Students from the Ralls County Elementary Student Leadership Team and RCHS Student Interns assisted in the evening’s events, including welcoming guests, serving drinks, bussing tables, and assisting with the auction.  Ralls County Elementary Student Leadership Team members assisting included Izzy Browning, Haven Elliott, Mallory Diffenderfer, Trinity Logan, Auburn Simmons, Sapphire Muehring, Blaire Gilmore, and Avery Jones, Jaelyn Wieczorek, and Jackson Keil, along with their advisors, Diana Duckworth and Julia Henderson.  RCHS Student Interns assisting with the event included Landon Pease, Evie Bickel, Maeley Moss, Ericka Gilbert, and Alyvia Paxton.  Having youth involved was a wonderful addition to the event.

Jeanie Gay, Carolyn Trower, and Sarah Petersheim worked the main table, accepting memberships, selling calendars and books, and assisting with the auction.  All paper products for the event were donated by Dennis and Debbie McMillen, owners of Center Locker.

Presiding Commissioner John Lake and his wife, Sharon, and Western District Commissioner John Wieczorek and his wife, Carol, sold raffle tickets for a gun that was donated by all three commissioners, including Eastern District Commissioner Junior Muehring and his wife, Jenny.  Proceeds from the gun raffle will benefit the Ralls County Historical Society. 

After enjoying the meal, Elementary Leadership Team members led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off a brief program before the auction got underway.  President Ron Leake thanked those in attendance for their continued support and encouraged volunteerism. Leake has been the president of RCHS since 2002 and continues to be an integral piece of the organization.  Leake acknowledged and honored the men, women, and children who came together in 1976 to form an organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and honoring the history of Ralls County, several of whom were in attendance.  When the Society was founded in 1976, there were approximately 130 members. While membership has surged and waned over the years, RCHS is proud to have 135 members today.

In 2025, RCHS issued a call for submissions to design a new official seal for Ralls County Historical Society. Several thoughtful entries were received, and after review, RCHS unanimously selected Christina Strode's design.  Vice President Delores Woodhurst asked Strode to come forward, and Strode was recognized and thanked, as her seal, which was on display for viewing at the event, became the official seal of the Ralls County Historical Society.  The narrative that accompanied Strode’s design is included below.

Creating the Ralls County Historical Society seal has been a fun experience for me, and one that truly means a lot.  My husband Joseph's family roots run deep in the Ralls County dirt!  My family lives on my husband's family farm, where his 3x Great Grandfather Hedgman Wilson lived.  The Wilson family moved to Clay Township, near Spalding, in Ralls County, from Virginia in the mid-1800s.  His 4x Great Grandfather Jeremiah Strode moved to Ralls County, where his family grew.  Joseph's 3x Grandfather, Edward Strode, became a prominent doctor in New London, and there is even a street named after him. In an effort to create a unique design, I researched many seals from around the country for layout ideas.  In the outer ring, 1820 represents the year Ralls County was formed.  The central focus of the seal is our beautiful courthouse, with the year it was built, 1858, prominently displayed on the front.  Around the courthouse are iconic symbols of our county.  In the top right, you see the great Clarence Cannon Dam with the beautiful Mark Twain Lake behind it.  To the right of the courthouse is a crappie, a fishing favorite on the lake.  My son works at the marina, and the number one question he is asked daily is, "Are the crappie biting?"  There are oak leaves and acorns to show homage to the abundant nature in our county.  Near the bottom, corn represents our rich agricultural heritage.  To the left of the courthouse is the iconic state animal, the Missouri Mule.  On the top left, you see a handsome whitetail, representing the wildlife in our area.  Separating the words in the outer ring are yellow cone flowers.  These flowers are also known as the Ozark cone flower and can be found growing wild and free along many of our roads.  The three main colors of the seal are red, white, and blue.  They reflect the Missouri State flag, and, of course, our nation.  The people of Ralls County are patriotic and deeply love our land! It was my pleasure to research and design a seal that will serve as a lasting visual representation of our great county.  Thank you for considering my design for Ralls County Historical Society's official seal.

John Wallace, assisted by his grandson and RCHS Student Intern Landon Pease, facilitated the auction of donated items.   The auction served not only as entertainment but also as an important fundraiser supporting museum operations, preservation initiatives, and local history programming.  The feature item of the auction was shared ownership in RCHS’s copy of Ralls County Missouri by Goldena Howard.  In 1980, Goldena Howard published Ralls County Missouri, known to many as “the green book,” and the book remains the most comprehensive single history of Ralls County ever created. Mrs. Howard spent decades researching the people and places of Ralls County, personally funding the project and overseeing every detail. Nearly half the book is devoted to Ralls County families. Mrs. Howard believed it was important to document the people living here at the time, those whose stories were not yet recorded in history books.  Her work was never about recognition or profit, but about preservation. Ralls County Missouri continues to be a treasured resource for families, researchers, and community members. As RCHS celebrates its 50th birthday, Mrs. Howard’s work stands as a cornerstone of its mission to preserve, honor, and celebrate Ralls County.  Individuals purchasing ownership in this book, which will continue to be housed at the Ralls County Historical Society’s museum in Perry include Jon and Pam Barnes, Greg Sharpe for State Senate, Michele Keil, Wiley and Susan Hibbard, Ryan, Sarah, and Carter Petersheim, Brian and Linda Hodges, Brian and Delores Woodhurst, Ron and Sandy Myers, Cindy Lynn-Drainer, Chad and Meri Williams, Jim and Jeanie Gay, and Landon Pease. 

Numerous individuals, businesses, and organizations donated items for the auction, including Leanne Reed, Wiley Hibbard, Dustin Wasson of South Lake Design, Mary Kay Weiss, Michele Keil of Salt River Realty, Kerri Jo Reese of Crossroads Bar & Grill, Hannah Smith and Tessa Meranda of Polish & Glow, Dustin and Jan Garner of Lake Country Gardens, Delores Woodhurst, Cindy Lynn-Drainer of At-Home Realty, Brad Stinson, Tracy Mundell of Shaggy’s Hair Salon, Lydia, Lola, and Randy McDonald of Meadows Campground & Coffeehouse, Brandon and Skylar Anderson of Anderson Auto Body & Detailing, John DiMaria of Perry Economic Development Group, Debbie Hodges, Brice & Ashley Harvey of Harvey’s Floral Boutique and Premier Pest Solutions, Rachel Jones, Frances, Dean, Kris, Jason, and Kristie Yancey of Yancey Auto Sales, Ralls County Clerk Brandy Flynn, Ralls County Collector Tara Comer, Penny Cearley, Western District Commissioner John Wieczorek, Eastern District Commissioner Junior Muehring, Presiding Commissioner John Lake, and District 5 State Representative Louis Riggs. 

Ralls County Historical Society extends heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers who made the evening possible. The Society also thanks everyone who attended, contributed, or supported the event in any way.  As RCHS looks ahead to its next fifty years, the organization invites the community to stay engaged by becoming members, volunteering, or participating in upcoming events. For more information about the Ralls County Historical Society and its programs, please visit rallscohistoricalsociety.com or follow RCHS on Facebook.

More event photos are available on our Facebook page!

• Fort Mason Project: No update

• Center Depot: No update

• Absalom Grimes Workshop:  RCHS has partnered with Ralls County Library to bring local history to life! On Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Ralls County Library, Barney Bradshaw of Historically Speaking will present a program about former Ralls County riverboat pilot, mail carrier, and Confederate spy, Absalom Grimes.  Grimes is buried in Barkley Cemetery in New London.  The program, “Gratiot Street Prison and the Life & Times of Absalom Grimes, which will include a costumed performance by Bradshaw, will relive the experience of Absalom Grimes. The presentation will tell the story of the life and seemingly unbelievable exploits of convicted Confederate spy Absalom Grimes. Grimes lived near Hydesburg and married Lucy Glascock of New London.  The presenter will be available for a meet-and-greet after the presentation, and the library will serve light snacks.

• Volunteer Needed & Training: The goal for the RCHS is to have the museum in Perry open from at least 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Delores has set a tentative date for a volunteer training for Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.  The workshop will last approximately 1 hour.  We are looking for anyone who is willing to be at the museum on these dates and times. Volunteering means being available to talk with museum visitors.  You do not have to be an expert on Ralls County history–you only need to be willing to donate a few hours from time to time to help us make our museum available to the public.  Last month, meeting attendees discussed offering Mark Twain Lake souvenirs for sale at the museum, including bumper stickers, magnets, etc.  Members suggested getting some“tourist” items to sell at the museum, maybe bookmarks or something to hand out.

• Perry Bank Restoration: Patty Tinsley shared that supplies are needed for the restoration project.  

• Preserving County Documents and other artifacts:  Delores is working with Brandy Flynn to submit a Historic Preservation grant application for the courthouse.

• Area Historical Society Meeting: The next quarterly meeting of this group will be on May 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the  State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia.  Delores has been unable to secure a bus and driver to transport a group from Perry to Columbia.  At this time, individuals are encouraged to carpool. 

• All Time History: Andrew Bartison will contact the high school to share information about this project.  

• Impact Statement:  A draft impact statement was shared.  We will also review this document at our March meeting and adopt it at our April meeting. 

• Current Research Requests: The City of Center is compiling a list of veterans who earned the Purple Heart, and Delores is working with the City to create a countywide directory.  If you know someone who has earned the Purple Heart citation, please let Delores know.  The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a purple heart-shaped cloth patch, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members. 

• Ongoing Projects

  • Student Internship Program: Interns met at the courthouse on February 9, 2026.  After touring the courthouse, interns researched land records in the Recorder’s office.

  • 2026 Calendar: These will now be sold for the reduced price of $10.

• Public Outreach Opportunities:  

  • March 14:  Perry Chamber’s Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser

  • March 18: RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • April 4:  New London Easter Egg Hunt, 10:00 a.m. at the Courthouse

  • April 4:  Perry Chamber’s Easter Egg Hunt

  • April 11:  RCHS Volunteer Workshop at Museum in Perry, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

  • April 25: Gratiot Street Prison and the Life & Times of Absalom Grimes presentation, 10:30 a.m., Ralls County Library in Center

  • April 25:  Northeast Missouri Genealogical Society Meeting at the Missouri Mule Museum in Perry, 

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

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

  • May 22-23:  Perry All Town Garage Sales

  • June 5, 6, 7:New London Park Days (If we plan to have a booth at this event, we need to start organizing volunteers ASAP).

• Recent Donations:

  • Anne Wilson Pasieka shared the following documents with RCHS, with the stipulation that the material be used at the RCHS facility.  The information cannot be removed from the facilities or copied. This stipulation is included on the cover page.  These documents will be printed and available in the library soon.

    • Family History of the Webb Family

    • Family History of the Krigbaum Family

    • Family History of the Glascock Family

    • Family History of the Graves Family

    • Family History of the Northcutt Family

    • Family History of the Strode Family

  • At the auction during the lasagna supper, Ron Leake purchased a hand-painted plate donated by Penny Cearly, daughter of RCHS founding members Bill & Billie Cearley. Ron has graciously donated this plate to RCHS, and it will be available in the museum soon.

  • Rana Reynolds donated a picture of The Last Supper that previously hung in Yager School. Yager School was located near the intersection of Route A and H north of Center.  On the back of the photo is written:  Presented to Yager School April 14, 1920 by Mary Hamill, Teacher, 1919-1920.  Mary Hamill married James Tully in 1925, and they had six children: JD Tully (1925-2001), Virginia Tully Leake (1927-2019), Marynelle Tully Power, Ruth Tully Evans, Towny Tully, and Bill Tully. Mary Hamill Tully is Delores Woodhurst’s grandmother.  

• Payment of Bills with Receipts:  None presented

• Financial Information as of 1/31/2026:  Ending balance $52,901.00

• President’s Update: Ron was not in attendance and asked that we share his thanks to each and every individual, family, and business that continues to support the work of RCHS.   Thank you, Carolyn Trower, for facilitating today’s meeting.  Members noted that a tombstone restoration article appeared in a recent edition of the Rural Missourian. This led to an informal discussion of family graveyards and the guidelines for accessing these graveyards when they are on private land.  Muldrow Cemetery was mentioned.  Muldrow Cemetery is owned by RCHS, and the upkeep of the property is handled by two volunteers, both of whom are greatly appreciated for the work they do at the cemetery. 

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.  The next meeting is March 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Perry City Hall.  The meeting is open to the public, and we hope anyone interested in preserving, celebrating, and honoring Ralls County's history will attend.

Physical Address:

Ralls County Historical Museum 

105 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Missouri Mule Museum & Ralls County Historical Library

114 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Mailing Address:

Ralls County, Missouri Historical Society

PO Box 463

Perry, MO 63462