• Center Depot: The depot will be open Friday, June 13, 2025, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. for a Wine and Cheese tasting party.  There will be a variety of wines and cheeses to choose from.  The Farmer’s Market will be going on, too.  Donations will be accepted, with all donations going toward the maintenance of the Depot.

• Missouri Mule Museum:  Jeanie Gay shared that the Missouri Mule Museum (MMM) will be open to the public for the rest of the summer on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The museum is located at 114 East Main Street in Perry (the former Western Auto building).  The museum showcases the history of the Chipman Mules and their role in the history of our county, state, and nation. 

• Volunteers Needed:  Due to a lack of volunteers, RCHS will not have a booth at New London Park Days.  Thank you to Josh McCurdy for sketching a mule for a photo prop, and thank you to Patty Tinsley for painting it.  Even though we won’t use this at Park Days, there will be a variety of events we can use it at in the future.   We are in need of volunteers to staff the museum on weekends.  A calendar was shared.  Anyone wishing to volunteer for any of these opportunities should contact Delores Woodhurst.

• Perry Bank Restoration: No update.

• Ralls County Seal Design Contest:  The deadline for this contest is July 31, 2025.  A few entries have already been received from art students at Mark Twain Junior-Senior High School

• Insurance Update:  No new information.

• Preserving County Documents and other artifacts:  No new information

• Current Research Requests:  Authors Margot Ford McMillen and her daughter, Heather Roberson Gaston, visited St. Peter Brush Creek Catholic Church in Ralls County on May 6, 2025.  Delores and Carolyn met them at the site.

• Kathleen Wilham Donation:  After last month’s meeting, Delores talked with Attorney Joe Brannon, and he agreed we should return the donated documents to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and discontinue contact with all parties until the issue is resolved.  On Friday, April 18, 2025, Delores took the materials to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, who contacted Jim Foster to receive the materials.  Delores returned the items to Jim Foster at his business in Shelbina.   

• Executive Committee Meeting to Review Bylaws and Constitution:  This topic will be an agenda item at our June meeting.  We will review the bylaws and constitution, propose changes, and vote on the changes.  

• Impact Statement:  Delores shared a draft Fiscal Year 2024 Impact Statement.   Jeanie Gay made a motion to approve the Impact Statement as presented.  Carolyn Trower seconded.  Motion carried. 

• Brochure:  200 copies of our brochure were printed by Iva’s Printing for $60. 

• Student Internship Program Update:  Student interns Kaylee Beckham and Evie Bickel continue working at the museum on various projects.

• Area Historical Society Conference:  ILASCO Area Historic Preservation Society (IAHPS) hosted a meeting of area historical societies on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Al’s Tavern in ILASCO, Missouri.  The event brought together 22 participants representing 7 Northeast Missouri historical societies to network and discuss each organization’s efforts to preserve and celebrate the region’s rich heritage.  Organizations represented included Audrain County Historical Society, Champ Clark Honey Shuck Restoration, Inc., ILASCO Area Historic Preservation Society, Monroe County Historical Society, Ralls County Historical Society, Randolph County Historical Society, and Shelby County Historical Society.  After introductions, Andrea Babyak-Farr shared a brief history of ILASCO, including its people and the role of the cement factory in the city's development. The city once boasted a population of over 3,000.  The Village of ILASCO was created when large numbers of immigrants came to work at the newly built Atlas Portland Cement Plant in Ralls County, near Hannibal, MO, in 1903. ILASCO is named for the ingredients used to produce cement: Iron, Lime, Aluminum, Silica, Carbon, and Oxygen.  Its citizens came from Romania, Slovakia, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, and Ukraine. The cement plant employed 2,500 people in the early years and produced cement for the Panama Canal, the Empire State Building, Locks & Dams on the Mississippi River, and contributed to the overall growth of this nation. The Company Town was dissolved in 1963.  Residents of ILASCO frequently toiled long hours in hazardous conditions, earning roughly 11 cents an hour. Most did not speak English when they arrived in America. They were housed in company housing on the cement plant’s property. Despite these challenges, they integrated into the local community, striving to create better lives for themselves and their families. Their collective focus was on education, freedom, and the pursuit of opportunity. Farr shared family stories and memories of growing up in ILASCO, bringing the city and its former residents to life. The remainder of the meeting focused on fundraising, publicity, advertising, and raising community awareness of our organization.  Participants shared ideas, asked questions, and discussed topics that impact historical societies. The next quarterly meeting will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, and will be hosted by the Audrain County Historical Society in Mexico.  Delores will work with Jennifer Prior to set the agenda and other details for the meeting. Following the meeting, the ILASCO Area Historic Preservation Society provided lunch, highlighting various foods that are part of ILASCO's heritage. During this time, participants also visited the IAHPS Research Center & Archival Library and enjoyed the multiple monuments that tell the story of ILASCO.

• Ongoing Projects

  • Adult History Preservation:   No new interviews have been completed.   If anyone would like to conduct interviews with a senior citizen or be interviewed, please contact Delores Woodhurst or Carolyn Trower.

  • John Ralls Donation:  Documents from the donation continue to be transcribed.  Transcribed documents can be found at RCHS’s website:  https://www.rallscohistoricalsociety.com/research-spotlight/john-ralls-documents.

  • Calendar:  Delores will proceed with creating a 2026 calendar for RCHS.  The calendar will be sold to cover the project's costs and generate funds for RCHS.  Since this is the first year for the calendar project, RCHS will begin by listing dates set by local cities and organizations. If you have dates for 2026 that you want added to the calendar, please contact Delores Woodhurst.

• Payment of Bills with Receipts:  No bills or receipts were presented.

• Financial Information as of 4/30/2025:  Ending balance $84,059.81

• Public Outreach Opportunities

  • RCHS’s 50th anniversary will be in January 2026  

  • May 23-24, 2025:  Perry All Town Garage Sales

  • June 6-7, 2025:  New London Park Days 

  • June 13, 2025:  Wine and Cheese Tasting at Historic Center Depot, 6:00-9:00 p.m. 

  • June 18, 2025:  RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall; 11:00 a.m.:  Program by Mark Schneider of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum.

  • June 20, 2025: Perry Parking Lot Party (June 20,2025)

  • June 22, 2025: ILASCO Holy Chapel Mass, 9:00 a.m.

  • June 22, 2025: ILASCO Ice Cream Social, Noon to 4:00 p.m.

  • June 28, 2025:  Oak Hill School Gathering, 6:30 p.m.  A meal is served for a free-will donation, and there is music.  The public is welcome to attend. 

  • July 4, 2025: Perry Fourth of July 

  • July 16, 2026:  RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • July 26, 2025: Oak Hill School Gathering, 6:30 p.m.  A meal is served for a free-will donation, and there is music.  The public is welcome to attend. 

  • July 27, 2025:  ILASCO Holy Chapel Mass, 9:00 a.m.

  • August 1-2, 2025:  Center Park Day 

  • August 20, 2025:  RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • August 22, 2025:  Area Historical Society Meeting at Audrain County Historical Society, 10:00 a.m.

  • August 23, 2025:  Oak Hill School Gathering, 6:30 p.m.  A meal is served for a free-will donation, and there is music.  The public is welcome to attend. Perry All Town Garage Sales (August 29-30, 2025)

  • August 24, 2025: ILASCO Holy Chapel Mass, 9:00 a.m.

  • September 17, 2025:  RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • September 27, 2025:  Oak Hill School Gathering, 6:30 p.m.  A meal is served for a free-will donation, and there is music.  The public is welcome to attend. 

  • September 18, 2025:  IAHPS Research Center & Archival Library Ribbon Cutting, 10998 Ilasco Drive, Hannibal, 4:30 p.m.

  • September 28, 2025:  ILASCO Holy Chapel Mass, 9:00 a.m.

  • October 15, 2025:  RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • October 25, 2025:  Oak Hill School Gathering, 6:30 p.m.  A meal is served for a free-will donation, and there is music.  The public is welcome to attend. 

  • October 26, 2025:  ILASCO Holy Chapel Mass, 9:00 a.m.

• President’s Update: Ron expressed his appreciation for the attendance at the monthly meetings and the continued support of the Historical Society.   The new membership drive will kick off around July 1, 2025. Recently, RCHS received the donation of the book Farm Girl Stories by Evelyn Gatson Evans.  The letter that accompanied the book was read aloud.  Evans, who grew up on a farm in Ralls County, shared that she wrote the book for her great-grandchildren who asked about her youth on the farm.  The collection of stories about her ancestors who settled in Ralls County before the Civil War is an excellent resource for stories and photos from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s in rural Northeast Missouri.  Thank you, Mrs. Evans, for this exclusive addition to our library.

• Executive Committee (15 members): Blank spots below indicate vacancies in our executive committee that we need to fill.  If you are interested in being a representative on the executive committee, please contact Delores Woodhurst at 573-248-7445 or dvwoodhurst@gmail.com.

Officers (5)

• President: Ron Leake

• Vice-President:  Delores Woodhurst

• Secretary:  Carolyn Trower

• Treasurer:  Jeanie Gay

• Historian:  NEEDED 

Directors (10)

• Center Township: Jan Golian

• Spencer Township: Gina Jameson

• Salt River Township:  Cindy Lynn

• Jasper Township: Lola McDonald

• Saline Township: NEEDED

• Clay Township: NEEDED

• Saverton Township: Bill Dexheimer 

• Perry:  Sandie Storm

• Center: Mary Jackson

• New London: Brad Stinson

Next Meeting: RCHS's next meeting will be Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Perry City Hall. At 11:00 a.m, Mark Schneider, development and marketing manager of  Mark Twain Boyhood and Museum, will present an approximately 50 minute program regarding the work of his organization.  The public is invited and encouraged to attend.   The meeting adjourned at 10:44 a.m.

Click here to see all photos and videos from the 2023 lasagna supper!

Physical Address:

Ralls County Historical Museum 

105 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Ralls County Historical Library

124 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Missouri Mule Museum

114 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Mailing Address:

Ralls County, Missouri Historical Society

PO Box 463

Perry, MO 63462