Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

05/30/2026

It’s Hunter-Dawson from A to Z!

N is for New Madrid Bottling Works!

We’re asking for help with this one! This bottle has been in the house for many years, but our research has turned up no information about the company.

Does anyone have any information? Pass it along in the comments!

05/28/2026

It’s Hunter-Dawson from A to Z!

M is for manganese!

What is kind of like glow in the dark but even better? Manganese glass!

Until the early 20th century, manganese dioxide was used as an additive in glassmaking to make glass crystal clear. Impurities in sand could give glass an unwanted tint but manganese dioxide would neutralize the color.

Often confused with uranium glass, manganese glass is not radioactive and is usually colorless. The magic happens when you shine a UV light on it! Manganese glass emits a yellow-green or lavender glow. While not harmful for examination or short term exposure, long term exposure to UV light will cause a chemical reaction and permanently turn glass purple.

So the next time you’re wondering if your glassware is pre-1910 or not, look at it under UV light!

05/27/2026

It’s Hunter-Dawson from A to Z!

L is for LaForge!

Agatha LaForge Dawson was William Dawson’s mother. She was born in New Madrid February 4, 1827 and married Thomas Hardeman Dawson on July 2, 1845. They were the parents of 8 children. Agatha passed away September 15, 1903 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, New Madrid.

The nearby small township of LaForge was named for her grandfather Pierre LaForge.

05/23/2026

Mirrors, mirrors everywhere!!

In Victorian times, mirrors were used for more than just looking at yourself. They also reflected light from oil lamps and candles and amplified natural light. Therefore, Victorian homes often had a lot of mirrors! But just how many mirrors are in Hunter-Dawson?

Let us know your guess in the comments!

A. 15
B. 25
C. 35
D. 42

The answer is C. 35. That’s a lot of mirrors! Thanks for playing!

05/22/2026

It’s Hunter-Dawson from A to Z!

K is for Kitchen!

With the family living in the home for almost 100 years, the kitchen saw the most changes over the years. Now though, the kitchen resembles what it would have looked like in 1860.

More than likely there also would have been a summer, or detached kitchen, located away from the house for use in the summer months. The summer kitchen no longer exists.

The kitchen holds not only items for cooking and baking but also wash basins and washboards for washing clothes.

While kitchens have become gathering places in homes today, in 1860 it was a work room.

05/20/2026

It’s Hunter-Dawson from A to Z!

J is for jewels!

Well, not just any jewels, these are pocket watch jewels!

Jewels in pocket watches were not for show but for function. Jewels were an important component for mechanical watches to work properly and keep precise time. They worked as a low friction surface for metal parts to rotate against. The more jewels in a watch, the more precise it was.

Sapphires and rubies were commonly used, this 1866 pocket watch in our collection has 11 jewels, specifically rubies. The blue that you see are heat treated screws. The blue color is a result of thermal bluing, providing a defense against rust. Plus they’re pretty!

05/16/2026

A poem for this lovely Saturday!

Even though the sky is gray,
Today’s the day,
Come out and play!

1860’s Children’s Day is today, Saturday May 16 from 11 am-1 pm!

Come make a candle, make a corn shuck doll, play an 1860’s game, wash clothes on a wash board and more!

05/14/2026

https://www.kfvs12.com/video/2026/05/13/talk-heartland-experience-history-1860s-childrens-day/

Vicki and Matt were invited by KFVS12 to talk about our upcoming 1860’s Children’s Day event. Come out Saturday May 16 from 11 am to 1 pm and play! This event is free and open to children of all ages. We hope to see you!

Talk of the Heartland: Experience history at 1860s Children's Day

05/10/2026

These are the mothers we talk about the most on tour, Amanda Watson Hunter, mother of 9 children and Ella Hunter Dawson, mother of 5 children.

Today though, we celebrate all who mother, those who love, support, and nurture every day of the year. ❤️

05/09/2026

Children of all ages and those young at heart are invited to our Children’s Day event, Saturday May 16 from 11 am-1pm.

Come on out and dip your own candle, make a corn shuck doll, play an 1860’s game, wash clothes on a washboard, and more!

We’ll have fun!