Perry County Historical Society

05/25/2026

05/21/2026

Thanks for the shoutout Visit Perry County!

Step back in time and discover the stories that shaped Perry County! 🏛️✨ Whether you’re a history buff, exploring the area, or just looking for a unique local stop, the Perry County Museum - Perryville, Missouri is the perfect place to learn more about our community’s rich history and heritage.

Located at the City Park, the museum is filled with fascinating exhibits, artifacts, and local history all in one place — making it a must-visit stop while exploring Perry County.

🕐 Hours:
• Tuesdays & Thursdays: 1 PM – 3 PM
• Saturdays: 9 AM – Noon

Next time you’re in town, add the Perry County Museum to your Perry County adventure! 📍

05/15/2026

The Riverside Regional Library Bookmobile of Jackson began serving Perry County community schools in 1955. For the next 22 years it was a familiar sight traveling the rural roads of Perry County. At first, Riverside borrowed a bookmobile from the Missouri State Library, and by May 1956, a new Bookmobile was ready for delivery at a cost of $7,397.50

PHOTO: Riverside Regional Library Bookmobile serving Perry, Cape, and Scott Counties, 1956

05/13/2026

Students at Sereno School pose with scrap iron they collected to aid the WWII effort. Photo: circa early 1940s

05/01/2026

Red Rock Landing was one of several steamboat landings on the Mississippi River in eastern and northeastern Perry County. It was located 4 miles east of Crosstown and almost 5 miles northeast of Farrar. It was established in 1882 and was in operation until the end of the packet steamboat era in the early 1930s.

Originally called Bailey's Landing, by August 1882 the property was owned by Ceran DeLassus, and the new Red Rock Landing was opened about 1 mile southeast of the original location of Bailey's Landing. The landing was a busy place as the packet steamboats carried passengers, produce, building materials, other goods and livestock, especially to areas not served by the railroads.

Ownership of Red Rock passed to Ceran's daughter Eusebia and her husband, John B. Hamilton during the 1890s. The Hamilton's sold the 150-acre Red Rock Landing to Louis and Martha Schlichting from the Farrar area in August 1909, and they in turn sold it to Joseph Verseman and his wife Lina, who was Martha Schlichting's sister in June 1913.

During the 1920s, farmers continued to ship livestock from the Red Rock Landing, and the Versemans continued to operate Red Rock until the steamboats stopped travelling the river in the 1930s.

04/29/2026

It is not known when the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church South was first organized, but from tombstones in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, we assume it was around 1826. Camp meetings, or outdoor religious gatherings that would bring in skilled preachers, started around that time in a log structure, the first church building. Some of the families who founded and supported the church were Barks, Blaylock, Cashion, Conrad, Crow, Dunlap, Huber, Lee, Murray, and Stone.

In 1845, the little church was divided over the issue of owning enslaved people, with those families opposing slavery withdrawing to eventually form a new church called Crossroads Methodist Church.

In 1867, Christian and Priscilla (Conrad) Leonard deeded 4 acres of land to Robert Blaylock, David W. Crow, Thomas Stone, and Zachariah Winn for the sum of $7 to build a one-story frame church to replace the old log structure.

The church building was standing until at least 1963.

PHOTO: Mt. Pleasant Church, circa 1963.

04/13/2026

JOIN US ON APRIL 18!

Make plans to learn more about cleaning and preserving gravestones at our GRAVESTONE PRESERVATION WORKSHOP on Saturday, April 18th, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Cemetery. Cleaning materials provided along with snacks and water.
Bring loppers and chainsaws if you have them.

GRAVESTONE PRESERVATION WORKSHOP
Saturday, April 18th
10 am to 1 pm (may go later if needed)
Pleasant Grove Baptist Cemetery
2888 PCR 314 near Crosstown

Questions or to RSVP, call us at 573-768-2470 or email: [email protected].

04/09/2026

In 1948, the International Shoe Company brought Robert Wadlow to Perryville for a special appearance. The "Gentle Giant" of Alton, IL was 15 years old at the time. He was 7' 8 1/2 " tall, weighed 360 lbs., and wore a size 34 shoe, made by the International Shoe Company.

Wadlow is shown here on a flatbed truck in front of Stalker's Shoe Store on the north side of W. Ste. Maries Street. From left are: Ludwigs, Myers Drug Store, Cinderella Beauty Shop, and Stalker's Shoe Store.

04/07/2026

The community of Silver Lake is situated nine miles west of Perryville on Highway T. It was founded in the mid-1800s, located around Silver Lake itself. The town consisted of a mill, general store, and the Hop Tea Joint. Some of the early settlers were Duvall, Geile, Layton, McLane, and Tucker.

Silver Lake is fed by seven springs, which made it a perfect location for the mill.

PHOTO: circa 1920, Dr. Neidert's wife measures the water at the Silver Lake Mill and millrace.