Dr. Jack Neal, museum curator, advises that the museum has developed into a great community asset largely because of people who have donated items throughout the year. "People have been very generous," he said. Neal also noted that the society has talented people who volunteer their time organizing pieces into attractive displays. During special occasions, the museum features demonstrations of spinning, weaving, or other crafts. Pictured below, right, the art of weaving is demonstrated by Phyllis Koch of Chillicothe during the annual "spring tea." [Photo courtesy of Paul Sturm, C-T]

One of the most visible additions to the museum is a replica of a railroad station counter just inside the museum entrance. The counter most recently was located in the old McDonald's restaurant in Chillicothe. Owners, Al and Cathie Habiger, donated the counter to the museum when the new McDonald's opened. Another new addition is an aisle marker rope that was used at the former Ben Bolt Theater.

Another new display at the museum this season is that of Depression Era glass donated by Winnifred Evans, a retired elementary school teacher. Among the 17 pieces displayed are pink, clear, and green glass. A special display introduced this year is dedicated to preserving memories of Chillicothe High School. Among items on display are a Chillette outfit, a cheerleader's megaphone, a 1924 black and tan sweater, a 1921 purple and white banner and yearbooks.

The museum dedicates a portion of its facility to military remembrances. Among items are those donated by Mary Skinner, widow of Bob Skinner, who was a prisoner of war for some time, and a Purple Heart given to Gene Carlton for his service in the Korean War. Also on display are personal war-time stories written by individuals with connections to the Grand River area. The historical society hopes to expand this project as a means to preserve memories of war-time experiences and the impact war had on the local area and its people.

Other exhibits include the Chillicothe Business College exhibit and the black history display. Also, artwork by Fred Irvin, a former Chillicothe resident who became a commercial artist in San Diego, is on display. Much of his artwork depicts scenes of Livingston County. A photograph album preserves memories when big name entertainers, such as Les Brown, Guy Lumbardo, Blue Barron, Chuck Cabot, and Wee Bonnie Baker visited Chillicothe through the efforts of the late Buck Thompson. The museum also has an extensive Indian display with arrowheads dating back 20,000 years. The oldest artifact at the museum is a mammoth tooth, estimated to be one million years old. The tooth was found when a man was dredging in the riverbed for gravel.

Membership to the Historical Society is $10 per year, or a lifetime membership may be purchased for $30.

Chillicothe Museum Celebrates New Exhibit Season at Open House
By Amanda McKay / C-T News Reporter, Wednesday, April 9, 2008

CAPTION: Dr. Frank E. Stark, president of the Grand River Historical Society and board member Jerry Nibarger prepare the exhibit of local photographer Leo Moren. Moren owned a camera shop on Washington Street, close to where the Chamber office is now, when photography was less than digital and more than a printable photo card no bigger than a thumb print. The Grand River Historical Society Museum houses an exhibit of his equipment along with an exhibit of the old Chillicothe Drive-In Theatre, on Highway 65 going north.

C-T Photo/ Cathy Ripley

April 9, 2008 - The public is invited to get the story of Chillicothe's heritage by visiting Grand River Historical Society's open house this Sunday, April 13. The museum is looking forward to a new and exciting exhibit season and welcomes all to attend the open house from 1 until 4 p.m. Admittance is free and refreshments will be served. Door prizes will also be given away every 30 minutes. Special activities for the day include knitting, weaving, and spinning demonstrations as well as an animal pelt display from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

A trip inside the museum will demonstrate exhibits that include indian artifacts, an old-time jail cell and switchboard, a railroad exhibit, military uniforms and much more. One of the newest additions to the museum is a friendship quilt from 1931, donated from the family of a former resident of Chillicothe. The quilt contains many names of residents of Chula in 1931. Anyone with information about this quilt or the names that appear are asked to contact the museum. Antique cars will also be on exhibit at the open house, including a 1947 fire engine. These classic automobiles are housed in a separate annex at the museum site. Many of the vehicles have been featured in various parades in Livingston County. Others on display at the museum include the Moore Monument wagon, the Churchill tractor Ford truck, a rebuilt 1932 trailer and an Irvinbilt 1554 truck.

The Grand River Historical Society Museum consists of four areas. The main building contains display cases, a working printer from the Constitution-Tribune, working train whistles, a loom and many more artifacts. It chronicles the days of the Civil War and the Vietnam War and items dating back to a time when more than 50 trains per day stopped at Chillicothe's three train depots. Exhibits include items from Chillicothe Business College, the State Training School for Girls and other businesses in Livingston County from long ago. The Grand River Historical Society Museum is preparing for an exciting exhibit season. Future activities are being planned for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, and many more special activities and events throughout the summer. Regular hours for the museum are Saturdays and Sundays running through October from 1 to 4 p.m. Admittance is always free.

The Grand River Historical Society is a non-profit organization and is run entirely on a volunteer basis, all donations of artifacts are welcome and appreciated. Their goal is to preserve artifacts in order to preserve our history for the next generation of Livingston County residents.

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Museum and Biz College Dedication
CBC's legacy is remembered; dedication ceremony set for Friday, September 30, 2005
By CATHERINE STORTZ RIPLEY / C-T News Editor, Tuesday, September 27, 2005

CAPTION: Dr. Jack Neal, curator of the Grand River Historical Society Museum, prepares a special display at the museum about Chillicothe Business College. The museum was open following the dedication ceremony of a historical marker for the college on Friday, September 30. Members of the public, especially former CBC students, attended.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

"We see you through" was Chillicothe Business College's motto. And, they did. So much so that its president provided a written guarantee to fully refund the tuition of anyone completing the school's course of study and failing to find employment. Tuition was $25.70 a semester. Room was $5 per month. Boarding was $5 per week. That was 1927.

Chillicothe Business College was established by Allen Moore Sr. as the Chillicothe Normal in 1890. According to a story in the Constitution-Tribune news files, between the school's opening as Chillicothe Normal, and 1952, more than 130,000 students had attended, including about 2,675 air force clerk-typist trainees during World War II and in 1951-52.

The school's legacy will be remembered this Friday, when a monument is dedicated at the southeast corner of the site where the college was established. The ceremony is a public event and graduates of CBC are encouraged to attend. Former president Allen Moore III, also a grandson of the school's founder, plans to be present and make a few comments. Moore currently resides in Arizona. Following the dedication, the Grand River Historical Society Museum will be open for viewing the CBC memorabilia.

"The school was known for providing the best education to anybody who wanted it at a good price," said Dr. Jack Neal, curator of Grand River Historical Society Museum which is adjacent to the old CBC campus. A portion of the museum is devoted to preserving the history of Chillicothe Business College and includes dozens of photographs and old year books as well as educational and training items from the school and extra-curricular memorabilia.

The exhibit is always a draw for visitors. Neal recalled a recent visit by a woman from Kentucky and her three grown daughters who were on what they called a serendipity trip. Their travels included a stop at the museum where they even located a photograph of the mother riding upon the Kentucky Club's float as its queen. "They were quite impressed," Neal observed.

CAPTION: An orange and black arrow, one of many used in a unique method of outdoor advertising, dominates the Chillicothe Business College exhibit at the Grand River Historical Society Museum. The museum opened a special display about the college in September, 2005, following the dedication ceremony of a historical marker for the college at the corner of Monroe and Springhill streets.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

Dedication Ceremony Photos below courtesy of C-T, Catherine Stortz Ripley

A large crowd gathered to dedicate the new marker.

Former president Allen Moore III
visits with a former graduate of CBC.

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Museum's Open House
By LAURA SCHULER / C-T City Editor
Thursday, April 14, 2005

Gone are the days when soda jerks poured sodas and made ice cream floats behind the bars of their fountains at corner drug stores. However, anyone interested in seeing a soda fountain which was used for decades on Jackson Street is invited to attend the Grand River Historical Society's Museum on Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m., for an open house.

The 16-foot long soda fountain (complete with eight stools) was originally used in Horn's Drug Store, which later became Miller's Drug Store. It was used for the last time at the Strand Hotel and is one of several new displays at the museum. Richard Smith, former owner of the Strand Hotel, donated the local artifact to the museum this year and guessed Wednesday that the fountain is at least 80 years old, if not older. "I bought it from Mr. (Jesse) Miller in the late 1970s and I decided to put it downstairs in the hotel for the kids to use after school," Smith said. He added that the fountain was used at the hotel from 1979 to 1981 alongside a pinball machine, and other games for children. Smith said that at that time, Miller worked at the hotels front desk and on Friday evenings, he often volunteered to man the fountain downstairs. "He (Miller) enjoyed the soda fountain, I think, and he had positive, upbeat way with the kids, too," Smith said.

The museum also boasts two new displays courtesy of former Chillicothean Billie Post. Museum curator Dr. Jack Neal and historical society president Dr. Frank Stark reported that Post, a 1941 Chillicothe High School graduate, had an extensive collection of model cars, airplanes and ships which have been donated to the museum. Each model car is labeled with information on the vehicles. For instance, the model of a 1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible comes with a label stating that the cost of the life-sized version was $1,858, it's weight was 3,840 pounds and 725 of them were made.

Spring Grand River Historical Society Spring Tea Offers Glimpse Into Area's Past
C-T News Article,  April 29, 2003

The table holding old F.R. Bailey wedding photos proved to be one of the biggest attractions at the Grand River Historical Society's season-opening spring tea held at the society's museum. Those attending the event were encouraged to look through the photos and help identify the subjects in the pictures. Historical society officials reported that, once identified, the pictures will be offered to the subjects in exchange for a $30 lifetime membership in the society. The pictures are being offered for free to subjects in the pictures who are already members of the historical society. C-T Photo by Laura Schuler

The Grand River Historical Society's spring tea featured a new guest exhibit provided by Gilbert and Nelda Cox. The exhibit featured several items from the Coxes' collection including vintage matchboxes, political memorabilia and a hat decorated with campaign buttons. From left: Gilbert Cox and Dr. Jack Neal, curator of the museum. C-T Photo by Laura Schuler

Just over 100 people attended the annual spring tea at the Grand River Historical Society Museum Sunday afternoon. The annual event kicked off the museum's season, which lasts until October, and featured a variety of new exhibits. According to Grand River Historical Society president Dr. Frank Stark, the spring tea was a successful one.

"People showed interest in all of the exhibits and were very complimentary on the cleanliness of the museum and the arrangement of the artifacts," Stark said Tuesday. One of those in attendance was Terri May, of Chillicothe, who said she enjoyed looking through the various exhibits at the museum Sunday. "I think this (the spring tea) is great. I like old stuff, like antiques and you can certainly tell that someone spent a lot of time getting ready for this," May said.

Perhaps garnering the most attention throughout the afternoon was a table filled with old F.R. Bailey wedding photos which were donated by Bailey to the historical society. Bailey used the photos in his business, Bailey Studio, before selling it to Jon Shannon and retiring in 1997 after about 40 years in business. Those attending were encouraged to look through the 16-by-20 inch board-mounted photos to help identify the subjects in the photos.

Recently, historical society officials announced that pictures that were identified will be offered to the subjects in the pictures -- for free if they are already members of the Grand River Historical Society. If they're not members, they can receive the pictures by paying for a $30 lifetime membership in the society.

Historical Graveyards	Proud of our Heritage and Veterans

Dedication of American Legion Highway 08 28 03 Veterans Memorial in background	Cane-Making Heritage A Shared History

More Chillicothe Local History...

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