and remained until 1934. The building is now vacant.
The building now occupied by the Sam B. Kaiser Garage was built by William Everett. After Mr. Everett died, Ed Fuchs bought the property. It was then sold to Ed. A. Wendt from whom Mr. Kaiser has it rented. Besides the garage, Humphrey Jennings has his gasoline station there; it is also the headquarters for the Kramer-Wendt Trucking Service.
About 1918 Ernest Brockman, Sr., constructed the building now occupied by the Henning Garage. He sold out to O. H. Henning and Walter Kalthoff, then later, Mr. Kalt- off sold his share to Mr. Henning.
In 1913 Henry Horstman erected the building now oc- cupied by the Alma Meat Market for a plumbing and tin shop. In 1919 he built the present shop to which he moved. Then ten years later, after his illness, he sold half of his interest in the business to Walter Schmidt.
After Mr. Horstman left his first building, Walter Kalt- hoff had a garage and repair shop there. For a while then it was used as a residence. Later, Henry Schumacher had an electrical repair shop there. Then he and Fritz Doenzel- man conducted a meat market combined with a grocery. Finally, Doenzelman bought Schumacher's share, then in 1935 Ralph Henning purchased a half interest of the busi- ness.
In 1923 E. H. Rolf built where the Hanneman Barber Shop is now located. Charles Dollarhide barbered there for a while and in 1924 sold out to Ed. Hanneman. In the other part of the building H. A. Dankenbring had a poultry shop, starting in 1924. He sold out and was succeeded by the F. A. Frerking Harness Shop. In 1930 Otto and Ernest Brock- man had their feed store located there. For a while this
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ALMA FARMERS' ELEVATOR
part of the building remained vacant, then in 1936 Walter F. Steffens moved in with his pump shop.
The building now occupied by the Shell Service Station was formerly used as a warehouse for a saloon on its north side. In 1930 E. J. McGuire started the Shell Service Sta- tion. Two years later A. J. Brockhoff leased the business, and after a year or two it was transferred to the present manager, A, C. Dankenbring.
Across the street in what is now Ted's Barber Shop, Leonard Johnson began his tonsorial business in Alma. This was in the "gay nineties." He was followed by the follow- ing barbers: Kurrelmeyer, Guenther, Hunt, Sam Morgan, Alfred Buhlig, Sam Morgan, Ted Evert, and James A. G. Petering. In the building to the south, now used by the Alma Farmers' Produce Company, was the printing shop and home of Alma's only newspaper, the "Alma Courier." Apparently this was the outgrowth of the little hand-writ- ten paper edited by the school girls in 1883. The first issue of the "Alma Courier" appeared in March, 1894. It was published each Saturday and the subscription price was one dollar per year. The publishers were Goodwin and Marquis. The paper was discontinued in 1896.
Alma has two grain elevators; namely, the Bastian Elevator and the Farmers' Elevator. The former was built and operated by H. H. Horstman, and later was managed by Fred Kueck. W. D. Bastian now has charge of it. The Alma Farmers' Elevator Company, a cooperative concern, was organized in 1920 and incorporated for $30,000. In 1925 it made extensive improvements costing about $10,000. The Alma Farmers' Produce Company was a part of the corporation until 1936, when Richard Buhlig purchased this department. In 1935 the combined businesses had total sales amounting to approximately $175,000. The present officers of the elevator company are E. J. Knipmeyer, pres- ident; S. W. Fletcher, vice-president; Sam Erdman, secre- tary; and Albert Kiehl, general manager.
Early in 1934 Harry Miner began as manager of a bus-
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iness known as the Neel Quality Egg Service. His station was located in the basement of the Bremer Furniture Store warehouse. He was succeeded the following year by Fred Hughes, who, after a few months, sold out to Richard Buhlig.
An interesting industry in the Alma locality and the largest of its kind in this part of the country was the Hill- crest Poultry Farm founded by Charles Brockhoff in 1913. This farm did an extensive business in the breeding of pure bred poultry and in the hatching of eggs, having at one time a hatchery of 7200-egg capacity. Mr. Brockhoff had the reputation of being the original breeder of Chinchilla and White New Zealand rabbits. After several years, Mr. Brockhoff decided to discontinue the business.
The Alma Bank was incorporated in 1884 with a capi- tal of $25,000. D. Y. Prigmore was the first president, and Robert C. Booton its first cashier. Other men on the direc- torate were A. P. Lewis, J. W. Lewis, H. H. Uphaus, J. A. Jackson, John T. Goodwin, G. A. Frerking, J. B. Warren, and H. Clay Corder. The original bank building, now the home of the Alma Telephone Company, was built of brick at a cost of $2,000. It was twice burglarized, once on the night of December 30, 1896, when the vault doors were blown off by explosives and $1,400 taken. The burglars were never captured. The present building was erected in 1917 and cost $10,000, including fixtures. The officers of the bank are E. B. Becker, president; William Kellerman, vice-president; T. C. Marshall, cashier; Frank G. Becker, assistant cashier; and Alfred Franz, bookkeeper. Before the bank was built on its present location, there was an old building erected in 1895 which was owned by John Kirchner. His building was used as a rooming place. Later, Kirchner made it into a grocery and meat market. He sold out to Theodore Buhlig who operated it until his death.
The Alma Telephone Company was organized in June, 1904, reorganized in December, 1906, and incorporated in February, 1912. It began business with only a few lines
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W. D. BASTIAN'S ELEVATOR
and telephones, but now has a total of 294 phones. Misses Velma Fischer and Edna Steffens are the present day-op- erators while L. T. Francis takes care of the night service. Henry Schumacher is repairman. The officers of the cor- poration are William Kellerman, president; Dr. J. G. W. Fischer, vice-president; and Alvin Zumbehl, secretary- treasurer.
The present Alma Creamery was built and incorporated in 1927, after there had been two previous failures in the creamery business in Alma. The investment in the new en- terprise was $14,000. The gross receipts of the business in 1935 were above $87,000, or approximately a two per cent increase over the previous year's business. The creamery manufactured 333,488 pounds of prime butter in 1935. Present officers of the company are August Breder, presi- dent; E. W. Klaustermeyer, vice-president; R. H. Lohoe- fener, secretary ; and Conrad Rynell, manager and treasurer.
One of the most recent enterprises for Alma has been the establishment of the Alma Canning Company. The bus- iness was incorporated in 1936 with an investment of $5,000. The building was completed and ready for canning tomatoes when the season arrived. Officers of the cannery are Hugo Kleeschulte, president; William Kellerman, vice-president; and Alfred Bremer, secretary-treasurer. The manager of the new concern is Ed. Shannon.
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