The Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot in Rich Hill by moonlight. Date unknown.
Courtesy of the Eddie Herrman Archives
January 8
1871-An ad in the Bates County Record states “Fresh bivalves (clams) served any hour, day or night” at the Pickett Hotel dining room.
1874-Mr. Rose moves his mill from on the Miami Creek to the Marais des Cygnes River 2 miles south of Bell’s Mill.
1885-The Confederate Vet Association of Bates County meets in the courthouse, P. Hackett, president.
1920-Lloyd Graves is the new manager of the Western Union Telegraph office in Butler.
1937-About 7 a.m. several railroad cars are derailed south of Rich Hill, near Arthur, delaying trains into Rich Hill.
1973-The first baby born in the Bates County Memorial Hospital in 1973, is Cathrine Leslie Scott to Mr. & Mrs. John Scott of Adrian. Attending physician is Dr. Curtis W. Long of Butler.
The Fraternal Inn building also know as the Hotel Pennell and the Inn Building circa 1920.
January 9
1882-Financier and railroad magnate, Jay Gould, passes through Butler at 1:30 p.m. on his special train of five coaches. He’s one of the owner of the Missouri Pacific railroad.
1896-Manager Sanders of the Rich Hill Opera House announces the opening day will be the 23rd with The Hoyt Comedy Troupe. It had burned on October 14, 1895.
1908-Rudolph Talbott opens a tailor shop in the west basement of the Hotel Pennell.
1922-In the past year of 1921, there were 42 divorces granted in Bates County.
1949–Bates County is under a coating of ice and traffic is treacherous.
Interior shot of a Chautauqua being held in the Rich Hill Opera House. Date unknown.