Sweet Springs
Historical Society
Become a VOLUNTEER
Interested in becoming a historical society volunteer? Contact us today for more information.
Upcoming MEETINGS
Our monthly meetings take place on the second Tuesday of each month.
Make a DONATION
Donations are accepted via PayPal and Venmo. Please see our donations page for more information.
Sweet Springs Historical Society
MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the Sweet Springs Historical Society is to bring together those people interested in learning, preserving, and promoting the history of the Sweet Springs- Houstonia-Emma-Dunksburg-Elmwood and McAllister Springs area, especially from the time of original settlement through the present time. The corporation is organized and exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Society's major function will be to discover and collect any material which may help establish or illustrate the history of the area such as: education, business, agriculture, medicine and transportation. We will collect printed material such as histories, genealogies, biographies, newspapers, handbills, pamphlets, catalogs, and posters; manuscript material such as letters, diaries, journals, memoranda, reminiscences, rosters, service records, account books, and surveys; and museum material such as pictures, photographs, portraits, aboriginal relics and material object illustrative of life, conditions, events and activities of the past and present.
The Society will provide for the preservation of such material and for the accessibility, as far as may be feasible, to all who wish to examine or study it. The Society will cooperate with officials in ensuring the preservation accessibility of the records of the counties and cities and towns and institutions, and to undertake the preservation of historic buildings, sites and markers.
The Society will communicate historical information and try to arouse interest in the past by publishing historical material in the local newspaper, booklets, and on the internet etc.; by holding meetings with lectures, papers, addresses, pageants, and discussion; by marking historic buildings, sites and trails; and by developing educational presentations to be available for community and school groups.
Sweet Springs Historical Society Board of Directors
President: Connie Reagles
Vice President: Brenda Hinck
Treasurer: Irene Samson
Secretary: Ruth Haesemeier
Sweet Springs Historical Society
OUR HISTORY
The first organizational meeting of the Brown County Historical Group (later known as Sweet Springs Historical Society) took place on October 28, 1985. This group of citizens interested in preserving local history were led by Greg Jevinikar, president; Ron Highbarger, vice-president; Sharon Meinershagen, secretary; and Mary Jo Berry, treasurer. The name was changed to Brown County Historical Association on November 19, 1985, and the organization was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in February, 1986.
"Brown County" became a part of the organizations name in an effort to include residents from the surrounding area and to honor an event in local history. A new county by the name of Brown was proposed to the General Assembly of the State of Missouri in 1872. It was to be created from land then in Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, and Saline Counties, with Brownsville as the county seat. Although the Brown County application failed to pass the General Assembly, it is to the people of this proposed Brown County area that this historical organization strove to increase the interest and pride in the rich heritage of the ancestors that preceded them.
On September 25, 1995, the Brown County Historical Associated changed its name to Sweet Springs Historical Society. The mission of the Sweet Springs Historical Society is to bring together those people interested in learning, preserving, and promoting the history of Sweet Springs, Houstonia, Emma, Dunksburg, McAllister Springs and Elmwood areas, especially from the original settlement through the present time.
On May 12, 2006, the Sweet Springs Historical Society held a ribbon cutting ceremony for a permanent museum located at 306 S. Miller Street. Acquisition of a permanent location was made possible by a gift from the estate of longtime Sweet Springs resident, Opal Peterson. The committee who undertook this task included, Tommi Guier, Joyce Knight, Jim Lindemann, Rev. Jim West and Larry Hawkins, chairman.
Request a Private Museum Tour
Are you interested in touring the musuem but are not available on our meeting nights? Fill out this form and we will contact you about scheduling a private tour.
Private Tours are offered outside of our normal monthly meeting hours by filling out the form below.
You may also contact one of our board members below for more information about Group and Private tour times and dates.
Sam Blain, Jr. 1 (660) 335-6862
Brenda Hinck 1 (816) 896-8390
Or email us at info@sweetspringshistoricalsociety.com and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have about booking a tour.