Pemiscot County Historical Society

Name: Pemiscot County Historical Society
Address: 707 W 13th Street, Caruthersville, MO, 63830, US
Telephone: +15733332480
Price range: Not applicable

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Pemiscot County Historical Society

The Pemiscot County Historical Society is located in the Caruthersville Missouri Public Library Historical Society room. Membership is open to all.

Founded in 1970, the Pemiscot County Historical Society preserves and shares the history of Pemiscot County and the Missouri Bootheel through publications, archives, and digital collections. Meetings are held each month except December, June and July on the third Friday of the month at 1:30. An appointment can be made to use the historical society room at Caruthersville Public Library by emailing

[email protected] or calling the Caruthersville Public Library at (573) 333-2480. Cost is $10 a year. Four quarterlies of past historical features are part of the membership. Checks can be mailed to 707 West 13th Street, Caruthersville, MO. 63830. Digital county newspapers from 1891-1966 are located on the Caruthersville Public Library website (cville.lib.no.us or just Google Caruthersville Public Library) under “Online Resources”. The society can be contacted for genealogy and historical information or questions via email or at the address listed above. Membership fee of $10 is requested to allay costs.

05/30/2026

An editorial from the Pemiscot Journal, December 13, 1977 regarding the old Roberts house near the seawall. Citizens wanted to save the home from demolition for a possible museum or venue for weddings and occasions, but it was not to be.

"The haste with which Caruthersville Mayor B. F. Rogers is showing to destroy the historical Roberts home near the seawall is typical of several projects he has undertaken. Why would Mayor Rogers sneak this project through the city council with no previous notice? Why is he in such a hurry to get the old house torn down? Why did he try to keep the matter a secret from the taxpayers and residents of Caruthersville?

What will it hurt to wait a few days before tearing the house down? If the administration would give the community a few days to try to work up support for restoring the home, perhaps one of the few remaining landmarks in town could be saved. The people have not had a chance to save the house, which was built in 1900.

Mayor Rogers actually believes that he is the only person in town who can make a decision regarding city business. He has never accepted the face that he is elected by the people to represent them, not dictate to them. He is obligated to lay the facts of a problem out before the people before a decision is made. He has no right to make decisions without even the approval of the city council, as he often does.

The mayor said, regarding the purchase of the Roberts home, "I don't want 45 old women from the Historical Society up here complaining", so he kept the entire matter from the people of Caruthersville until he asked the council to pay $26,000 for the property.

Is the price of property, after the home has been torn down,, worth $26,000? Mayor Rogers told the council that the land was almost two acres large. We have been told that there is only a little over an acre in the area the city bought. If that is the case, the city paid almost $26,000 for a little over an acre of land, high even by big city prices.

The land is no good for retail development, nor is it desirable for residential development. So why would the mayor pay such a high price for an empty piece of land? (With the house the land is worth the $26,000. Without it, it is only a little over an acre of land and nothing more.)

"The city can save enough in rent and theft prevention to pay for this property in ten years," the mayor said. The city currently pays $125 a month for rent on the garage used the city equipment repair. Over a period of ten years, the saving in rent would add up to $15,000. That means the mayor expects $11,000 in thefts to pay for the perhaps $7,000 needed to fence the property and to build a maintenance building. The figures just don't work out the way he says they will.

We are not opposed to the city buying a piece of property and building its own maintenance shed. We have been in favor of that for years. We just don't feel things like this should be done in secret, and without enough planning to justify the move.

If you don't feel like the old Roberts Home should be torn down, act now. Call the mayor and your alderman today. If you wait, it will be too late.

(The Roberts house burned to the ground in a spectacular fire in early spring of 1978.)

05/29/2026

Cunningham Store was the largest store in the city for many years located at 3rd and Ward (where the Famous Shop and Grizzly Jig were located, and now Randall Crawford Lifestyle graces the space.).

In the March 4, 1892 issue of The Democrat-Argus, it was said that the Cunningham sons, Frank, John, Clinton and Charles, purchased a lot where they would erect a mammoth store building to be occupied by them in the fall of 1892 for the general merchandise business. A larger store building was constructed in the same location after the first store building was moved in September of 1906. Once open, they offered a full and complete line of Gents Furnishing Goods, Dry Goods, Groceries, Furniture, Hardware, and Fresh Drugs were a specialty.

The first photo is of the delivery wagon of the Cunningham Store Company and was taken behind the store building. The driver is Sam Smith and the others were unknown.

The other photo shows the grocery department From left to right, an unknown lady, Clarence Meek, Sam Smith, Bill Pippen was behind the counter, Tom Smith standing by the coffee grinder, and the others were unknown.

In December of 1925, it was announced that the Cunningham Store Company opened its largest and final sale, closing a career of many years of consistent merchandising in Caruthersville.

05/26/2026

From May 28, 1970

The 1912 Model T Ford Torpedo Roadster, owned by Benny Jack Hall of Hayti, is one of hundreds that were on display at the Fairgrounds during the annual Trade and Trophy Days., sponsored by the Bootheel Antique Car Klub. Forty-two trophies were given to the cars that attained the most points, based on originality and quality of workmanship. Six trophies were awarded in the "Bootheel 25", and other races on Sunday afternoon.

Ditch work on Henrietta Avenue by Westside School was in progress. This ditch was being cut out of the south side of the school yard. Other ditches were re-dug and cleaned out on the west side in conjunction with street work which started.

Cable Television was the modern way to watch television. Before 1964 when Bootheel Video arrived in Caruthersville, all homes had to use antennas and the reception was not very good with the distance from stations.

Art teachers checking exhibits was the scene durinng the Caruthersville School Art Exhibit held in the gym at the high school. Teachers were (left to right) Mrs. Adelaide Henderson, fourth, fifth and sixth grade art teacher at Lee Rood, Miss Kathy Bersey, elementary, junior high, and high school art teacher, and Jim Parsley, high school art instructor. Approximately 1000 pieces of art work were shown by grades one through twelve.

05/23/2026

From Fall, 1998

Items from the Twice-a-Week Democrat:

May 10, 1910 - Rev. G. M. Brooks appeared before the county court last Saturday in the role of the "Good Samaritan". He presented the application of Mrs. Pearl Wilson, a widow with two children, for a temporary stay at the poor farm; also the application of Mrs. Dave Davis, insane, for admittance to an asylum at Farmington. These requests being granted, he then asked the court to make an appropriation to pay some minister to hold monthly services at the poor farm, and to conduct funeral services of those dying as paupers. He had preached at the county farm, he said, and considered the service greatly needed. The court looked with favor upon the proposition and made an order appropriating $100 for such service, designating Mrs. Stokeley Jacobs, wife of the keeper of the farm, to make appointment of the minister.

May 30, 1916

Last Thursday night, Doss Stiles and Joe Terror started to Cottonwood in the latter's young Packard. The two drove several miles when they struck a low place in the road the engine went dead. When Doss got out to crank the car, he discovered the crank-shaft was gone. There was nothing to do but to remain stuck where they were. So, gathering some brush wood, they built a fire and rested all night in the road. In the morning, a passing farmer gave them a monkey wrench with which to crank the car. Once started, it took Joe's young Packard two hops and a jump to reach town. Both enjoyed the trip very much, they don't think.

November 4, 1924

Sawyer erecting new Office Building Soon
John W. Sawyer recently has let a contract to Messrs. Stephan & Fisher, building contractors of this city, to erect a new seven-room office building on the part lot in the rear of the Sawyer Pharmacy, which, according to contract, is to be completed within 60 days from the time of beginning construction. Work was started a few days ago to remove the shed structure on the lot, which had been used by Mr. Sawyer, Drs. Luten and Collins, and others as a garage or parking shelter for their autos, and work on the building itself will doubtless begin before the end of the week.

The building will be only one story, with basement and will cost in the neighborhood of $7000. A heating plant will be installed in the basement, which will be of sufficient size to heat the pharmacy and office rooms in the larger building, but it is entirely possible that connection will not be made and fixtures installed in this building during the coming winter.

The building, which will be constructed of buff-colored mat brick, will face on
Fourth Street and will have almost solid plate glass front, with a corridor extending through and dividing the rooms - four offices on the one side and three on the other. Office partitions will be almost entirely of opaque glass which, while they can not be penetrated by sight, will let the light through and will make the rooms , much easier to be lighted. The building will be approximately 30x52 feet in size with basement 20x25.

This structure will be a very appreciable improvement to Fourth Street and no doubt, rooms in it will be sought by professional men who wish to be on the ground floor and who desire comfortable and modern accommodations.

December 25-28, 1934

Shares Birthday Happiness with Others
Little Miss Patricia Shade made many hearts glad last Wednesday when she invited "all" the little girls and boys of her room to her birthday party, celebrating her eighth birthday. Patricia wanted to have them all present and so it was decided that she might give the party in her school room and the last thirty minutes of school and some time after, was devoted to the party hours. The school room was already nicely decorated for Christmas and with the round of games and contests, the children had a grand time. They were served popcorn balls during the play hour and a peanut hunt was conducted, the bags of peanuts they found being a part of the delicacies served during the play time, while at the close of the party, portions of a lovely birthday cake and individual ice cream cups were served. Besides the games, three contests were played and were won by Edward Hart and Helen Bradley, Joyce Pinion and Ray Ownby, and Wavel Willis and John Underwood. Patricia received a lovely shower of gifts.
_______________________________________________________________________________

05/22/2026

Built in 1924, the Dillman Building became one of the most sought-after locations to house a business, or to live in an apartment above because of its proximity to the post office, also built that year, and to Frisco Park.

In the early 90s, after being home for many people and places, the building burned in a fire that saw the Caruthersville Fire Department there from 11:00 p.m. on Friday night until 5:00 on Saturday evening, and unfortunately one life was lost, Mr. Steven Privett. It was decided at that time, that the post office needed more parking and the building was soon gone. The Post Office parking lot remains today.

05/19/2026

From May 21, 1970

A step in the wrong direction was made by Alderman Maurice Malin Tuesday morning as he was spreading a concrete foundation for the new shelter at East Side Park. DAEOC assumed responsibility to develop the park, with the help of a Mainstream Worker and eight Neighborhood Youth Corps workers. Malin and J. C. Green donated their labor to the project. As Malin tried to reach his cement- filled shoe, this frog was photographed as he quietly sloshed over the new surface. To the toad, it's just another barrier to cross...but to the kids, it is the first phase of a dream come true.

As part of a social studies class at Caruthersville Junior High School, 7th grade student Ronda Riney models an Asian costume. The project, dubbed a "Mini Museum of Asia" was the project of Mrs. Tom Overstreet's class. Ronda is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.V. Riney, who lived at 1208 Washington.

First Place - Danny Malone, son of Rev. and Mrs. Jim Malone, won first place in a fashion show held at the Temple Baptist Church on Fair Boulevard. Approximately 15 "raving beauties" entered the contest representing the latest in ladies fashions. The Toast of the Town - Rev. Jim Malone, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church, received third place honors in the fashion show. Winners received onion and carrot-type flower arrangements.

Remember the family portraits that were taken at various stores in town? I'm sure a lot of us still have some of these pictures from our youth. This was the ad from Magic Mart.

05/16/2026

From Fall, 2009 - Teroy's (submitted by Wanda Willis)

Back in 1933, Dalton Teroy launched the Teroy Grocery and Market. Before that, while attending school, he worked evenings and on Saturdays for the old-time Piggly Wiggly store in Caruthersville. His beginnings were small, a sort of hole-in-the-wall affair on the "main drag", but he labored long and hard and soon outgrew his limited quarters. After about a year, he moved from 504 Ward to the DeLuxe Bakery building, owned by J. J. Gallian and formerly occupied by Koppeis & Sons at 513 Ward. Teroy had recently purchased the bakery equipment and leased the building from Mr. Gallian following the closing of the bakery concern at the first of the year.

Mr. Teroy stated he expected to expand his grocery business and to carry on a bakery business, making bread and rolls and specializing in pastries, etc. He employed Charles Forsythe of Sullivan, Mo., formerly in the bakery business at Rector, Arkansas to conduct this end of the business for him.

Repairs to the floor of the building vacated by Teroy and owned by Mrs. Ellen Smyth were made and Lumsden's Grocery planned to occupy the space, moving from their present location in the 1100 block on Ward Avenue.

A few years later, Mr. Teroy bought a lot on West 5th Street, where he planned to construct his own building. The war came along and he put in a few years for Uncle Sam, so he could do nothing about the building until his release from active duty. Then materials were limited, labor was scarce and the building process necessarily was slow. In April, 1947, workmen were busy razing and clearing the lot of the old Shell Station on his lot between Ward And Carleton. The structure he built, of brick veneer, comprised four business rooms, of which he occupied the one nearest Ward Avenue. The other he rented or leased to various persons or concerns. In 1948, he was able to occupy his new quarters. He had a modern meat box, preservation equipment, display counter, and the shelving was of the new trend, constructed low enough that customers easily helped themselves while shopping and ball-bearing basket carriers were used to convey their purchases to the checker.

Does anyone remember shopping at the Teroy Grocery Store on West 5th Street?
In the late 1960s or early 1970s, the store was more of a "treasure-finding store", with a number of old or gently used items for sale, along with paint and building supplies.

In 1989, construction began on the Teroy Sales and Service building on Highway 84 est of the city, operated by Dalton's son Jim, featuring building materials and other items. This building was torn down in the last couple of years to make way for the new Port Authority complex. However, the old West 5th Building still stands, though it certainly has seen better days.

05/15/2026

Before Mike Dale was elected City Collector, and before he owned and operated the local Dairy Queen on Ward Avenue, he was quite a good photographer. He took Senior composite folders, as well as lots of other photos, and his depiction of the Caruthersville Bridge is one of the best ever taken. (You can see it on the cover of the Chamber of Commerce's 2007 Sesquicentennial book, "Caruthersville, Missouri 150 years".)

His first studio was located at 105 East 16th, but soon after, he started work on a new photography studio, between 14th and 15th streets on Ward Avenue (the building still stands today). These photos show the construction of the new studio in 1972 and 1973.

05/12/2026

From May 14, 1970

Representatives of the Missouri State Highway Department and John W. German Funeral Home worked that week at the Mt. Zion cemetery southeast of Steele moving graves. A spokesman for the Highway Department said approximately 40 graves were moved from the northwest corner of the cemetery because of the location of an "outer road" next to Interstate 55. The graves were transferred to other plots on the cemetery grounds.

The new Caruthersville High School cheerleaders were (left to right) Anna Raburn - co-captain, Debbie Klinkhardt, Sharron Townsend, Diane Dorroh, Vicki Shelton, Cindy Bruvce, Beth Sanford, and Cathy Carmean - Captain. Girls who wished to try out for cheerleader were given the opportunity to do so by performing a certain "cheer" in front of a group of the teachers. These girls were chosen by the faculty for the next school year.

The Alpha Delta Kappa sorority at Caruthersville High School was busy picking up litter on Fair Boulevard and other areas of Caruthersville and the high school campus. This picture was taken in front of Clark's Drive Inn, where the girls picked up cups and other litter which had scattered over the area.

"And the robber frisked me for my money", said Mrs. Tina Light as she acted out her "Tiny Pearl" impression at the St. Jude Talent Show. "I told him I didn't have any money on me, but if he would frisk me again I would write him a check," said the happy comedienne to master of ceremonies Cleat Stanfill.

05/11/2026

From August 5, 1919 -

Divorce cases from 1919 - That the state of marital bliss in this county is not always just what it might be is evidenced by the unusual number of divorce cases listed for hearing at the present term of Circuit Court, and it would seem that Judge McCarty is undoing the work of joining together almost faster than the combined efforts of ministers and qualified officials can overcome.

On the July docket, there were set down an even fifty-two applications for legal separation - one for every week in the year. Of those, thirty-nine have been heard so far, decrees of absolute divorce being granted in thirty-seven instances. In two, the cases were dismissed - the dissatisfied parties evidently having thought better of the situation and resumed their marital relations.

In one case - Ralph vs. Wilma McElvain - a divorce was granted one day last week and yesterday the principals concluded to put one over on the Judge and be remarried, a reconciliation having been effected, we are told, largely through the affection each holds for their little girl. The father asked Mrs. McElvain to bring the little one here so he might see her. (They have been living with her parents in Osceola, Ark.), and the reconciliation and consequent marriage followed.

Address

707 W 13th Street
Caruthersville, MO
63830

Telephone

+15733332480

Website

http://pemiscotcountyhistoricalsociety.com/

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