The Holt County Missouri Historical Society is stepping into a full year of historical events and activities during 2019, starting with a “Soup-er” Bowl” fundraiser on Sunday, February 3.
Plans have begun for Holt County to join in the Missouri Bicentennial Celebration in 2021 with Helen “Becky” Smith as coordinator. A committee represented by the entire county has been named: Peggy Ann Edwards, Greg Book, LeAlison Markt, Jill Asher, Nancy Nauman, Kathy Daly, Cindy Kenny, and Nancy Peters, along with Smith. A committee meeting will be held Sunday, February 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the City Hall in Forest City. Anyone interested in serving on the committee is welcome to attend. Although Holt County did not become a part of Missouri until 1841 many prior historical events are recorded in the area. In 1804 the Lewis and Clark journals tell of camping at Tarkio Slough (Big Lake) and early day pioneer family histories share arriving in the area before the county was settled.
Holt County was included in the Platte Purchase before being a part of the state of Missouri. Historical programs are planned to recognize the celebration.
The Bicentennial Quilt is creating a lot of interest. Quilts have been a cornerstone of Missouri culture, fashion, and tradition since pioneer days. One of the activities planned by the Missouri Bicentennial Committee is to create a quilt made up with a block submitted from each of the 115 Missouri counties and St. Louis, Missouri. The Missouri Star Quilt Company, Hamilton Missouri, will piece the blocks together to form the quilt and it will hang in the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri. Anyone residing in Holt County or a former resident can submit a block representing the county by July 1, 2019. The submitted blocks will then be on display for judging at the Mound City Nutrition Site before, during, and after the Thursday July 4th parade. The block receiving the most votes will be sent to the Bicentennial Committee. The additional Holt County blocks will then be pieced and quilted by Sue Stiens, Maitland, Missouri, and the quilt displayed throughout the county and at the Holt County Courthouse in Oregon. If you are interested in contributing a quilt block contact beckysmith51@gmail.com. Completed quilt blocks can be mailed to HCHS, P.O. Box 55, Mound Cit, MO 64470, dropped off at the Genealogy and Research Center in Mound City when open, or at any Society activity. Visit https://missouribicentennial.org for additional Missouri Bicentennial information.
Society officers for 2019 include Cindy Kenny, Angela Brook, Michelle Brandon, Elizabeth Burnsides, Norma McCurry, Chris Sharp, D.J. Wright, Fran Harbin, Judith Long, and Nancy Nauman.
