Marceline

July 9 2025

Marceline Lincoln School: Black Education History and Importance During Segregation, Part 2

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Marceline Lincoln School, located at 201 Wells Avenue in Marceline, Linn County, Missouri. was erected in 1933 by Floyd Newman, a local builder, after Marceline voters approved a bond request to build a new “negro school”[1] after the previous one burned down. While Marceline does not have official records or relics of the Black community in the city, like most rural cities they don’t have the resources larger cities have to preserve such history, newspaper articles did frequently discuss issues in the Black community, particularly issues revolving around the education of non-white children in their community.

This building was the sole K-8 educational facility in Marceline for non-white students between 1933-1954 (the year the school was built until desegregation began and the school closed). Students who extended their education into high school had to travel to The Dalton School in Dalton, Missouri (27 miles south of Marceline) to obtain their high school education.

The architect is unknown, but it was most likely Newman who drew up the vernacular plans. After the Marceline School Board sold the property in 1955 at the start of school desegregation which resulted from the decision in the case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS, various owners used the building for such things as a storage area, an antique store, and now a carpenter’s workshop.[2]

In 1866, Missouri school districts were, as the law states, “required to establish within their respective jurisdictions one or more separate schools for colored children when the whole number of by enumeration exceeds twenty.”[3] Marceline’s government disregarded this law. The school was erected, despite not having met this threshold for the two years prior to being approved by a city-wide vote. Rarely did enrollment increase very much beyond 20 students. In fact, it had an historically low attendance rate, falling several times well below that threshold; yet the city never closed it down.

Marceline started integrating their high school during the 1953-1954 school year (before the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision.[4] They then integrated their elementary school during the 1955-1956 school year.[5]

As the last extant resource representative of education for the Black community during the era of segregation in Marceline, the Lincoln School is locally significant under Criterion A: ETHNIC HERITAGE – BLACK and EDUCATION and eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION IN MISSOURI

Missouri, a former slave state, like most states, faced hardships concerning the education of people of color. As Lori Bogle notes, citing Julius Hunter: “’Missouri has been a mirror reflection of the nation as it displayed its confusion, indifference, guilt, cruelty, pride, subterfuge, embarrassment, benevolence, and sympathy in handling the issues of how blacks should and would be treated’.” She agrees with Hunter, stating “The state has not always responded to national issues in a traditional way [and] maintains an identity distinct from her southern sisters” because most slave owners owned few slaves and as a result, “a closer relationship between black and white often existed.”[7]

Between at least 1847 and up to the start of the property’s period of significance (1930-1954), there was considerable debate regarding the education of African Americans in the state. For example, 1847 Missouri law stated, “no person shall keep or teach any school for the instruction of negroes or mulattoes, in reading or writing, in this State [and violators] shall be punished by fine not exceeding $500, or by imprisonment … or by both.”[8] However, as seen below many individuals of different races argued that this was something that needed to change.

While the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, it did not equate to full acceptance and equality in any aspect of life, let alone education. In 1866, Missouri school districts were, as the law states, “required to establish within their respective jurisdictions one or more separate schools for colored children when the whole number of by enumeration exceeds twenty.”[9]

Three years later, the debate about the education of non-white children began to pick up steam, as evidenced by the words of Richard B. Foster, the founder of Lincoln University in Missouri. Foster argued the education of “colored children ‘of educable age’ was inadequate” as were the schools these children attended when compared to the schools for white students.[10] He stated “we may well accept that the colored schools of this State are mostly in poor condition; too few in number, little thought of, little cared for” and thus, the State is not doing its duty to these children.[11] He ends his speech by calling for more funds to be used in giving Black students of the time more access to education and to make it more equitable. Foster’s words were not heeded. In 1875, the Constitution of the Missouri State contained a statement that read: “Separate free schools shall be established for the education of children of African descent.”[12]

In 1920, The Journal of Negro History reprinted one of the most complete histories of the development of the black public school system in Missouri;[13] the article spans the decade between 1865 (the year of the end of slavery) and 1875.[14] The history outlined in the Journal establishes that it was more commonplace between 1865 and 1875 than thought for Missouri slaves to have some rudimentary education. Many were taught how to read and write by their owners; this meant that many slave owners violated the rules against the education of slaves.[15]

In 1931, W. Sherman Savage[16] expounded on the state of education for black children, writing that the 1865 Missouri constitution was explicit in how Black education was to be supported in the state, particularly that the legislature made it the duty of the school boards in the respective towns to establish one or more separate schools for Negro youth. The legislature made it mandatory upon the townships to establish schools for Negro children.[17]

The constitution at this time declares that it was “the duty of the State to provide education for the Negro as it did for the other citizens of the State”; this law mandated local school boards to establish “one or more separate schools” for non-white students and prohibited the making of false statements claiming to have created such educational facilities.[18]

Precious little seemed to have changed in Missouri since the state’s 1875 ruling of separate schools for white and Black students until 1954 when Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka overturned segregation.[19] Even then, the three-step desegregation program (which started with desegregation in junior and teacher’s colleges, followed by high schools and adult education programs, and finally technical and elementary schools) would not be fully implemented in some communities because no formal timeline was given for integration.[20] Furthermore, there tended to be a “de facto segregation in the cities, there [was] a great deal of voluntary racial separation in schools that have a racial mixture.”[21] It wasn’t until 15 years after Brown that Missouri courts gave “the duty to terminate dual school systems and start operating under a unitary system at once [to the local Board of Education].”[22]

However, this was not the case in Marceline. Marceline did not take the 3-step approach or wait 15 years for desegregation to be formalized in Missouri; instead, after Brown, the city swiftly terminated the dual school system, began high school integration immediately, and closed the school the following year (1955), moving all students into their previous whites-only schools.

AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION IN MARCELINE

Up until the opening of the Lincoln School in 1933, Marceline had been following the letter of the law for the most part. There was a two-year period during which the children did not have a formal schoolhouse; after their school burned down classes for non-white students in the Baptist Church for two years until the Lincoln School was built.[23]

After Emancipation, Black children were allowed to get an education; since Marceline was not yet a city in 1863, there was no known school. However, one early Marceline account states that the Black children had a school in a carpenter’s shop in the 1890s, roughly two years after Marceline was incorporated.[24] One year later, the “colored school” was mentioned in a short piece about Marceline schools.[25] Within the context of Black education in Marceline, the school received almost yearly recognition in news articles.

Additionally, Marceline began desegregating its high school in 1953,[26] a year prior to Brown. This move illustrates the attitude the city government, citizens and school board all had: That the law must be followed.

MARCELINE’S AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION

During the period of significance, Marceline’s African American population shifted dramatically.

In the 1930 Census,[27] the population looked like this:

Ward 1: 1 family; 5 people
Ward 2: 4 families; 12 people
Ward 3: 12 families; 59 people
Ward 4: 2 Black families; 6 people – 3 Mexican families; 18 people

(90 total non-white residents)

By the 1940 Census[28] the demographics had changed significantly:

Ward 1: 0
Ward 2: 4 families; 14 people
Ward 3: 8 families; 22 people
Ward 4: 5 Families; 41 people

(77 total non-white residents)

This trend continued in the 1950 Census:[29]

Ward 1-2: 0
Ward 3: 3 Black families listed, totaling 27 people. There were 2 families labeled “B2” with 11 people.
Ward 4: 2 Black families with 10 people; 3 Mexican families with 16 people

(53 total non-white residents)

While the school would be placed in Ward 3 because that Ward housed most of the African American population at the time, the Census shows that African American families were reasonably spread out in Marceline. In fact, when the Mexican families are added to the total, nearly half of the non-white population lives outside of Ward 3.

That diversity shifted significantly between the 1930 and 1940 Census’. Marceline saw a loss of 13 non-white residents during this decade. Additionally, Ward 1 lost the one family that lived there, while Ward 2 maintained its population. Wards 3 and 4 saw the largest changes in population with Ward 3 losing 63% of its non-white population, while Ward 4 became the new center of the non-white community with a 58.5% increase in non-white residents.

The trend of losing non-white families continued over the next decade too, with Marceline losing 24 more non-white residents. By this time, no African American families resided in Wards 1 and 2, Wards 3 and 4 split the non-white population with 27 and 26 individuals respectively.

[1] “Work Started on the Negro School.” The Marceline News. 15 July 1932, XLV.41.

[2] Skinner, Adam. Personal Interview. 2 June 2023.

[3] Laws of Missouri, 1866, p. 177, Sec. 20 as cited in Henderson, p. 1.

[4] Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Opinion; May 17, 1954; Records of the Supreme Court

of the United States; Record Group 267; National Archives.

[5] Marceline: The Magic City: Centennial Edition, Marceline, Missouri. City of Marceline. 1988. This also seems to

contradict a report from the Marceline Board of Education that refers to integration being complete in 1954, but it may have started in 1953 and ended in 1954. See AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION IN MARCELINE below.

[6] This is noted in both “Architectural/Historic Inventory Form.” Marceline Survey. Commissioned by Missouri

Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Office. April 2018. Survey No. LI-AS-001-037. [Marked “Individually Eligible], and “Architectural Survey of Marceline (MO.): Final Report.” Marceline Survey. Commissioned by Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Office. April 2018. Survey No. LI-AS-001-037.

[7] Bogle, Lori. “Desegregation in a Border State: The Example of Joplin, Missouri.” Missouri History Review. 85.4,

442+.

[8] Laws of Missouri, 1816-1847, p. 103, cited in Henderson, David. “Integration of Missouri Public Schools Faculty

and Students Twenty Years After Brown.” Missouri Commission on Human Rights. Department of Consumer Affairs, Regulation and Licensing. October 1974, p. 1.

[9] Laws of Missouri, 1866, p. 177, Sec. 20 as cited in Henderson, p. 1.

[10] “Some Aspects of Black Education in Reconstruction Missouri: An Address by Richard B. Foster.” The Curators

of the University of Missouri, U of Missouri P: Columbia, Missouri, 1984. 85.4, p. 19.

[11] Ibid., p. 21.

[12] Missouri Constitution, 1875, Art. XI, Sec. 3 as cited in Henderson, p. 1.

[13] Williams, Henry S. “The Development of the Negro Public School System in Missouri: The Period from 1865 to

1875.” The Journal of Negro History. Apr. 1920, V.2, pp. 137-165.

[14] Ibid, p. 138.

[15] Ibid, p. 144.

[16] In 1934, Savage became the first African American to be awarded a Ph.D. from Ohio State University in History

by a predominately white university. He was a college History professor and author.

[17] Savage, W. Sherman. “The Legal Provisions of Negro Schools in Missouri from 1865 to 1890.” The Journal of

Negro History. July 1931, 16.3, pp. 309-321.

[18]Ibid, p. 310.

[19] Brown.

[20] Henderson, p. 45.

[21] Ibid, p. 58.

[22] Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education, 396 U.S. 19 (1969).

[23] These classes were held in the “black Baptist Church.” However, no research has turned up indicating the location

of this church within the city limits. The 1930 Sanborn Fire Insurance map shows the Baptist Church on

Ritchie as the only Baptist Church within the city limits. That building is not the Black church referenced.

[24] Because no other carpenter shops show on the 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, the shop located on the

southeast corner of Lake and Kansas (one block south of the downtown business district) is most likely the “school” referenced at the corner of Lake and Kansas (one block south of the downtown business district).

[25] “The Schools.” The Marceline Mirror, 3 September 1891.

[26] Franklin, Melia K. School and Community, Community and School: A Case Study of a Rural Missouri Setting.

Dissertation. U of Nebraska, May 2011, p. 111.

[27] “1930 Census: Volume 3. Population, Reports by States: Mississippi and Missouri.” U.S. Census

Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1932/dec/1930a-vol-03-population.html. Accessed 1 September 2023.

[28] 1940 Census Enumeration District Maps – Missouri – Linn County – Marceline – ED 58-20, ED

58-21, ED 58-22, ED 58-23. National Archives. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5833471Accessed 15 December 2023.

[29] 1950 Census Enumeration District Maps – Missouri (MO) – Linn County – Marceline – ED 58-28

to 32. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18559828 National Archives. Accessed 15 December 2023.

July 2 2025

Gucker Coal Company Office: History of Coal and The Office, Part 2

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The Gucker Coal Company building (formerly Marceline Mercantile and Randolph Coal Company), at 125 E. California Ave., Marceline, Linn County, Missouri, is the last extant property associated in any way with Marceline’s coal industry. It is located one block east of the north end of the downtown commercial district. The Period of Significance is 1924 (the year the building was erected by Joseph Hemmings, a Marceline businessman who owned a mercantile store; the nominated property was opened as his mercantile office and as a coal office) until 1952 (the year Frank Gucker retired which is the same year the local coal industry had started to diminish to the point the new owners, the Hughes, switched almost exclusively to fuel oil and gasoline). 1941 is also significant because it is the year Mr. Gucker purchased the property from the Randolph Coal Company, a local businessman who first worked for Hemmings and then, at some unknown time, took over Hemmings’ office and opened his coal supply company. Gucker continued selling both local and non-local coal to the city, township, the railroad, citizens and others. It qualifies for the NRHP under Criteria A: Commerce/business.

MARCELINE’S COAL INDUSTRY & EVOLUTION OF COMMERCIAL COAL SALES

The importance of coal cannot be understated. Each community and state and the entire nation relied heavily on coal for heat and power and to keep commerce moving.

Marceline was a significant part of this national movement. In Missouri, coal mining started in the 1840s,[1] but it wasn’t until the 1880s that bituminous coal was discovered in Linn County.[2] The first car of Marceline coal was loaded and shipped from a mine on Thursday, December 12, 1889, and “marked the beginning [sic] of the carbosiferous epoch in Marceline’s history.”[3]

It was soon discovered that the seam of coal ran between Bucklin (5.5 miles NNE of Marceline) and Marceline and was about 2’ 4” to 3’ thick.[4] One report in the Compendium goes on to say, “Vast fields of coal are known to underlie this section of the state, and our Linn County mines already produce each year about 80,000 tons. (The actual tonnage as shown by mine inspector’s last report is 86,774, the value being $187,913— Editor History.).”[5] This is the vein all Marceline area/Marceline Township mines mined.

One report indicates that the Tebo bed is the vein being mined. By the 1890s there were two large shipping mines with short spurs from the Santa Fe railroad—Marceline Coal and Mining’s Mines No. 1 and 2. There was a third, smaller mine operated by the Landreth Coal Co. that did not have a spur. Furthermore, “Much of the product not sold locally is utilized by the railroad.”[6]

This discovery led to multiple mines being sunk in and around Marceline, all of which supplied coal to consumers (commercial, private, homeowners, etc.).

Early Marceline-Area Coal Mines that Supplied Coal Directly to Buyers Prior to POS

Between 1888 and 1923, Marceline had multiple mines. The largest during this time were Mine No. 1 and Mine No. 2 owned by Marceline Coal and Mining. Another mine, the Landreth Coal Company owned the eponymous Landreth Mine was listed as being in Brookfield, though it was only a mile westerly of Marceline. Two other mines were reported near Marceline during his time: Hier Coal Mine and Chariton Coal Mine, but these appear to not been in business long.

Marceline Coal and Mining Mine Nos. 1 (1889-1915) and 2 (1905- 1923)

Originally, the Kansas & Texas Coal Company purchased property to prospect for coal. This company operated until October of 1893; later that year, C. J. Devlin began operating it under the name of the Marceline Coal Company. He ran it until 1907, when he went broke during the 1907 Bankers’ Panic or Knickerbocker Crisis. Devlin’s former Mines No. 1 and No. 2 went to the Marceline Coal & Mining Company after the properties were closed out in bankruptcy.

Throughout all the changes, Joseph Hemmings, who was appointed superintendent of Mine No. 1 in 1889 and Mine No. 2 when it opened in 1905, remained superintendent, “and under his masterful direction the properties are still yielding enormous quantities of fuel to drive the wheels of commerce.”[7]

In Marceline, Mine No. 1, located about one mile southeast of downtown Marceline near the Chariton County line (Figures 16-17, 20), opened in 1889[8] and closed in May of 1915.[9] Mine No. 1’s coal “is largely used by the Santa Fe Railroad.”[10] In 1899 it employed 299 people.[11] This mine appears to have been purchased by Home Coal Co., a new building erected and reopened. That mining company is seen on the 1930 and 1939 Sanborn maps (Figures 18-19). The company supplied coal directly to the government of the City of Marceline. It is unknown if it supplied to other consumers, such as homeowners.

Mine No. 2,[12] located 1.25 mile north of downtown Marceline (Figures 15-17), opened in November 1905.[13] When Mine No. 1 closed in 1915, the Mine No. 2 owners purchased more land around their mine to expand, going from 5000 tons to 7000 tons a month, it ended up hiring an additional 50-60 men, increasing the payroll to about $250,000 a year.[14] Soon after Mine No. 1 shut down, the Marceline Coal & Mining Company changed its name to Miners Co-Operative Coal Co.[15] The mine later changed hands, with the Jackson-Walker Coal Co. taking over and shuttering it in April of 1923 when they started “dismantling Mine No. 2, and much of the machinery [was shipped] to their mines in Illinois.”[16]

In 1907, the state inspector’s annual report noted the company “capitalized for $30,000.” that it owns 40 acres with “control under lease” of another 1200 acres around Marceline. On this land, the company runs two mines, both working a 27 inches thick coal seam. The combined output of the mines in 1905 totaled 80,371 tons of coal valued at $167199.[17]

Further research is needed to determine if the coal from both mines were sold separately or if the coal sold to local consumers was combined and sold together.

Hier Coal Mine (1905- circa 1908)

News reports state a fourth nearby mine, Hier Coal Mine, was opened circa 1905, one mile east of Marceline on 80 acres owned by Hugh Green and run by James Hier. As noted above, Hier originally worked for Landreth Coal Mine. Hier employed 2-4 miners at this time and had an output of 847 tons of coal valued at $2416.[18] The inspector reports that when he visited it on 12 July 1907, he “found it idle, owing to a depressed local market” and the mine was full of water, making work difficult.[19] The company was run by the Hier brothers who owned Hier Bros. Grocery Store at 109 S. Kansas (Figures 17 and 23).[20] It appears they supplied directly from their mine.[21]

COAL SUPPLYING COMPANIES (MINES and COMMERCIAL)

As the coal industry picked up in Marceline, so did options for coal delivery.

Mines Supplying Coal During the POS

Several local mines existed during the POS (1924-1952) and most of them appear to have supplied coal to the community, though records are vague and it’s unknown what the coal was used for or to whom it was most often sold (i.e., commercial, household, private, etc.).

Home Coal Co. Mine No. 2 (circa 1917 – post-1939)

This company took over the Marceline Coal and Mining Company’s Mine No. 1 (Figures 15-17), 21) shortly after Marceline Coal and Mining shuttered its doors in 1915. The first ads for the company appear in 1917. The company mined there until at least 1939 (Figure 20). But no records exist discussing when it closed and why.

Landreth Mine (1889- post-1942)

Around 1889, J. L. Landreth, dropped a shaft with the aid of Rush Floyd and son Joseph, assisted by their neighbor, Mr. Anthony Eligman. The Landreth mine became the second coal mine in the Marceline vicinity.[22] The mine was originally referred to as the Landreth-Eligman Mine and, after two years in business, was reported to have ten miners, one of which was Jas. Hier, who was “in charge of the underground work.” Landreth supplied domestic coal to the city, rather than shipping it elsewhere.[23]

This coal mine was located one mile southwest of Marceline,[24] but not within the city limits of Marceline; therefore, it is not seen on the Sanborn maps. It was reported to be a successful and that Landreth sold almost exclusively to local consumers.[25] A 1907 inspection report indicates Landreth Coal Mine (not to be confused with the Landreth Coal Co. which supplied coal) employed 12-25 miners plus additional staff. Its 1907 output was 2,500 tons worth $6875. The coal from this mine was “hauled in wagons to Marceline, where it is used for domestic purposes.”[26] The mine was wrought with trouble. Several fires plagued it. For example, a major fire in the Landreth mine in 1934 shut it down for a while.[27] A 1942 article indicates the mine had a fire in 1942 and that the repairs were quick, and the mine re-opened.[28] The year the mine shut down is unknown.

Chariton County Coal and Coke Company (1921- post-1940)

In 1921, The Chariton County Coal and Coke Company opened. By this time, only two other mines appear to have been operating both the Home and Landreth mines. Reports state the company “struck a thirty-inch vein of bituminous coal…one mile south of Marceline [in Chariton County]” and was mined primarily for commercial use.[29] This mine was a re-opening of an old mine shaft, the Mullen Coal Mine, that had been abandoned.[30] It operated until at least the late 1940s based on ads (Figure 20). Like the Landreth mine, it delivered to consumers directly from the mine.

Nearly all these coal mines supplied coal to various businesses and entities. A more in-depth discussion of coal delivery from and by these mines follows below.

By 1941 when Fred Gucker purchased the coal office from Randolph Coal Company, the Marceline area still had two coal mines operating in the vicinity— Landreth, Chariton County—and perhaps a third (Home Coal Co.). These mines employed over 100 people.[31]

Non-Mine (Commercial) Coal Suppliers

During the period of significance, several coal supply companies dealt with the hauling of coal out of town. Randolph Coal, which occupied the property from 1924 until 1941, was the supplier out of the current building and then, after W. J. Randolph sold it to Fred Gucker, the Gucker Coal Company carried on the supply of coal to various entities in the city and township, including, but not limited to Marceline Township, the City of Marceline, the Santa Fe Railroad, the Masonic Lodge, and citizens for heating their businesses and homes.[32]

The mine owners sold coal directly to the city[33] but later seemed to favor distributors like Randolph and later Gucker to move the coal by truck to other parts of the county. According to Lewis, the train would back into the spur running north to south located along the unnamed alley to the east of the property and coal would be unloaded into the temporary wood coal bins. Then crews from supply companies would pull into the property from the south (California Avenue), position themselves over the scales, and Gucker would load their trucks. The trucks would either back up into East California Avenue or travel forward and turn into the alley.[34] The spur has never been associated with the nominated property as it is in a public right-of-way.

To move the product, mine companies relied on not only their staff but smaller local companies to move the product. The three most short-lived companies where:

Landreth Coal Co.: For a short time, this coal company was known as Wine & Landreth Coal Co., later becoming S.A. Landreth Coal Co. until the Landreth Mine closed and S.A. Landreth took over control of the Chariton Coal Mine just south of Marceline.[35] The coal was sent directly from the mine to local users.[36] Based on ads in the Marceline newspaper, the delivery company was sometimes listed as “S.A. Landreth Coal Co.”, but usually as “Landreth Coal Co.”
Chariton Coal Co.: Like the Landreth Coal Co., Chariton coal, based on ads in the local newspapers, seemed to primarily sell direct to consumers from its mine (Figure 20).[37]

It was typical during this time for coal suppliers to supply a variety of coals to their clients. The reason is that various coals work better in particular instances. Often, the company would contract with one brand, but continue to sell others. The following companies were no exception.

The History of the Marceline Mercantile & Supply Company Office

After shuttering his large downtown Marceline J. Hemmings Mercantile & Supply Company store in 1924, Joseph Hemmings, the co-founder and superintendent of the Marceline Coal and Mining Co. and who is credited with selling the first lot in Marceline, opened this office at 125 E. California Avenue.[38] Hemmings ran the Marceline Mercantile & Supply Co. out of a downtown office,[39] but decided to close it. He was granted a building permit to erect an office building on lots 17 and 18 in block 172, according to plans and specifications[40] and designed to “be a fireproof structure, build of brick with stuccoed walls inside and out” from which Hemming’s would use as his private office; it appears it acted as William (J. (W.J.) Randolph’s coal office (Figure 18), too. Randolph managed Hemmings Mercantile at the same time.[41]

From this property Hemmings ran his own mercantile and coal supply company under the same name as his larger store until some point in the future Randolph opened his coal office, taking over Hemmings’ fuel delivery.[42] Over the course of years, ads show he sold “Marceline” coal (unknown source, but most likely from Mine No. 2 or Landreth), “Big Ben” / “Old Ben” (Illinois) coal, Miners Co-operative Coal Company (Mine No. 2) coal, Landreth (Brookfield, MO.) coal and Pennsylvania Anthracite (source unknown).

Randolph Coal Co.[43]

In 1926, Randolph officially purchased Hemmings’ company.[44] Ads started showing up in the local newspaper (advertising the W. J. Randolph Mercantile Co. showing the types of coals they offered, which included Marceline coal (Figure 19).

Randolph was a local businessman whose family owned several buildings and businesses in Marceline. The first business they owned, a brick and tiles manufacturing company, was operated by E.M. Randolph, W. J. Randolph’s father.[45] Randolph also ran the family hotel.[46] He was the trustee of several businesses that were going out of business, such as a grocery store in 1927.[47] In 1928, the company was also appointed distribution agent by the Home Coal Company running their mine southeast of downtown.[48] The 1939 annual Marceline Township statement of disbursements published in the newspaper indicates Randolph Coal Company[49] was the sole supplier of coal to this township[50] and had supplied it with 1100 pounds of coal.[51] This deal was lucrative. The following year the city announced that it had accepted Home Coal Company’s bid to be the sole coal supplier to the city.[52] While running the coal company, Randolph diversified into heating and cooling services as well, becoming a Green Colonial Air Conditioning and Heating System dealer.[53] Like other coal supply companies, Randolph also sold other brands, like Pennsylvania Anthracite and Old Ben (Illinois) (Figure 19).

The annual report from the City of Marceline shows that during his last year in business (1940), the Randolph Coal Co. was paid $2.20 for supplying 1100 pounds of coal to the city; a second entry on this report lists a $4.00 reimbursement for coal, no weight is given.[54] He sold the property to Frank Gucker around 3 October 1941 (Figure 21).[55]

According to Linn County Recorder of Deeds information, Randolph never owned the property. Gucker purchased the property from Hemmings, not Randolph.[56]

Gucker Coal Company

Like Hemmings and Randolph, Frank Gucker was an extremely important and integral part of Marceline’s business and political environments as well, even before he purchased the Randolph Coal Company 1941 and changed the name to Gucker Coal Company.

After buying the Randolph Coal Company in 1941 (Figure 21),[57] the Gucker Coal Company appears to have been the sole supplier of coal to the community, city and the Santa Fe depot. While the S.A. Landreth Coal Company existed at this same time, no evidence has been found to definitively claim that Landreth supplied coal to the city or to the railroad.

Like its owner, the Gucker Coal Company was active in the community. For example, the company participated in the World War II efforts by selling War Bonds and supplied one ton of Green Marked coal to one of Marceline’s war bond auction events.[58] Such involvement in the city meant that Gucker’s company was helping move the city and the nation forward at the same time. While people bought bonds for the war, Gucker supplied free coal so those donating might still be able to afford to heat their homes.

Gucker’s private records (See Figures 9-11) show he supplied coal to the City of Marceline (Figure 6), residences, and several major businesses in the city such as the Santa Fe Depot, [59] Marceline Post Office, the Masonic Lodge and others. The 1945 Annual Financial Statement for the Township of Marceline indicates the township paid him $7.14 for an unspecified amount of coal.[60] The company’s main customer base, though, were private citizens in the area,[61] whereas the only other company running at the time was doing business only with homeowners. Gucker was a Mark Twain Coal (Illinois), Eagle-Cherokee (Kansas) and Bee-Veer Coal (Figure 22), sourced from a mine south of Bevier, Missouri, 25 miles east of Marceline in Macon County. He had also contracted with Old Ben as a supplier (Figure14) to diversify as others did before him.

Frank Gucker retired in 1952.[62] After his retirement, Glenn Hughes and his wife, Anna Margaret Gucker (Frank and Inez’s daughter), leased the coal business.[63]

The Hughes’ Take Over and The End of the Period of Significance

The Hughes’ took out an ad in the same 1952 issue that discussed Gucker’s retirement to announce they had assumed daily operations and were keeping the Gucker Coal Company name. Due to the decline in the coal industry for several reasons, particularly in the Marceline area, the Hughes expanded the company to include Phillips 66[64] fuel oil and gas almost exclusively. The coal they did supply was Bee-Veer coal.[65] Because the Hughes switched to a focus on supplying a different fossil fuel primarily, the end of the POS is 1952, when they purchased the property, that happens to coincide with Gucker’s retirement. The Hughes’ continued running the coal company into the 1960s, well beyond the Period of Significance (1924-1952).

The Marceline Mercantile & Supply Company property extant remnant of the coal supply company—or of any part of the coal industry—in Marceline and Marceline Township.

While the coal companies that occupied this office (Marceline Mercantile & Supply Company, Randolph Coal Company and Gucker Coal Company) had local competition, the building and its property ultimately survived until now, outlasting all its competitors. No known remnants of other suppliers exist, making this property the last extant remnant of this aspect of the Marceline-area coal industry.

During its time in operation, the companies in it supplied both locally mined and imported coal to the city and township and to residents (domestic use). When the coal mines in the area began to shut down, the final owners during the POS pivoted and supplied out-of-town coal too to meet the demands of the area.

While one other coal supply companies existed (Landreth, Hier, Home (supplied straight from mine), and Chariton) at the same time during the POS (1924-1952) and some updates to the building, the removal of the outhouse, the filling-in of the external scales, the removal of the temporary wood coal bins, and some landscaping, the nominated property has survived with its integrity largely intact.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] “History of Mining.” Missouri DNR. Accessed 18 September 2023. https://dnr.mo.gov/land-

geology/mining-land-reclamation/history-mining.

[2] Compendium of History and Biography of Linn County, Missouri. 1912. Archive.org. Accessed

21 September 2023. https://archive.org/stream/compendiumofhist00chic/ compendiumofhist00chic_djvu.txt.

[3] Untitled. The Marceline Mirror, 19 Dec 19, 1889.

[4] Compendium.

[5] Compendium.

[6] “Coal Mining in Linn County.” Rootsweb. Accessed 19 September 2023.

https://mogenweb.org/adair/www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/_molinn/coalmine.html.

[7] Compendium.

[8] Untitled. The Marceline Mirror, 11 March 1892 and “The Early History of Marceline.” The Marceline News,

7 November 1930.

[9] “Mine No. 1 Shuts Down.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 21 May 1915.

[10] “Marceline’s Coal Mines: Inspectors’ Annual Report.” The Marceline Mirror, 21 February 1908.

[11] Untitled. The Marceline Mirror, 13 January 1899.

[12] See Figure 11 for photo of this mine.

[13] “New Mine Ready for Work.” The Marceline Mirror, 17 November 1905.

[14] “Mine No. 2 to Make Big Increase in Force.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 21 April 1916.

[15] “City Council Let’s Coal Contract.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 5 March 1926.

[16] “J.H. Hemmings Buys Company Store.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 2 November 1923 and

“Mine No. 2 Closed Down Temporarily.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 20 April 1923.

[17] “Marceline’s Coal Mines.”

[18] “Marceline Coal Mines.”

[19] Ibid.

[20] Heir Coal Ad. The Marceline News, 22 June 1906.

[21] “Marceline Coal Mines.”

[22] Landreth Coal Mine. RootsWeb. Accessed 22 September 2023.

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sturnbo/folklore/files/landreth/coalmine.htm.

[23] Untitled. The Marceline Mirror, 27 August 1891.

[24] “Marceline’s Coal Mines.”

[25] Compendium.

[26] “Marceline’s Coal Mines.”

[27] “A $10,000 Fire at The Landreth Mine.” The Marceline News and the Bucklin Herald, 20 July 1934. This

information is the same given in The Magic City, Marceline, Missouri: Diamond Jubilee Celebration, June 29, to July 4, 1963. Walsworth Pub., 1963.

[28] “Fire at Landreth Mine.” The Marceline News and The Bucklin Herald, 31 July 1942.

[29] “Struck a 30 Inch Vein of Soft Coal.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 26 August 1921.

[30] “Open the Old Mullen Coal Mine.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 1 October 1920. This is the first and last

mention of this mine in the newspapers.

[31] “Industrial Survey of This City is Being Made.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 25 March 1927.

[32] See Figures 7-9.

[33] The city minutes for December 1910 show Marceline Coal and Mining Co. supplying “one Car coal” to the city

for $109.90. “City Council Minutes.” December 1910.

[34] Lewis, Michelle. Personal Interview. 27 July 2023.

[35] “Stephen Landreth Funeral Services Held Monday.” The Marceline News and Bucklin Herald, 10 May 1962.

[36] Ads for S.A. Landreth Coal Company give no indication the coal is local despite being the operated of the Chariton County mine. Given the proximately of the mine to surrounding local areas, its most reasonable that it was moved by truck.

[37] Chariton Coal Co. Ad. The Marceline News and Bucklin Herald, 13 December 1940.

[38] “Joseph Hemmings Sold the First Lot.” The Marceline News, 14 June 1935.

[39] According to the 13 April 1909 City Council minutes, Hemmings’ mercantile company at one point supplied the

city with coal, presumably from the mines for which he was superintendent. At this time, have as paid $5.25. “City Council Minutes.” 13 April 1909.

[40] “Council Grants Building Permits.” The Marceline Herald, 20 June 1924. Rich Hoon, Marceline City Manager,

indicated that the city had no formal zoning laws until 1980. All records prior that, therefore, are inconsistent. Most records are missing due to no formal laws. 13 December 2023.

[41] “BBuilding [sic] New Office.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 11 July 1924.

[42] There is a discrepancy here. County records do not show Randolph ever owning the property yet county records

show him selling it to Gucker.

[43] A “trustee” is an individual put in charge of the assets of a failing business, not someone who has several failed businesses.

[44] “W.J. Randolph Buys Coal Office.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 8 January 1926.

[45] “Marceline Locals.” The Marceline Journal, 6 January 1898.

[46] “’Old Timers’ Here Still in Business.” The Marceline News, 14 June 1935.

[47] “To the Public.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 17 September 1926.

[48] “Notice.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 7 September 1928. As noted before, records in Marceline are

inconsistent at best. The length of this relationship is unknown and out of the scope of this nominations focus.

[49] More research is needed to determine when Randolph changed the name of his company.

[50] Marceline Township includes the City of Marceline and a great deal of the surrounding city. Thus, Randolph supplied all the municipal needs for the area, not just the city.

[51] “Annual Township Statement.” The Marceline News and The Bucklin Herald, 7 April 1939.

[52] “City Will Buy Home Mined Coal.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 22 March 1929. This is supported by the 4

November 1929 City Council minutes confirming the Home would be the sole supplier to the city.

[53] An ad in the 6 October 1939 edition of The Marceline News and The Bucklin Herald states this.

[54] “Annual Township Statement.”

[55] An ad in the 3 October 1941 edition of The Marceline News confirms the Randolph coal company was sold (Figure 12). The sale is also referenced in “Frank Gucker Has Decided to Rest.” The Marceline News and

The Bucklin Herald, 11 July 1952.

[56] Waddle, Tanjua. Recorder of Deeds, Linn County, Missouri, Interview. 2 December 2023.

[57] “Purchase Ad.” This is confirmed by his granddaughter Michelle and in “Rites Wednesday for Frank Gucker.”

The Marceline News and The Bucklin Herald, 19 December 1952.

[58] “A War Bond Auction Will Be Held Here Night of June 16.” The Marceline News, 8 June 1945.

[59] His logs do not specify what the railroad and others used the coal for, just that they purchased directly from him.

[60] “Annual Financial Statement.” The Marceline News and the Bucklin Herald, 6 April 1945.

[61] Lewis and the records indicate this is a true statement.

[62] “Frank Gucker.”

[63] “Lease Gucker Coal Business.” The Marceline News and The Bucklin Herald, 18 July 1952.

[64] “The Hughes Oil Company Operated by Anna and Glenn Hughes.” The Marceline News and the Bucklin Herald.

27 June 1963. An ad in the 14 May 1959 edition of the same newspaper shows the name had been changed by at least 1959.

[65] This information comes from the synthesis of various company ads.

[66] All Marceline area mines did direct sales to customers, often cutting out the middleman completely. Since they

too were suppliers, the term “coal industry” has been used to include all suppliers, regardless of whether they mined too. Additionally, the scope of this research was focused on Marceline and its immediate surroundings.

MO_Linn County_Marceline Masonic Temple 481_0001

June 25 2025

Marceline Masonic Lodge: Architecture, Part 2

Marceline HistoricalSociety Architecture, Beaux Arts, Historical Buildings, Marceline Historical Society, marcelineproject, Masonic Lodge, Masons architecture, Beaux Arts, historic buildings, historic preservation, historical society, history, Maceline timeline, marceiine historic society, Marceline, Marceline Historical Society, Masonic Lodge, Masons 0

Since its erection in 1923 and opening in 1924, the Marceline Masonic Lodge #481 at 201 N. Main St. U.S.A. (N. Kansas Ave.) Street, in Marceline, Linn County, Missouri has provided space for the public and local groups to hold ceremonial meetings, gather for fellowship and festivities, and organize their charitable activities. The building’s design, the massing and decorative details on the two primary façades—one facing Main Street U.S.A. and the other facing W. Ritchie Avenue—make the Masonic Temple a noteworthy instance of its genre—a monumental Masonic lodge. This building is locally significant under Criterion C: ARCHITECTURE for the following reasons: 1) It is an exceptional example of the Beaux-Arts style popular during the 1880s through 1930s. In fact, it is northeast and north central Missouri’s best and purest expression of a Beaux-Arts style building designed for a Masonic lodge; 2) This stately building demonstrates the translation of subdued European styles to rural areas in Missouri and the conservative yet sophisticated design present in Marceline and Masonic Temples in the region shortly before the Great Depression; and 3) this Masonic Temple preserves its prime historical features. The main south and east elevations of the Masonic Temple are virtually unaltered in appearance since the building’s construction by a local contractor almost 100 years ago. The period of significance is 1923-1924, the start and finish dates of construction.

The History of Freemasonry in Missouri and the Start of the Marceline Lodge

The Order of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons or Freemasonry represents the oldest fraternity in existence. Freemasonry descends from medieval guilds and as far back as the Temple of King Solomon.[2] This is common knowledge among Freemason Brothers and numerous sources verify this sentiment.[3]

All the earliest Lodges in what is now the State of Missouri were chartered by the Grand Lodges of other states, particularly the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, Indiana and Tennessee.[4] In Missouri, the Masonic organization started in 1808 in Ste. Genevieve, a lodge warranted by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.[5] The Grand Lodge of Missouri, located in St. Louis, was established on 21 April 1821, five months before Missouri was granted statehood.[6] Missouri Freemasonry was officially founded on 17 February 1843, when the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient Masons of the State of Missouri was incorporated 22 years after Missouri was awarded Statehood.[7]

Freemasonry spread rapidly throughout the state as settlers organized new counties.[8] The pace of new lodges forming was incredibly fast and soon there were several allied organizations both locally and nationally; these organizations included auxiliary organizations that were related to the central Lodge: the York and Scottish Rites; Shrine; Order of the Eastern Star (the male members female relatives; Order of DeMolay youth group for members’ male children); and Bethels of Job’s Daughters.[9] The Marceline Lodge is no exception. Three of these same organizations met within the walls of the lodge: Eastern Star, Order of DeMolay, and Shrine.

The Marceline lodge was and still is one of three Masonic Lodges in Linn County, Missouri. Brookfield #86 in Brookfield, Linn County, Missouri was chartered on 2 June 1866. The other lodge, Jackson Lodge #82 in Linneus, Linn County, Missouri, is the oldest lodge in the county; it was chartered on 15 October 1846. The current Marceline Masonic Lodge #481 was the last Masonic Temple in Linn County to be built. It was charted on 17 October 1889, with the worshipful Master as Milton Helwig as the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge.[10] All three lodges still exist.[11]

The previous one-part commercial block building that housed the Masonic Temple located at this corner burned down in 1903; a two-part commercial block building was built in its place and covered the original corner lot and the lot to the north of it. The 1903 building later burned down in 1923 and was replaced by the current Beaux-Arts style building.

HISTORY OF THE MARCELINE LODGE #481

According to the archival records of Marceline Masonic Lodge #481, the original building where the Masonic temple now exists was built in 1889, a year after Marceline was officially incorporated as a city. It existed on the same location as the current building’s southern half. The building can be seen on the 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map indicates what appears to be a two-part commercial block building housing a bank in the front and a post office in the rear; there is no indication of what is on the second story.[12] No building existed on the plot where the north portion of the current building stands.[13] The Marceline Masonic Association purchased the property in 1900 for $2500 from the Bank of Marceline.[14]

Prior to the period of significance (1923-1924), the Masons met in various locations around the city. Between 1889-1898 there are no known records of the organization’s activities. Further research may turn up meeting minutes or other source material from this time. Meeting minutes between 1899 and 1901 indicate the Masons did not meet often in the original two-part commercial block building seen in the 1894 Sanborn map and situated on the corner of Kansas and Ritchie Avenues. Existing Masonic Lodge meeting minutes indicate the lodge met periodically in various places around the city, and only occasionally in the buildings seen in the 1902 and 1911 Sanborn maps. Other places include the Miner’s Hall (two blocks south, extant), the Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) Magnolia Lodge (two buildings north of the current lodge, extant), Cater Opera House (one block south, non-extant), and various backrooms and offices.

By 1902, the building seen in the 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map still existed with what appears to be an identical footprint.[15] Any differences could be a matter of the person drawing the map. By this time, the post office had moved to the front of the property and a printing shop occupied the rear of the building.

A 1903 fire significantly damaged the original building owned by the lodge. Minutes indicate the damage was severe enough to warrant the building of a two-part commercial block building. This assessment is supported by a receipt dated January or June 10, 1903,[16] showing the sale of the north wall. Further research is needed to determine the reason the north wall was sold. As a result of the fire, the Masons decided to build two buildings to replace the damaged building that spanned the corner lot at Kansas and Ritchie and the plot immediately to its north.[17] The 1911 Sanborn Map indicates two storefronts were present on those lots. Figure 16 shows them as two-part commercial block buildings with two stories on the same lots on which the current lodge sits. It contained a grocery store and “Printing & Gasol.Eng” on the second floor.[18]

In 1920, the Masons debated over the efficacy of replacing the old 1911 building. They determined, after speaking with “the Architect, J. R. Hogg, and well-known contractors [they concluded] that now was a very inopportune time to build. Estimates of the costs of the proposed building reached $25,000, which amount was felt to be excessive.”[19] About two years later that building burned down and it was replaced by the current building.[20]

The Debate About What to Do with the Burned Down Building and Property

As early as 1916, the Masons were already considering a new Lodge on the lot where the current building rests. A 1919 Marceline Journal-Mirror article, indicates that “James F. Hogg, a Kansas City architect, is busy submitting sketches for the proposed new Masonic temple. Three years ago a sinking fund was started for the edifice, but the war has had the effect of delaying the construction.”[21] The article goes on to describe the proposed building as having a “structural arrangement of the lodge rooms and connecting galleries, crypts, etc., will aid in the exemplification of the teaching of the early craft masters” and have the meeting room and cloak rooms on the second floor.

In February of 1923, the Lodge members voted to raze “both buildings” occupying the location of the current 1923-1924 Lodge building. They contracted with Fred Newman (Figure 15), a Marceline-based general contractor to do the job for $40,000. They stipulated Mr. Newman had to remove all “plate glass from the [old buildings’] windows”, that he had to tear down the buildings carefully and “all bricks that are full size bricks [are] to be cleaned and stacked” to be used in the building.[22] After this, they debated about what to do with that property.

At their 13 March 1923 meeting, the Lodge debated what to do with the now vacant lots and “to ascertain if an option could be secured upon a suitable location for the erection of a Masonic Temple.” The meeting included mention of the possibility of selling the lots to the Standard Oil Company for $10,000, the Lodge members decided to build the new Masonic Temple on the same lots occupied by “the present Masonic location Lots No. 1 & 2 Block No. 156.” The meeting concluded with a motion that passed stating the “entire basement for the Masonic Temple be excavated.”[23]

A week later, on 19 March 1923, they reconvened. During this meeting, a letter from the architect firm of W.E. Hulse & Co. in Hutchinson, Kansas was read, and the Lodge members agreed that the President would contact W.E. Hulse to set a date to meet with the Temple Association to go over the building plans and specifications.[24]

During their 29 March 1923 meeting, the lodge members met with architect W.E. Hulse and went over the plans for the new Temple. During that meeting “the plans for the Masonic Temple were examined, from the basement to garret, by the member [sic] of the Board, making several miner [sic] changes and corrections, after which… the plans for the MASONIC TEMPLE, as corrected, presented by Architect W. E. Hulse be approved. Motion unanimously carried and plans approved.”[25]

At their 11 April 1923 meeting, they officially hired Hulse, and work began on finding a general contractor, plumber, electrician, and others.

The contract the Lodge signed with Hulse required heavy recycling of material from the old buildings. The material recovered and kept included using 72 yards of Native rock and 35,200 common bricks (Figure 19). Thus, several of the circa 1911 bricks have been incorporated into the current structure.

The Masons considered construction related “bids for erection of a Masonic Temple” by Hulse. Bids and plans were then read in the presence of the contractors and others in attendance. During this session the Brothers tabled a motion to make the cornerstone out of “Carthalite [sic] stone” and that the front entry doors should “be covered on the outer side with copper as per the specifications”, that maple flooring would be installed, and floor insulation eliminated. No records indicate the entry door specifications were changed; however, no copper is currently present at this or any other location on the outside of the building. Further research is required to determine if copper was part of the original entryway from or removed later with a non-historic entryway was installed.

Two weeks later, during the 26 April 1923 meeting, the Lodge members hired the work crews: John Scott and Son of Memphis, Missouri was awarded the General Contractor contract for the sum of $32,715.00, Nathan DeYoung was hired to do the electric work for $493.53, and G.W. Bigger Heating and Plumbing Co. of Marceline got the heating and plumbing contract with a bid of $4080.00. Finally, the motion to make the “FACE BRICK be of the No. C.P. Shade No. 123, as made by the RELIANCE BRICK CO. of Kansas City, Mo.” carried.[26]

During the 15 May 1923 meeting, the Brothers agreed to have a Carthage Stone or Granite cornerstone. Carthage won out (Photos 1-2, 6-7).[27]

The minutes of 5 June 1923 discuss changes in the partitions of rooms as indicated on a pencil sketch presented by E.W. Taylor.[28] These changes were to be made and the same be referred to the Architect and Contractor. Specifically mentioned is that The Red Cross Room was to become one room with an angular wall [referred to as a dogleg in Section 7’s discussion of this room] at the northeast corner of the new room. This change also effected the wall of the Lobby on second floor when the wall was moved east to match the location of The Red Cross Room’s east wall, thus the dogleg angle. The floor in the Red Cross room indicates that change was implemented prior to construction of room, no indication of a wall ever constructed. Figure 21 shows there was a penciled in alteration of this area.

The foundation was completed by August 1923. On 3 August it was reported that the brickwork had started after a delay caused by waiting on the bricks to arrive.[29]

The cornerstone was laid 14 August 1923 with the east elevation cornerstone inscription reading “Aug. 14, 1923, A.L. 5923, Bert S. Lee Grand Master” and the south elevation cornerstone inscription reading: “Marceline Lodge No. 481 A.F. & A.M. with the Masonic symbol centered between “481” and the “A.F.” line (Photos 1-2, 6-7).[30]

As the erection of the current building ensued, the members of the lodge discussed all the details of the new lodge, including the types of windows,[31] decided on the cornerstone inscriptions, which cornerstone inscription would face which direction (south or east), dealt with defective face brick, and then, on August 14, 1923, they laid the cornerstone.[32] The box sealed within the cornerstone contains a number of objects, ranging from minutes, by-laws of each chapter in the building (Knights Templar, DeMolay, etc.), lists of officers, one copy each of the Marceline Journal-Mirror and Herald, among other items.[33]

Once these “housekeeping” issues were completed, the Masons focused on such tasks as the basement, voting to have it include “concrete bases 12” x 12” and 18” high with an iron clad plate on the top placed until the Ten (10) 12” x 12”[34] wood posts” and to lower the ceiling of the property room, toilets and other rooms as the Committee [sic] deems advisable.”[35]

A letter from Joseph S. McIntyre, Grand Master of the St. Louis Grand Lodge, dated “January 24^th, 1924,” indicates that the new Masonic Temple would be dedicated on 22 February 1924.[36] During the 8 February 1924 meeting, it “was mutually decided that … the Contractor, John Scott and Son, and the Architect, W. E. Hulse and Co., that the Marceline Masonic Temple Association” be paid off immediately.[37]

On 27 February 1924, Marceline Masonic Temple #481 held a public open house.[38] One article gushed about everyone seeing “a building stately to the eye,”[39] while the following week’s Herald article about the dedication stated that 650 people were in attendance to look at the new building and enjoy the dedication festivities.[40]

[1] “Our History!” City of Marceline. http://marcelinemo.us/home/history.html. Accessed 1 May 2023.

[2] “Freemasonry: The First Masonic Grand Lodge.” The History Press.

https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/freemasonry-the-first-masonic-grand-lodge/.

Accessed 29 April 2023.

[3] Lewis, Fred. Personal Interview. 1 February 2023.

[4] “Grand Lodge of the Month for June 2017.” The George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

https://gwmemorial.org/blogs/gl-of-the-month/the-grand-lodge-of-missouri#:~:text=From%20these%20Lodges%20the%20Grand,four%2Dyear%20liberal%20arts%20college. 2017 June 01. Accessed 2 May 2023.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] “Grand Lodge of Missouri.” Wikiwand. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Grand_Lodge_of_Missouri. Accessed 12

February 2023.

[8] “Freemasonry’s First 150 Years in Missouri”, Kansas City Star, 26 September 1971, Star Magazine Section, 25.

[9] “Grand Lodge.”

[10] Information is a synthesis of various pages on the Grand Lodge of Missouri website: https://momason.org/.

Also, see Figure 19 for Lodge Charter.

[11] Confirmed by Brother Fred Lewis.

[12] Sanborn Map, 1894.

[13] Sanborn Map, 1894.

[14] This information comes from a bond notice confirmed in “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple

Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 17 January 1901, Marceline, MO.

[15] Sanborn Map, 1902.

[16] The minutes are incomplete at this time and not as detailed as later minutes, so this information is relying heavily

on lodge interviews and extrapolation from the archived minutes.

[17] See Figure 16 for partial view of the building. The north portion of what is a two two-part commercial block

building. The 1911 Sanborn map shows it as two two-part building. This is most likely correct because Masonic minutes discuss what to do with the building located on the northern lot.

[18] Sanborn Map, 1911.

[19] “Masonic Temple Will Be Built Later.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 5 May 1920.

[20] Nearly a year of minutes discuss the debate about the 1923-1924 building. See “The Debate About What to Do

with the Burned Down Building and Property” below for more detail.

[21] “Plans for the New Masonic Temple.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 1919. The “Masonic Temple Will Be Built

Later.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 5 May 1920 article has similar information.

[22] Fred Newman Contract. 15 February 1923. Marceline Masonic Temple Association archives. This information is

verified in “Down Comes the Old Masonic Hall.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 23 February 1923 and “Tearing Down Masonic Building.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 2 March 1923.

[23] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 13 March

1923, Marceline, MO.

[24] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Assoc., 19 Mar. 1923.

[25] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 29 March

1923, Marceline, MO.

[26] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 26 April 1923,

Marceline, MO.

[27] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 15 May 1923,

Marceline, MO.

[28] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 5 June 1923,

Marceline, MO.

[29] “Brickwork Started on Masonic Temple.” The Marceline News. 3 August 1923. See Photos 25-27 and 36 show

the original bricks used in the construction of the lodge.

[30] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, August 14

1923, Marceline, MO.

[31] These windows, as noted in Section 7, were replaced October 2011 through March 2012.

[32] These decisions and actions took place between the Masons’ 5 June 1923 and 17 August 1923 meetings.

[33] “Corner Stone of New Masonic Temple.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 17 August 1923.

[34] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Assoc., 7 Sep. 1923.

[35] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 28 September

1923, Marceline, MO. These posts can be found in Figure 9. In that blueprint, there are two additional round posts shown; those posts are the current historic metal supports shown in Photo 27. When this change occurred is unknown. Further research may turn up information. See Section 7 for descriptions of the support beams.

[36] McIntyre, Joseph S., Letter to W.E. Parks. 24 January 1924. Marceline Masonic Temple #481Archives.

[37] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 24 February

1924, Marceline, MO.

[38] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple Association, 11 February

1923, Marceline, MO.

[39] “Masonic Temple Pride of City.” The Marceline Herald. 22 February 1924, XI.28.

[40] “Hospitality Personified.” The Marceline Herald. 29 February 1924, XI.29.

June 20 2025

Marceline Lincoln School: Setting and Architectural Description, Part 1

Marceline HistoricalSociety african american history, african american schools, Black History, black schools, Historical Buildings, Marceline Historical Society, segregation african american history, african american schools, black history, black schools, desegregation, historic buildings, historic preservation, historical society, history, Lincoln School, Marceline, Marceline Historical Society, racism, segregation 0

Lincoln School, located at 201 Wells Avenue in Marceline, Linn County, Missouri, is a rectangular one-story, stuccoed, side gabled building with a basement. It has ceramic/hollow clay tile walls, red brick quoining and red brink framing all first floor historic and non-historic windows and doors. The building is painted white (non-historic). Two feet of the basement extends from the ground; that is rock face concrete painted gray. The gables are non-historic gray metal clapboard. Five brackets line both the north and south gables.

The schoolhouse shares its lot with multiple non-contributing resources which include three sheds (one used as a quail coop, another as a chicken coop and the other as a greenhouse), and a small carport, with one contributing object flagpole). The elevations of the schoolhouse are divided in two sections by a change in material that occurs at the line between the first floor and basement areas. At the south elevation, an historic door at the bottom of non-historic stairs leads to the basement.

Its interior maintains its historical layout. The first floor is a large, one-room area with historic plaster and windows, with a non-historic floor covering the historic subfloor. Some plaster has been removed; all of it has been painted white. The ceramic blocks used in the construction of the resource can be seen where the plaster has fallen off or been removed. The frame for the blackboard remains on the west wall, as does the library area that protrudes from the internal west wall by approximately five feet. The historic chimney/flue remains at the north wall of the first floor. The windows are historic and appear to maintain the look and feel they have had since the school was constructed and opened in 1933. The upper pane of the east windows were that way during the 1930s,[1] so it is reasonable to think they were always like that.

Stairs lead down to the basement. The basement takes up the same dimensions as the first floor. Here, more historic windows are apparent, though some are missing the glass. The remnants of the bathroom pipes can be seen in the southeast corner of the basement. Three floor jacks line the basement from north to south supporting the floor. The historic subfloor can be seen from the basement. The historic chimney is located at the north wall of the basement and the historic coal chute occupies the northwest corner of this wall, too.

While there have been alterations, in the case of the Lincoln School, “the overall sense of past time and place is evident.”[2] Given its, historic function and significance during the period of significance between 1933 and 1954 the Lincoln School is locally significant under Criterion A: ETHNIC HERITAGE – BLACK and EDUCATION and eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.[3]

ELABORATION

Setting

The Lincoln School is a one-room schoolhouse that covers approximately one-fourth of the .643-acre lot of which it is a part.[4] The school is located one-half of a mile south-southwest of Marceline’s downtown commercial district. It is in a rural (non-downtown area) neighborhood in the southwest region of Marceline; a city park is to the south[5], a gravel parking lot to the east, an alley to the north and the owner’s house is to the west. The neighborhood is a mix of late-19^th and early-20^th century homes as well as newer homes and vacant lots.

It is but within the Marceline city limits. It sits directly north of the baseball diamonds in Walt Disney Municipal Park, which is across W. Wells St. to the south. The school is due east of the house that is on the same current property (the historical property border does not include the lots on which the non-historic residential house sits). To the north is an alley and to the east, across the street, is a gravel parking lot.

Tanjua Waddle, Recorder of Deeds for Linn County, stated the school originally sat on Lots 17, 18, 19, and 20 which were sold as a single parcel in 1900 and stayed a single parcel until 1973. When John and Marjorie Leopold purchased the lots in 1973 Lots 17-20 were combined with Lots 21, 22, 23, and 24. The original parcel (Lots 17-20) was purchased on 5/21/1932 by the Marceline School District and owned until 1955 when the school district sold it.[6]

The original lot sizes were 25×140. Lot 17 runs along Chestnut St. on the east line of property. The old school building sits on lot 18. Lots 19 and 20 are in between. Thus, the original site would have extended 100 feet east to west along W. Wells Street, 140 feet along Chestnut, 100 feet along an alley separating W. Wells from W. Curtis Street. The western boundary would have cut through the middle of the current lot (Figures 2 and 3).[7] All references to lots from here refer to the historic property designated as Lots 17-20.

A sidewalk, located along the east boundary of the property, was added after the period of significance. It is not within the boundary and marks the east boundary of the property. The lot is level.

The schoolhouse shares the non-historic lot with a non-historic house (not included in the historic boundary) that is the residence of the school’s owner. A quail pen, a duck and chicken pen, and a storage shed located north-northwest of the school building share the historic lot with the school; a carport is located next to the north wall, but not attached to the resource. An historic flagpole (contributing object) is in the southeast corner of the property. The dates for these changes are found in the “Alterations” section below.

Landscaping is minimal. Two mature trees obscure the main east elevation façade when viewed facing west but are not within the boundary. Otherwise, the historic lot is free of other obstructive vegetation.

The original historic school flagpole made from a railroad semaphore pole is near the southeast corner of the property.[8] A piece of concrete with the remnants of a pole are in the ground about 10 feet east-northeast of the northeast corner of the school.[9]

Architectural Description

Exterior of Lincoln School

The schoolhouse is a rectangular one-room ceramic/hollow clay block building. It has a side gabled roof, open eaves, and a painted stucco exterior. The door and windows are framed by standard red bricks. Brick quoining is on each corner. A red brick, single flue, chimney with non-historic cap, exits the roof at the north side of the building at the roof peak. The gables are covered with non-historic metal clapboard.[10] Five historic wood brackets line the underside of the overhangs on the south and north sides of the building.

The first-floor exterior is relatively smooth stucco painted white (which continues every elevation) with brick quoining at its north and south corners. The eaves are open. An area of rockface concrete block painted gray demarks the location of the basement.

The hollow clay block first floor rests on top of a basement built with rock face concrete blocks above grade and poured cement foundation below grade. The external measurements are 25 feet by 38 feet.

East (Primary) Façade

The first floor consists of three bays and a historic concrete stair with six steps and landing and an historic handrail.

From south to north, its first bay holds a non-historic, metal, single-leaf door and transom. The window in this transom was removed at an unknown date and has been boarded up from the back at least since 2016.[11] The door and transom are surrounded by red brick. At the base of the door the red brick is a rowlock of 21 bricks. The bottom rowlock extends four bricks beyond the bottom of the door on each side. Stacked on those two sets of three bricks are three headers on both sides of the door. Above the three stacked header bricks is a stacked course of 36 bricks leading to the top of the transom. The transom is topped with three rows of running bond extending half a brick length beyond the stacked header courses.

“Lincoln School” is painted in black above the running bonds above the transom. The owner says when he purchased the property, the sign had been painted over and he repainted it.

Bays two and three are nearly identical. Bay two contains a mulled pair of nine light windows. The upper portion of the window frame area has been boarded over on the windows. When this happened is unknown; further research may uncover when and why they were boarded over.[12]

These windows are framed by red brick that follows a similar pattern as the brick framing seen around the front entryway. The sill area is made up of a rowlock of 34 bricks, three of which extend beyond the window frame. Over those three bricks are three stretchers. On top of those is a stacked bond consisting of 22 bricks. The lintel area is comprised of three rows of running bond (Photos 1 and 5). The upper sashes of the first-floor windows on this elevation –as well as on the north elevation—are believed to be sandwiched between additional solid sashes; however, this could not be confirmed due to how the additional solid sashes were installed.

At the basement level are a pair boarded up windows. The sills are stone. As with the other windows, when this was done is unknown.

Bay Three shows the same window layout, including the red brick framing and boarded over basement windows.

South Elevation (Secondary Façade)

The gable has five historic wooden triangular knee brackets and non-historic clapboards (installed in 2018; See Figure 8 for what gables looked like when the property was purchased by the current owner) . These were likely historically finished with wood clapboards; these are currently metal.[13] Three square windows openings are equally spaced across the upper half of the first-floor wall . Each opening features a wooden frame and sash of a single pane with nine lights. Each window opening in framed by red brick trim that follows a similar pattern as the previously describe trim around the windows and door of the east elevation. (This pattern was the same when the property was purchased). The pattern for this frame is 20 rowlock bricks forming the sill with three extending beyond the window frame topped with three stretcher bricks atop of which are 11 bricks in a stacked bond and topped with three rows of running bond to make the lintel. At the basement level, there are three bays, each positioned directly below the windows of the first floor. The east and west bays feature a single window opening, boarded up and painted gray.

A stairwell, made of concrete blocks and a flight of concrete stairs, descends to the basement level alongside the elevation, beginning in front of the west bay and terminating at the center bay with a historic wood entry door to the left. These stairs are mostly historic. Some work to repair eroding steps was done, but as much of the historic material as possible was used in those repairs. There appears to be a drainage system integrated into the stairs.[14]

North Elevation

Like the south elevation gable area, this wall also has five historic triangular knee brackets with and non-historic clapboards (Figures, 4, 6 and 15; Photos 3 and 11). The same type of quoining as described above is seen at both corners of the wall.

This elevation has only two bays, each containing a single pane window with nine lights surrounded by the same brick pattern described in the discussion of the east elevation. The lower central light of the east opening has been replaced with a piece of plywood. The pattern for these frames is 19 rowlock bricks forming the sill with three (3) of these bricks extending beyond the window frame topped with three stretcher bricks atop of which are 22 bricks in a stacked bond and topped with three rows of running bond to form the lintel. Boarded over window centered in the basement wall are consistent with what is seen on the east elevation.

The historical coal chute occupies the lower right (northwest) corner (Photo 3). A modern utility gauge and wiring are affixed to the center of the wall. The wiring pole extends down from the gable to a covered opening where an historic window was located (Photo 3). A brick chimney with a non-historic flue pipe and cap extends from the roof ridge above this elevation.

Non-contributing sheds and a shelter occupy the green space north of this elevation.

West Elevation

This elevation has stucco wall painted white no windows on the first floor and only a single pair of boarded over windows nearly centered in the basement wall (Photos 3 and 7). Quoining is seen at the corners (Photos 3 and 7). The eaves are open. Figure 13 can be used for comparison.

Interior of the Lincoln School

This space is entered into through the non-historic metal door on the east façade.

First Floor

The layout is of one large room with few embellishments. The walls are plaster but portions of it have fallen off in some areas, exposing the red hollow clay blocks of the building. Its interior measurements are 23’ 4” by 36’ 7”.

Along the east wall there are some small areas of exposed sections of the red hollow clay blocks. The windows are bordered by historic wood trim. All windows are framed in a similar way. None of the windows open and, as seen from the exterior, the top sashes are boarded over. No window appears above the lower window sash.

The ceiling is non-historic tin sheeting . Trim around the ceiling is non-historic. The beams, trusses, and some plaster and lathe remain under the tin sheeting which was applied to preserve the ceiling and prevent anything from falling and hurting someone. The five fluorescent light units and two ceiling fans that hang from the ceiling are non-historic.

The chimney bisects the north wall. It is covered with plaster, though the red bricks are exposed near the top half of it where the stucco has fallen off. An infill of circular hole for an old stove or heater flue pipe is approximately three-fourths of the way up the chimney.

A stairwell to the basement begins at the southwest corner of the first floor and descends northward into the basement. It is enclosed by an internal plastered frame wall along the east side of the stairwell and an internal plastered frame wall at the north side. The north wall features a built-in bookcase that served as the school’s library.

The flooring is now particle board. It was placed down to ensure the still existing historic subfloor would not be damaged by the equipment the owner uses in the current building.

The blackboard, which was on the west wall north of the library room has been removed, but it remains on site in storage (Photo 18). The wood frame of the blackboard still exists on the west wall; it measures 12 ft. x 4 ft.

A single section of historic pine located on the landing of the interior stairwell. The wall around this interior stairwell is original on the west wall; dry wall has been placed on the schoolroom (east) side of it.

Basement

The basement can be accessed from the exterior through an historic door or through an original interior stairwell from the first-floor classroom area.

The basement is one large room constructed of concrete blocks and concrete. All but two of the historic basement window sashes remain intact; four of these have been infilled. These windows consist of three rectangular lights. The historic wood door is made up of six-panels and leads to the external stairs at the south elevation wall remains. The external portion of the door appears to be unaltered. A chimney is centered in the north elevation wall behind a non-historic furnace system. The historic coal chute is evident on the west side of the north wall. It is covered by plywood on the exterior, but the metal door remains when viewed from the interior. Stamped on the door are “Majestic Breakproof Coal Window,” “1926 Style,” “M-203,” and “The Majestic Company. Huntington, IND.” . Majestic was in business in the 1930s according to their website, which means this door is historic. The style indicates that it was first made in the 1926.[15] Three metal support posts are in the center of the basement to the north and south. When these were installed is unknown; further research is required. A wood support post is located near the northeast corner of the basement.

Modern utility equipment hangs on the north wall.

While it is now used for storage, the basement was where the students ate at a portable long portable table, had their bathroom (the original plumbing still exists in the southeast corner of the basement), and placed their clothing during school.[16] The basement also had running water. All plumbing was capped due to backflow and flooding. The historic main water line is galvanized located on the east wall. The historical main waste line is stubbed out of the basement floor where there was once a bathroom. This waste line is collapsed.

INTEGRITY

The historical integrity of the school is largely intact with the general layout of the property—both the interior and exterior—maintaining their historical integrity of location (it has not been moved), design (it maintains its one-room schoolhouse design),[20] setting, materials (only minor changes have been made, like the addition of an internal tin roof and rehabilitated gables), workmanship, feeling (it remains a clear example of a one-room schoolhouse), and association.

During her 2018 interview with the current owner, Ms. Toland confirmed the top boards of the windows were in place during the time she was a student at the school.[21]

Toland added that a removable stage occupied the south wall, a black slate blackboard hung on the west wall, and all desks faced west.[22] She indicated the basement contained the furnace and bathrooms and where they had a table at which to eat lunch (see discussion about the plumbing in the “Basement” subsection. The removable stage is no longer in the school, but like the desks and the table in the basement, it was never a permanent fixture. With respect to the other features of the building Ms. Toland noted that the look and feel of the school was identical to when she attended school. She confirmed that the library area is identical, that the chimney, position of the blackboard, the placement of the stairs (compare Figure 12 with Photo 17), and the boards over the east elevation windows were exactly as it was when she attended school there. The furnace, something that was not a permanent feature of the school has been removed; however, the chimney the furnace was attached to still exists. Furthermore, the subflooring remains intact. Thus, the look and feel of the property remains very much the same as it did in the 1930s when Toland attended the Lincoln School.

The setting has seen some changes that adversely impact integrity. For example, the playground has been completely removed despite the pole remnant that remains in that area.[23] Three non-historic sheds and a carport being used as storage have all been added to the property. When considering the historic boundary of the property, these are the only changes. If the entire on-historic property is considered, a non-historic residence is included as well (See “Alterations” list for dates).

Despite the alterations, in the case of the Lincoln School, “the overall sense of past time and place is evident”;[24] this conclusion is supported by Toland’s statements. The general layout of the property both the interior and exterior maintaining their historical integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association remain. Specifically, the school sits exactly where it did during the period of significance. It still sits on the same four lots it originally did. The design is unaltered; the layout is mostly intact and recognizable to a former student of the school, as noted above. The setting also remains largely intact with the Walt Disney Park across the street and the surrounding residential neighborhood with some surviving 19^th and early 20^th century buildings. While three small, non-historic, semi-movable sheds and a non-historic, semi-movable shelter have been added to the historical boundary of the property, these are not permanent structures and can be moved. The building retains most of its historic material. While the main entry door has been replaced, the windows, the sills and lintels and building materials (brick, plaster, etc.) are all historic. The feeling is retained as well, as Ms. Toland commented in her interview about how it still looks and feels like it did when she went to school there; only items have been removed like the desks, portable stage, furnace/stove, and bathroom fixtures (of which the historic pipes still exist in the basement). Otherwise, she notes, the footprint and important features exist as they did when she attended school. Finally, association has been retained. The design as a single-room schoolhouse and the time during which it was built and used show the relationship between the historical period and the school are evident.

[1] Toland, Helen. Personal Interview. May 2018. Performed by Adam Skinner and Shelly Herring and phone

interview 2 August 2023.

[2] National Register Bulletin: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form. U.S. Department of the

Interior National Park Service, Cultural Resources. 1997.

[3] “Architectural Survey of Marceline (MO.): Final Report.” Marceline Survey. Commissioned by Missouri

Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Office. April 2018. Survey No. LI-AS-001-037.

[4] Linn County, MO County Recorders Plat Map. SAM. https://linngis.integritygis.com/. Accessed 1 June 2023.

[5] “Marceline’s Country Club.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror, 26 January 1912 indicates the country club was

organized and opened this year with 94 paid members. It was renamed “Santa Fe Country Club” coon after

organization.

[6] Waddle, Tanjua. Recorder of Deeds, Linn County, Missouri, Interview. 17 August 2023.

[7] Historic boundary confirmed during 8 November 2023 on-site visit by Missouri SHPO.

[8] Toland and Kremer, Gary R., and Brett Rogers. Survey. African American Schools Phase III. 2002.

Survey #SWAS023. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/ AA%20Schools%20PIII%20Survey.pdf.

[9] MOSHPO assessed it is the possible remnant of a tetherball pole. However, Ms. Toland has not

verified this. All that is known for certain is that it is in the same area as the playground Ms. Toland identified. Ensuing discussion concluded that it might a May Pole or even where a bell was.

[10] Kremer and Rogers.

[11] The previous owner left no detailed information regarding changes made after purchasing it in 1973.

Furthermore, Rich Hoon, Marceline City Manager, stated the city had no formal zoning laws until 1980. All records prior that, therefore, are, at best, inconsistent. Most records are missing due to this lack of codified building and zoning laws.

[13] Evidence of the wood clapboards was found by the owner shortly after he purchased the property.

[14] On-site inspection by Missouri SHPO confirmed this previously known system of drain holes in the steps is a

drainage system.

[15] “Our Story.” Majestic. https://www.majesticproducts.com/why-choose-majestic/our-story. The company started in

1894 manufacturing coal furnaces and coal chutes. Accessed 28 August 2023.

[16] Toland.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Owner believes the gables were likely historically finished clapboards. He indicates that these were wood and had

asphalt clapboards which are now metal.

[19] SHPO confirmed during the 8 November 2023 visit that the historic subflooring still exists.

[20] Toland confirmed that the school had the exact same layout as it did when she went to school there in the 1930s.

[21] Toland.

[22] Ibid.

[23] Again, this pole remnant is of unknown origin.

[24] National Register Bulletin: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form. U.S. Department of the

Interior National Park Service, Cultural Resources. 1997.

June 17 2025

Gucker Coal Company Office: The Last Extant Property Relating to Marceline’s Coal Company, Part 1

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The Gucker Coal Co. office shares its west border with the Marceline Carnegie Library to the west. To its south, across E. California Ave. is Ripley Park. To its east, across an unnamed public access way, is the Santa Fe Depot, now known as Walt Disney’s Hometown Museum. A green space is due east of the office building and continues to the unnamed alleyway acting as the properties east border. To its north is the “MFA Agri Services” complex.[1] The south border of the property is the sidewalk, with Ripley Park to the south. Photos 1-4 illustrate these borders.

It’s located one block east of the northern block of the downtown commercial district.

The Gucker Coal Company office is the only building that currently sits on the property (Figures 7-8; Photos 7-11); three other structures (temporary wooden coal bins, shed, and coal scales) have historically been on the property (Figure 6 and 12).[2] It is situated in the southwest corner of its historical property. The current lot is the historical lot; there have been no changes to the boundaries.[3] The site is generally flat. A cement sidewalk stretches from the public sidewalk to the front door of the office.

The office walkway is elevated about three (3) inches above the surrounding ground.

The external scales abut the east elevation and extend about three feet north beyond the east elevation wall. These have been filled in; however, the top of the cement borders of the scales are visible.

Three trees and a modern utility junction line the east border of the property along a road without a name . A green space takes up approximately two-thirds of the space to the east of the office. The south border is the public sidewalk just beyond the landscaping. The west elevation is delineated by old, used railroad ties laid to delineate the property line between the office and the Carnegie Library to the west. The north boundary runs from the west boundary near the library, along an east to west line past the non-historic storage building just to the north of the property. It ends at the unnamed road making up its east border.

A utility pole is in the northeast quadrant of the property.

The office building historically straddles Lots 17 and 18. Lots 19-20 make up the rest of the property. At the time Hemmings owned it, he also had an easement “along the northerly side of the westerly end of lot 20 – 12 t. wide by 75 ft. long.”[4]

EXTERIOR

The Gucker Coal Company office is a single story, rectangular building measuring 18’ x 14’,[5] with the east and west elevations being the longer sides. The external walls are covered in stucco painted white (Photos 1-4, 8-11). It has a hipped roof with non-historic asphalt shingles. A flat, un-detailed, wood cornice wraps around the top of each external elevation wall; it is painted green. The property is level. The historic scales (Photos 2 and 5) that abut the east elevation wall are filled in, but the tops of the scales’ concrete walls are still evident. Non-historic gutters approximately 3 inches deep run the full length of the primary (south elevation) and secondary (east elevation) façades with a drainpipe affixed to the secondary façade. No gutter exists at the north or the west elevations.[6]

South Elevation (Primary Façade)

The south elevation, which is the primary façade, is square. It is a concrete building covered in stucco painted white. There are two bays.

In the western bay, an historic wood door (not original) is set within a wooden frame with a wood lintel and a single light. It is elevated about 6 inches off a cement sidewalk. The remnants of the hinges where a historic screen door used to be on the left hinge jamb remain. The frame and wood lintel are painted green.

The door has three horizontal panels and a large upper window with the following phrases painted on it:

Gucker Coal Co.

Frank Gucker

Est. 1941

A cornice painted green runs the entire length of the façade under the roof overhang and above each window and door lintel. These lintels are wood and painted green.

The second bay, at the eastern side of the façade, contains a one-over-one window with historic wood sashes, sill and frame. The window has a wood lintel matching the lintel over the façade’s historic door.

An historic bell system that rang when the company received a phone call is affixed to the upper left (west) corner of the soffit running the length of the façade.

East Elevation

This elevation is divided into three bays.

The southernmost bay contains a window identical to those described above. A wire runs up the wall and travels along the soffit. A non-historic downspout hangs from the southernmost corner of the elevation. A non-historic gutters/eave trough runs the full length of the elevation’s eave.

The central bay contains only a window identical to those described earlier. A wire is affixed to the cornice and drapes over the sash. No wiring travels into the interior because the building does not contain any electrical functions such as outlets or phone jacks.

The northern bay holds an historic wood door and frame. The frame, lintel, and sill match the main entryway door on the south elevation wall. This door is different from the historic door of the south elevation. This door has a larger area about the windowpane and the bottom of the door is covered with a wood panel. The window light has the same painted phrases as seen on the primary façade’s door. A non-historic screen door covers this door.

The wiring that starts in the utility box on the southern bay extends around two devices that keep it from hanging loose and travels to the northeast corner of the wall where it meets the underside of the roof overhang.

The historic scales abut this elevation.

North Elevation

The elevation has the same white painted stucco and the cornice painted green running across the top of the wall under the eave. A non-historic security light is affixed near the northeast corner of the board. The elevation contains one window in the same style as seen on the south elevation: the same size, same style lintel, frame, sill, and lights. It is positioned slightly to the west of center in the wall.

West Elevation

The elevation has the same white painted stucco and cornice running across the top of the wall under the roof overhang. It is divided into two bays. Each bay contains a window identical to the owns listed above. The foundation was slightly exposed on this side showing a foundation of concrete.[7]

Roof

As noted above, the roof is a hipped roof with non-historic asphalt shingles. Non-historic eaves/gutters (see above) run the full length of the primary (south elevation) and secondary (east elevation) façades with a drainpipe affixed to the secondary façade. No gutter exists at the north or the west elevations. These eave troughs and drainpipe were added later; the date is unknown.

INTERIOR

The interior is one room. It measures 17’ 9” by 13’ 6”. There is no basement. Each internal plastered wall is covered with white paint. The historic green paint is obvious under the chipped off spots of the paint. The ceiling is plaster, also painted white, but in some areas the historic paint is seen. The historic windows are all the same as seen externally. They consist of wood trim, lintels, and sills of approximately 4 inches in width and sashes containing a single-pane one-over-one window. These are all painted white.

Historic wood trim painted white runs around the bottom of each wall. Both doors leading from the primary and secondary facades are framed by historic wood lintels, headers, and jambs. The door to the east has the bottom panel boarded over. It is lit primarily by sunlight coming through the doors and windows. The historic wood flooring is covered by linoleum laid in the 1950s.[8] The subfloor can be seen in Photo 19; below it, somewhat exposed, is the historical wood flooring. A large swath of non-historic plaster covers parts of the north wall and the ceiling. The building was heated solely with a “warm morning stove using coal”; it was located near the north wall.[9] The historic scale is set against the east wall.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The first is the historic external scale (contributing) located immediately east of the building. This was used in conjunction with the historic internal scale located on the east wall of the building. The concrete tops of the external scales are visible in Photos 2, 5, and 6. The entire functioning mechanism was buried intact for safety reasons after the area was no longer used for coal-related purposes.

A memorial stone was placed in the second cement block north of the public sidewalk (Figure 21). It reads:

GUCKER COAL CO.

Established September 1941

Dedicated November 8, 2003

In Loving Memory of Frank & Inez (Hoskins) Gucker

INTEGRITY

The Gucker Coal Company office building is in very good condition and its integrity remains largely intact.

The non-permanent wood coal bins and an outhouse (later conversed to a shed) have been removed and the scales filled in until only the top concrete border of them is still visible.

The non-contributing, non-extant outhouse fell into disrepair and was removed in the 1940s.

The second non-contributing non-extant resource are the coal bins (non-contributing) seen in the 1930 and 1939 Sanborn maps were part of the property (the East half of Lots 17-20) during the POS; while the information on the easement in Lot 21 says westerly,[11] the records may be wrong, since the bins extended through the northeast—not the northwest—corner of the property. The bins seen in the Sanborn Maps were wood as well; they were never concrete. Gucker replaced the old three-sided temporary wood bins with similar style ones after he purchased the property, situating them in the area seen in Figure 12. As noted, the bins were temporary. They did not require heavy equipment or dismantling to move. As seen, these were three-sided, wood, open-air bins with no top or bottom. They faced the unnamed alley where the rail spur was located.

These alterations have some impact on the overall integrity of the property, but because the shed was a lean-to and never meant to be permanent and as the same goes for the bins (coal could have just as easily been dumped in piles on the side lawn), these two alterations are not as serious and damaging as the filing in the scales for safety reasons. Some loss of integrity, therefore, exists externally.

While there have been other minor alterations, primarily regular maintenance, none of these alterations have significantly negatively impacted the overall internal integrity of the property as discussed below. Painting, patching and other minor maintenance issues effect the look of the property, not the feel, setting or sense of place. Therefore, these maintenance alterations do not significantly impact integrity in a negative manner.

While the scales have been filled in the scale itself is fully intact; excavation of the structure would reveal such; thus, once the infill is removed, the site would recover more of its integrity regardless of the condition of the scales. As a result, the entire site maintains much of its historic look and feel.

Internally, the only major alterations to the building have been to the roof (not uncommon for any building) and the plastering of the north internal walls and ceiling to seal a leak, the resource remains as it was when there were no other structures (temporary like the coal bins or permanent like the scales and latrine).

Despite the alterations, “the overall sense of past time and place is evident.”[12] The historic integrity of the office building is largely intact, with most internal features remaining historic. The general layout of the property both the interior and exterior retain their historical integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association remain largely intact. The office sits exactly where it did during the period of significance. The design is unaltered; the layout is intact and recognizable to anyone who might look at a Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. The setting also remains largely intact despite the coal bins and an historic shed/latrine having been removed, the scales filled in, and non-historic landscaping added, because the two most important features of the property—the office and scales—remain intact under the infill. The material is largely historic; the internal and external walls, except for the plastering to prevent leaking, is historic). Otherwise, the windows, internal and external sills and lintels, the stucco and building materials (wood and concrete) are nearly all historic. The feeling is retained as well. The site is in its original place, exactly where it was when it was supporting Marceline’s coal industry.

[1] “MFA” stands for “Missouri Farmers Association.”

[2] The temporary non-extant coal bins (Figure 10) were located along the alley facing the alley. The non-extant shed

was near the northeast corner of the office building; it was not attached. The scales, as noted, are directly to the east of the building.

[3] While the 1930 and 1930 Sanborn Maps show the coal bins extending onto Lot 21, Waddle, Tanjua. Recorder of

Deeds for Linn County, Missouri, stated that the property never included Lot 21.

[4] Waddle, Tanjua. Recorder of Deeds, Linn County, Missouri, Interview. 17 August 2023.

[5] Physically measured on 13 September 2023.

[6] Compare Photo 1 with Figure 15. Gutters are different, plus there has been the addition of a downspout to the east

wall.

[7] Painting and work on the filling in the exposed foundation was completed in December 2023.

[8] Lewis, Michelle. Personal Interview. 27 July 2023.

[9] Ibid.

[10] All alterations discussed are a result of speaking with the owner.

[11] Waddle.

[12] National Register Bulletin: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form. U.S. Department of the

Interior National Park Service, Cultural Resources. 1997, p. 4.

June 12 2025

Marceline Masonic Lodge: Description of Property, Part 1

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Designed by the Hutchinson, Kansas architecture firm of W.E. Hulse & Co., erected between 1923-1924, and dedicated in 1924, the Marceline Masonic Lodge #481 at 201 N. Main St. U.S.A. (N. Kansas Ave.) in Marceline, Linn County, Missouri is located on a prominent corner in Marceline’s downtown commercial district and its size, style, design and color all combine to make it stand out from the other buildings in the area. This rectangular, two-story structure was built to accommodate Marceline’s Masonic brotherhood and its chapters and allied organizations. The lodge stands on the northwest corner of N. Main St. U.S.A. (N. Kansas Ave.) and West Ritchie Avenue immediately west of Ripley Park, located across the street on N. Main Street U.S.A. Measuring 50 feet x 100 feet, the building is divided vertically into three bays at its east elevation (façade) and nine bays at its south elevation, both of which are faced with buff brick the west elevation is a smooth, parged wall with red brick, while the north elevation abuts the one-part commercial block building and shows common red brick on the exposed second floor. The lodge’s primary and secondary façades (the east or N. Main Street U.S.A. façade and the south facing Ritchie Ave façade) with limestone highlights, and emphasizes a symmetrical, linear composition. The east façade features a central entrance flanked by stacked limestone cavetto moldings. Masonic symbols are placed over the main entrance and embedded in the stepped parapet with a stone capping at the top of the building; the west elevation is parged. In contrast to the stylized decoration on its primary façades, the building’s interior is functional and conservatively decorated with mostly classical historic detailing.

The 2018 Marceline Survey assessed the Lodge as “generally characteristic of” Beaux-Arts.[1]

The historical integrity of Masonic Lodge #481 is largely intact. The external limestone and brick remain unaltered for 100 years. Each elevation maintains the historical material used to build the nominated property. Most changes occurred because of storm damage and changes in laws and regulations (such as ADA requirements) but have not significantly altered the general layout of the property. Both the interior and exterior maintain their historical integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.

While the building has undergone no structural changes it has been updated with new electrical, lighting, and custom-made energy efficient windows that fit the original window openings and have a similar look and feel to the historical windows (Figure 23).[2] Several minor alterations, such as boarded up basement windows (Figure 24 shows an internal view of the historic windows), new entry door, the majority of original plaster on both floors replaced with drywall, the combining of two rooms on the first floor to create a bathroom in order to comply with ADA regulations, and the sealing off of a staircase leading from the first-floor entrance to the basement, have been made.

While there have been alterations between 1923 and the present day, “the overall sense of past time and place is evident.” [3] Given its style and maintained historical integrity, the Marceline Masonic Lodge #481 is locally significant and eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C: ARCHITECTURE as an excellent example of BEAUX-ARTS style in Marceline.

SETTING

The Marceline Masonic Temple covers most of two lots, approximately 5000 square feet, at the intersection of N. Main St. U.S.A. (N. Kansas Ave.) and W. Ritchie Avenue is in Marceline’s downtown commercial district that extends five blocks, running north and south along Kansas Avenue (locally known as Main Street U.S.A.). The downtown district is mostly intact, with a mix of non-historic and historic buildings ranging from a now-closed historic hotel to one- and two-part commercial block buildings and an historic theatre. Only three lots do not contain permanent structures; two are urban parks and one contains a patio area for a social organization. Most properties are at least 50 years old, with some being at least 100 years old.

ELABORATION

Setting

The previous two-part commercial block building that housed the Masonic Lodge located at this corner burned down in 1903. The new building built in its place that covers the original corner lot and includes the building on the lot to the north to replace the 1903 building was also a two-part commercial block building. Figure 16 indicates it was a two-part commercial block. The 1903 building later burned down in 1923 and was replaced by the current building.[4]

During the construction of the current building, the grade was maintained. When viewed from the south elevation facing north, a 5-to-10-degree slope exposing more of the building as it slopes down toward the west elevation is obvious.

Landscaping is minimal; the building is slightly obstructed by one small tree when looking west from across the street toward the east façade. The Masonic Lodge constitutes a major architectural presence along N. Main St. U.S.A. (N. Kansas Ave.), which is at the north end of the downtown commercial district. The Lodge shares its block with a one-part commercial block building directly to its north, the brick, three story, two-part commercial block IOOF/Magnolia Building two doors down, a brick one-part commercial block building, a modern, steel paneled Knights of Columbus Hall, a lot with a patio next to the Knights of Columbus building, and a non-historic building with metal siding and a front façade of non-historic plaster. Ripley Park is directly across from the Lodge.

A small green space exists at the west elevation extending from the west façade to the alley making up the west boundary of the property.

All terms used in the follow sections and subsections use the terminology found in the original blueprints. Some of these terms may differ from those used today for similar structures, but to ensure accuracy to the original plans, those are the terms being used.

Exterior of the Marceline Masonic Lodge

Because of its height, mass, buff brick color, and position on a corner lot and the near absence of trees in its landscaping, the Marceline Masonic Lodge #481 dominates the intersection of N. Main Street U.S.A. and W. Ritchie Avenue. It is rectangular and measures “approximately 50’ 0” wide; 100’ 0” long and two stories high.”[5] The main entrance door is centered in the main façade of the east elevation and two sealed non-historic maintenance doors are located at the north and south sides of the west elevation.

On the east (primary) and south (secondary) façades of the building, courses of blond brick in an alternating Flemish bond face all floors, as specified in the original contract which states, “Every seventh course of brick will be laid in a Flemish bond course with alternate brick being laid as headers and stretchers. The headers extending full length into the brick backing.”[6] Cut standard gray Indiana Oolitic limestone is also used for the embellishments at various divisions on the south and east façades.[7] A metal sign with incandescent lighting that illuminates a pane with the Masonic orders that meet in the building hangs from the south bay of the primary façade. The other two façades (north and west) are of red brick laid in common bond, with parging with a thin layer of mortar over at the west elevation (Photos 3-4). The second-floor wall is the only part of the north elevation wall that is externally visible. It towers above the area where the Masonic Lodge meets the one-story one-part commercial block building to its north. Historic wooden window and door frames on the south and east elevations hold non-historic windows and the main entry. The top of the building’s basement wall, which holds six boarded up basement windows, are visible along the south elevation as the grade slopes downward toward the west from the east elevation.

The southeast corner of the building contains the limestone cornerstone.

The roof is non-historic sheet metal. All windows and doors are non-historic unless otherwise noted. These alterations took place at various times and are discussed in more depth in the “Alterations” subsection below.

East Elevation (Primary Façade)

The east façade consists of three bays organized into three vertical units and five horizontal sections as indicated by four limestone divisions. The lowest horizontal section encompasses the basement area. Moving up, the second section is the first floor, the second floor, followed by a thin strip of brick topped by a parapet and capped with limestone.

The walls are covered with buff brick. The cornerstone is embedded in the southeast corner of the building with one side visible on the east elevation and another side is visible on the south elevation; it is of Corinthian stone. Clearly visible on the eastern side of the elevation is an inscription reading: “Aug. 14, 1923 A.L. 6923 Bert S. Lee, Grand Master”. The southern side inscription is: “Marceline Lodge No. 481 A.F. & A.M.” with the Masonic “G” symbol centered between “No. 481” and “A.F. & A.M.”. The buff brick wythe is over a common brick wythe of number one grade hard burned shale brick and include the 35,200 old bricks saved from the original building.[8] A non-historic metal neon sign hangs out about three feet from the wall of the southernmost bay of this elevation (Photo 5).

First Floor

All windows and doors are non-historic unless otherwise noted. Two short straight-run steps lead to the main entrance’s central bay. The non-historic double door is framed by stacked limestone cavetto molding. Stacked stone flush on the left and right sides of the door and soldier flush course above it, adding more depth to the entrance. The doors are mostly glass with a metal frame and one each horizontal handle that extends across the front of the glass and another along the same internal space. Immediately above the entrance door is a non-historic transom with twelve (12) panels. Over the window is a floral embellishment with the Masonic interlocked compass and square around the “G” symbol centered in it.[9] A rowlock of brick extends from the north to the south of the building breaking only at the central entryway.

The center bay extends out 6” according to the blueprint specifications, making the south and north sides recessed and creating advancing and receding planes; the measurement is accurate today. All corners are highlighted by stacked buff bricks in running bond with a soldier course recessed 3/4^th of an inch.

The rectangular windows on the first floor contain 24-panes each; these windows are close facsimiles to the planned historic windows. The original planned windows appear to have two rectangular sashes that allowed the windows to open; aside from minor other details, that is the only major difference between the original windows shown in the blueprints and the current windows. These changes are elaborated in the “Alterations” section below. Each window measures 6’ 6” by 6’ 2” and framed by stacked and soldiered buff bricks that are flush with the windows on three sides, with the left and right sides being stacked brick and the top being a flush soldier course. The two courses blend in the upper corners.

The brick pattern of the lowest region of the first-floor façade face is in running bond course interspersed with a Flemish bond course every 6-7 courses giving depth to the façade and the appearance of masonry rustication. This pattern extends up about five feet to a rowlock course topped with a limestone water table division.

The first floor continues to the water table. At this point, the dividing line between the first and second floors is the belt course extending north to the architrave, located between the first and second floors. From the water table, the upper section of the first floor is comprised of running bond course with a Flemish bond course after four (4) courses. This pattern switches to soldiering, then to five running bond courses with the middle course being Flemish bond.

Each soldier course in recessed approximately 3/4^th of an inch. This pattern is repeated two more times. The final soldier course (the fourth in the series) is flush with the soldiering at the top of the rectangular windows in each of the north and south bays. Above this are six more courses—five running bond and one Flemish. This section of the first-floor façade ends at the above the running bond.

The same patterns repeat throughout the north and south recessed bays of the east façade.

Second Floor (East Façade)

All windows and doors are non-historic unless otherwise noted. Above the belt course and up to the entablature the vertical aspects seen in all three bays of the second floor include pilasters, the window fenestrations, limestone plinths, arched windows with panels framed by buff brick and accented with voussoirs, imposts, and limestone keystones. The lintels of the north and south bays are formed by an arched soldiering of the buff brick used throughout the facades while the central bay is topped with a limestone arch and stone spandrels with no evident keystone.

Unless stated otherwise, the second floor is in buff brick in a running bond course from the water table to the architrave.

All three of the second story windows and accompanying arches are flanked by two pairs of pilasters which mimic Doric or Tuscan designs. There are a total of six pairs of pilasters for a total of 12 pilasters. The pilasters project out four (4) inches. The north and south non-historic windows are the same style and measurements as the first-floor windows; the window has a non-historic fan light. It’s unknown how these differ precisely from the historic windows since there is no record of what they ended up looking like; the same holds true for the central bay window described below. The south and north windows set atop a buff brick design that has 6 rows of standard running bond surrounded by buff brick soldiers (top and bottom of running bond) and stretchers (left and right/south and north). The standard running bond is recessed 3/4 of an inch project ¾ of an inch. The central bay’s window is larger than the other four windows on this façade. It is three sections over three sections. The north and south sections each contain eight panes in a 2 x 4 pattern. The central section of the window is 12 over 12 with a 3×4 pattern flanked by two sidelights.

The southernmost pilaster has approximately a 6-inch recess to the left of it that blends into the south elevation. The northern most pilaster has the same detail.

A sign showing the Masonic-related orders that met at the Temple hangs at the south edge of the east façade.[10] It is black metal all around. In the center on both sides sit pieces of glass with the logos/symbols of each order that met there. They are lit up by internal lighting. One piece of glass is faded beyond recognition on the south side of the sign.

Entablature and Parapet

There are three bays on this level. It is just below the cornice and extends up to the top of the property. The north and south bays have no embellishments at all. The central bay below the cornice is limestone. In the limestone extending across the central bay is the phrase “MASONIC TEMPLE”.[11]

Above the cornice (as described in the original blueprints, see Figure 6 which includes terminology the architect used to describe each aspect of the façade) in the central bay are two protrusions of buff brick. These are located directly above the pilasters below them. They are not pilasters but do occupy the same width as the pilasters. Limestone squares are centered between these raised brick areas.

As seen in Figures 6 and 8 and Photo 1, there is a running course, above which is another stone course, then an additional standard course, and a rowlock with a 3/4^th inch projection. On the north and south bays, above the rowlock course are 11 rows of running bond that have one Flemish bond interspersed in them. Closers end each course. The central bay of the building is topped with a stepped parapet with limestone running as the cap to the entire façade. The central area includes the same brick pattern seen throughout this horizontal space. The center portion holds three metal plaques. From left to right they are “19”, the Masonic interlocked compass and square around the letter “G” symbol,[12] and the number “23”, denoting the year the building was erected.

South Elevation (Secondary Façade)

This elevation exhibits most of the elements and arrangement patterns from the east façade with the notable exception being the window fenestration at the basement level and the number and alignment of windows. The elevation has two protruding sections at the east and west corners respectively and one long middle section. The elevation is divided into nine bays. The east and west sides of this central bay hold one bay each. The central section contains bays containing seven windows and is recessed by 6 inches from the east and west sections.

The same buff brick and courses are found on both the first and second floors with the same divisions as the east façade. The first floor continues the same patterns and contains the same type of windows as the first floor of the east façade’s first and third bays, while the second floor has the same pattern– including pilasters that flank the same arched windows—as seen on the east façade’s first and third bays. The pilasters are laid out thusly: The east and west sections are flanked by paired pilasters; along the seven bays in the long, recessed central section of this façade a pair of pilasters that are one-and-a-half pilasters (a half pilaster is in the recessed corner of the central section next to a full pilaster), flank the center section. Each of the seven bays are divided by one pilaster, for a total of six. There are a total of eight (8) complete pilasters and two (2) half pilasters in this central section.

The basement level is exposed due to a downward slope toward the west elevation. These windows are smaller than the other windows, square and boarded over. They align with the fenestrations of the first and second floor windows. Otherwise, the courses and recesses are identical to the east façade. There are no windows behind this infill. Further research is required to determine when the glass of the windows was removed.

The second, exposed side of the Lodge’s corner stone lies at the southern end of this elevation and is inscribed: “Marceline Lodge No. 481 A.F. & A.M.” with the Masonic “G” symbol centered between the “No. 481” and “A.F. & A.M.”.

North Elevation

All windows and door are non-historic unless otherwise noted. Only the second level of this elevation is exposed, with the first level abutting against the one-part commercial block building to the north. The exposed elevation is common red brick. The upper one-third of the wall was repaired and re-pointed resulting in the color variation of the mortar. Modern ventilation pipes jut out from the wall toward the west elevation. A section of the wall that meets with the west elevation wall at the parapet is covered in steel siding material and the roof is capped with metal flashing. The steel siding material and metal flashing was installed to cover the wall damage caused by the removal of the chimney.

The reason for the variance in the brick color on the exposed wall of this elevation is unknown.[13]

West Elevation

elevation constitutes the rear of the building. It faces a small green space that ends at an unpaved alley. The roof edge is lined with non-historic metal gutter material and flashing. The wall meets the south elevation at which a wythe of historic buff brick blends around to the south elevation corner. The red brick wall is parged; some of mortar has worn off to expose the brick. It contains ten historic openings (one is infilled). Moving from the north to the south at the basement level (all materials within the historic openings are non-historic) there is a single door followed by a drainpipe, an electric meter, three A/C units with wiring going into the building, the infilled coal chute, another gas meter, a vent pipe, a boarded over double door. another drainpipe, a boarded over window, and two utility service boxes. On the main level, four of the six window openings of similar size are fitted with windows and two are utilized to accommodate kitchen ventilation equipment. These are spaced out as follows, moving north to south: one window approximately six feet above ground level and nearly flush with the northwest corner then a window (now kitchen ventilation) about 4-5 feet to the south (right), then two centered windows (approximately 6 feet from window to the north. This pattern repeats to the south with a window located approximately 6 feet to the south, and ending with a window that is nearly flush with the southwest corner of the building.

The fenestration of the elevation is different from the blueprints. Changes, minor in this case, made during the construction, as opposed to after it was built, dealing mostly with the number and location of openings on the basement and first floor levels, are not recorded on the blueprints.

Interior of the Marceline Masonic Lodge

All aspects are historic, unless otherwise noted. Non-historic ceiling tiles exist throughout the first and second floors.

Basement

The only entrance to the basement is through the northwest stairs leading to them from the kitchen (Figures 9 and 12). The basement is comprised of some all reused/recycled material from the building that previous occupied this space. The type of walls and foundation depends on the area of the basement.

These stairs lead down to the original boiler room; it is not named as such on the blueprints (nor are any other rooms in the basement). Approximately three-quarters south on the west wall of the boiler room is an opening leading to the historical coal storage room.

The south door of the boiler room leads to a storage room. This room has stairs in an east/west orientation leading to the west wall and double exterior access doors. The original blueprints have these stairs traveling north/south. When the stairs were changed to an east/west orientation rather than how they are shown on the blueprints is unknown. The opening was originally wider to allow the boiler to be installed. The walls use the brick from the previous Lodge building.

A large general basement with a dirt floor occupies the length of the building not occupied by the boiler, coal and storage rooms. This area is separated by a masonry wall from the above rooms. Twelve (12) support posts hold up the building. Two are non-historic metal beams and ten (10) are wood. The beams are historic and original to the 1923 erection of the Lodge; however, the bases of the metal posts have been replaced with non-historic concrete. Stairs led to the east side of the building. These have been sealed in, but originally led to the east elevation foyer . The stairs are aligned the same way as the original blueprints show.

First Floor

A small foyer greets guests when they enter through the main doors. To the south when facing west, is a wall that covers the basement stairs (See “Basement” section above). The walls are non-historic drywall. Five steps lead up into a hallway. This hallway leads to the bathrooms and a reception room to the left/south, a reception room with a non-historic door and janitorial closet to the left/south, and the dining hall straight ahead (west). The janitorial closet was originally the men’s bathroom and coat closet.

The dining hall (accessed through double doors) and kitchen take up the majority of the first floor. It is a blending of historic and non-historic features, which includes original historic pass-through windows between the dining hall and kitchen. The historic hardwood floor, doors, milk glass lights, and some features in the kitchen, like the counter and built-in cabinets. Non-historic features include updates to the ventilation system, the non-historic lowered ceiling grid, modern lighting, the addition of fans, and all appliances in the kitchen. The non-historic rectangular windows seen externally while facing north toward the south elevation line the dining room. Two non-historic metal beams faced with wood are spaced equidistance in the dining hall.[14] The kitchen has all its historical cabinets as well as the historic kitchen prep area.

Facing east from the dining hall entrance, a historic wood stairwell leads to the second floor. Hanging above the landing located halfway between the first and second floors is a non-historic chandelier.

To the north are non-historic bathroom facilities. Originally, this area held an alcove, coat room and toilet and reception room. The alcove was extended to incorporate the toilet and coat room, while the reception room were altered to install ADA-compliant restrooms. Otherwise, the layout of the first floor remains largely the same as the original.

Penciled-in changes can be seen on the original blueprints for the first floor. For example, the original plan was to have three entrances into the dining hall. The change took place during the erection of the Lodge.

Kitchen Area

The kitchen area maintains the same footprint with one exception: the orientation of the steps and platform in the storage room at the southwest corner of the first floor have changes. According to the original blueprints, they had a north/south orientation and led to the coal room in the basement. Now it has an east/west orientation that leads to the south bay’s window. The orientation was changed at some unknown time and for an unknown reason.

Second Floor

The second floor remains largely the same layout seen in Figure 5. Facing west, a landing leads to the Tilers Room and which leads to the main lodge room where meetings are held. While in the landing facing the Tilers Room (18), to the south (left) is a former smoking room that is currently being remodeled. To the north (right) is a room labeled “Ladies Rest R’m” on the original blueprints. It was never used as a restroom, but instead as the meeting room for the Eastern Star (the women’s branch of the Masons). A door to the toilet and “retiring room” are centered in the middle of the west wall. The layout remains relatively unchanged. The current layout shows the toilet has been moved from the original toilet area, installed in the “retiring room”, and the toilet room is used as a storage room.

Facing west, a centralized door leads from the landing to a room before leading to the main lodge meeting room. This room between the meeting room and landing is identified as “Tilers Rm”. The Tilers Room is a small area with a historic door, lighting and built-in cabinet. To the north (right) of the room is the coat room (now a general storage area) and the men’s toilet (which still exists); the adjoining coat rooms measure 3 ft. by 3 ft. All doors in this area are historic. The former coat room connects to the former locker room that runs most of the north elevation wall. No lockers appear to have been part of this area.

To the south (left) of the Tilers Room is an historic door to The Red Cross Room. This room is currently used as a reception room. The original blueprints show a penciled-in area that shows the plans for this room were modified. According to the revision on the original blueprints the Red Cross Room (which contains its original wood flooring and doors) was combined with an unidentified room directly to its north (directly south of the Tilers Room).

A 45-degree dogleg/chamfered corner was added to the east side of the room when the untitled and Red Cross rooms were combined, and the east wall of the unnamed room extended east to align with the Red Cross Room’s east wall.[15]

These alterations are recorded in the minutes[16] and penciled-in changes can be seen on the original blueprints for the second floor. While faint, the marks clearly indicate the dogleg of the wall was a late revision in the plans; the plans do not show the combining of the untitled room and the Red Cross Room. The walls seen dividing the unnamed room between the Tilers Room and Red Cross rooms were taken out prior to building. These changes are not reflected in the blueprints, but the 5 June 1923 minutes allude to “changes in the partitions” of these rooms.[17]

Both Comm Rooms and the Prep Room remain as they are seen in Figure 5. All retain their original, historic flooring and doors.

The rectangular main meeting room is accessed through either a door in the Tilers Room, through the Prep Room or through the door from the storage area in the far northwest corner of the second floor. This room occupies the majority of the second floor. It occupies 50% of the east to west area of the floor and ends with the platform and covers about ninety percent of the north to south space ending at the locker room (north central part of second floor) and storage area (northwest corner). The meeting room is adorned with historic sconces and lighting. It also has platforms against each wall; these platforms represent the different levels of Masonry based on the number of steps needed to reach the top of the platform: one step, Entered Apprentice, or general brotherhood (these are on the north and south walls), two steps are for Fellow Craft (east wall) and three steps of the Master Mason (west wall).

INTEGRITY

The historic integrity of Marceline Masonic Lodge #481 is largely intact. Despite the alterations, most of which were required to bring the property up to code, “the overall sense of past time and place is evident” in the look and feel of the Lodge.[25]

The external limestone and brick remain unaltered for 100 years. Each elevation maintains the historic material used to build the nominated property.

While updates have occurred as noted above, these alterations do not significantly impact the overall integrity of the building.

Internally, as noted above, most of the doors and flooring are original, and very little remodeling has been done (a room was changed on the second floor and new bathrooms were installed on the first floor), and a first-floor bathroom was changed into a janitor’s closet.

Some of the alterations are a result of laws and regulation changes, but they have not significantly altered the general layout of the property. The only major changes that altered the footprint of the property after the date of construction was the conversion of the northeast reception room into ADA-compliant restrooms; otherwise, every room maintains the same dimensions it did when it was erected. Additionally, the Lodge has attempted to approximate the original look by installing near-period replicas of lighting and very similar looking windows, though they function differently. Thus, both the interior and exterior largely maintain their historical integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.

The location of the building remains precisely where it was erected in 1923. The exterior design has been left largely unaltered (some windows and doors have been boarded over for various reasons, the chimney removed, a new roof, and flashing added to the upper portion of the northwest area of the roof). Internally, there are alterations, however, except for the new ADA-compliant bathrooms on the first floor that replaced the north reception room, the alterations have been largely aesthetic (windows, doors, ceilings, etc.) and altered to align with building code updates, help preserve the integrity of the building, or to repair damage from leaking roofs. Likewise, the setting remains the same with the exception of new pavement on Ritchie Ave. and the trees planned by the city at an unknown date; no new buildings surround it, thus the area appears much as it did at the time it was erected. The original design is largely maintained. It still functions as a Masonic Lodge, and externally has the same scale, color, texture and fenestrations as the original blueprint show; internally, the design is largely intact with the exception of the alterations noted earlier. The external materials used in the construction of the property—the bricks from the previous building in that location (see Section 8 for more on this) were used for part of the foundation, the limestone, buff brick, wood flooring, and more—all remain after 100 years with the exception of the modern steel sheeting over the northwest parapet placed there as discussed above, the non-historic windows, and the non-historic doors. The material used inside the building remains largely intact, except for the above-mentioned alterations. Built in cabinets and all internal doors remain. Workmanship is evident throughout the property, particularly externally with the use of subdued Beaux-Arts features (discussed in Section 8); the workmanship is evident in several places internally, too, such as the dining room floors and the original woodwork in the coat and locker rooms. Finally, the association of the property remains the same as it was when the lodge was built in 1923 and remains an operating Masonic lodge.

[1] “Architectural/Historic Inventory Form.” Marceline Survey. Commissioned by Missouri Department of Natural

Resources, State Historic Preservation Office. Masonic Temple. April 2018. Survey No. LI-AS-001-037, pages 232-233. [Marked “Individually Eligible].

[2] The original design of the windows can be seen in Figure 6. When compared to Figure 23 and Photo 1 it is evident

the Lodge attempted to maintain historical looking windows since the Lodge was erected.

[3] National Register Bulletin: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form. U.S. Department of the

Interior National Park Service, Cultural Resources. 1997.

[4] These buildings were all two-part commercial block properties as indicated by the ‘2’ in the upper north corner of

the property on the 1903 and 1911 Sanborn Maps.

[5] “Specifications of All Labor and Materials Included in the General and Mechanical Equipment Contracts for A

Masonic Temple Building at Marceline, MO.” 1923, Marceline Masonic Temple Association archives, p. 1.

These specifications are confirmed in “Temple Directors Meet Architect, To-Day.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 30 March 1923.

[6] Ibid, p. 28.

[7] Ibid, p. 26.

[8] Ibid, p. 35.

[9] In the Masonic tradition, the compass and square are tools of the Master Mason and represent reason and faith. The

tradition also states the “G” stands for God and geometry. “Learn About Freemasonry: What does the G

Stand For?”, Museum of Freemasonry. Accessed 13 November 2023. https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk/blog/learn-about-freemasonry-what-does-g-stand.

[10] It is unknown if this sign is original to the building because there are no records stating when it was installed.

However, the electrical set up for it, indicates it could be historic.

[11] This section is using those terms used on the original blueprints and that are evident in the finished product.

[12] See Section 8 for a discussion about the “G” symbolism within Free Masonry.

[13] Missouri SHPO asserts that there are two possible reasons for this: The mortar used during repair work to the area after the chimney work damaged the area gives the appearance of a different color or the bricks may have been cleaned when the repair work was completed. However, the true reason for the variance is unknown.

[14] Via Fred Lewis directly during November 2023 SHPO visit: “the metal beams are original to the building and that they extend to the second floor. They are not part of any repair, only that the concrete surrounding the base of the beams had been increased to encapsulate the base an additional height to reduce lateral movement. The two columns in the dining room are the beams continuing to the second level and have a covering to conceal the fact of the metal beams. The floor on the second level has two areas that correspond with the support beans and those areas have not settled to the extent that the rest of the second level floor has.”

[15] There is some debate as to when and why this chamfered corner was created. It is clear from the etchings on the

original blueprints that this was discussed during construction and that at least three variations of the wall were considered. The dogleg corner was the option that was used. See Figures 5, 11 and 17.

[16] These alterations are all discussed in more depth in Section 8 in the section about the construction of the building,

which indicate these changes were part of the original plans and not later alterations.

[17] “Minutes of the Marceline Masonic Temple Association.” Marceline Masonic Temple

Association, 5 June 1923, Marceline, MO.

[18] See Section 8 discussion.

[19] “Wind and Rainstorm Hits Marceline.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 13 June 1924.

[20] Ibid.

[21] Compare Figures 4 and 10 for alterations.

[22] Lewis, 2 February 2024.

[23] Figures 4-10 show that the internal layout remains largely the same.

[24] See Figures 4-12.

[25] National Register Bulletin: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form. U.S. Department of the

Interior National Park Service, Cultural Resources. 1997.

June 9 2025

Marceline, Missouri Adds Four Properties to National Register of Historic Places

Marceline HistoricalSociety african american history, african american schools, Architecture, Beaux Arts, Black History, black schools, Christian Church, Churches, Classical Revival, Coal, Coal Industry, Gucker Coal, Historical Buildings, Historical People, Marceline Historical Society, Marceline Mercantile, marcelineproject, Masonic Lodge, Masons, segregation architecture, Beaux Arts, black history, christian church, churches, Classical Revival, Education, first christian church, Gucker Coal Company, historic buildings, historic people, historic preservation, historical society, history, Lincoln School, Maceline timeline, marceiine historic society, Marceline, Marceline Historical Society, Marceline Mercantile, Masonic Lodge, Masons, missouri 0

On May 17, 2025 at the Marceline Masonic Lodge, the official Marceline Historical Society (501c3, trademarked) presented four more Marceline properties with plaques commemorating the addition of the Gucker Coal Office, Marceline Masonic Temple (which hosted the event).

Marceline Historical Society Executive Director and Founder Ed Comber stated, “Our hope is that these properties will act as inspiration to the rest of the community. Five properties on the National Register will attract new tourism, tourism that helps everyone. The Marceline Historical Society is definitely leading the city’s preservation efforts.”

“We’d like to thank Marceline for trusting me to get these five places of the Register. It has been a great honor for me and the Marceline Historical Society’s Board to do this work. Personally, I have been blessed to get to know those representing each property and the intimidate reasons these properties are so profoundly important to not only to them and Marceline, but to Missouri and our great nation,” Comber said. “We hope this opens the door to others seeing the importance of preservation, particularly preserving the beautiful historic buildings in this city.”

While Marceline is famous for the six years Disney lived here, Comber noted, “each of these properties,” Comber noted, “have been standing for decades. This building [Masonic Lodge] has been standing for 102 years; the Gucker Coal office is over 90 years old; the Lincon School is 95 years old; and the First Christian Church is 115 years old! And that’s what Marceline should be celebrating.” The Uptown is 95 years old this year.

Over 40 people attended the event, both in person and over Zoom.

Each of the property representatives gave a speech discussing their property and what being on the Register means to them.

For the Mason Lodge, Dennis Hurlbut, discussed the importance of the building to Marceline and how it “was on the verge of being demolished [but] Fred Lewis said we could save it, and we have.” He went on to say that at one point, “this was the only place to have public gatherings [in Marceline].” A round of applause went out for Fred Lewis.

Deli Borel, representative for the First Christian Church, led the room with a prayer. In her speech, Borell stated, “This honor recognizes more than just a beautiful building—it celebrates the faith, history, and enduring spirit of a community that has called this church home for generations. It is a symbol of our shared past and the values that continue to unite us today. The church has long stood as a symbol of spiritual strength, fellowship, and service in Marceline—and now its story will be preserved and honored for generations to come.” She went on to thank Patsy Dorrell and Lex Cavanah for their special contributions to helping the church get listed.

Adam Skinner, the current owner of the Lincon School, accepted the plaque for that property. In his acceptance speech, Skinner stated he’s grateful for the help in getting the property listed. After Skinner, Ms. Helen Toland, a former student at the Lincoln School, offered her thanks, saying that because the Lincoln School has been listed on the Register, “a lot of people know the name Marceline who didn’t know it before. I was born there. Went to Lincoln School there…and always your name and your thoughts were part of mine.”

Dolores “Dodo” (Gucker) Collins (the only living former employee of Gucker Coal Co. and Frank and Inez’s immediate family) accepted the plaque for the property, listed on the National Register as “Marceline Mercantile.” Michelle Lewis, current property owner and Gucker family member, gave the acceptance speech. She pointed out that at 14, Mrs. Collins did just about everything at the coal office, from scooping the coal into the truck to weighing and delivering to patrons. She continued by going over the rich history of the property and added that “Gucker Coal Company would deliver coal to families even if they could not pay their bill, and to this day we have a ledger up there and we do have past due bills.”

“The Marceline Historical Society is currently working on two more Marceline properties for the National Register. Once accepted, Marceline will truly be an even more attractive stop for cultural and historic tourism than it just became. These types of tourists spend on average one more night in historic towns and about $175 per day more than those who are in and out of places like small town museums. They go into more businesses too, often looking at the architecture. The longer they’re in the store, the more potential there is for purchases, too. That leads to more money for the city through tax revenue. Everyone benefits from this type of tourism; just look at Hannibal and similar places that have grown as a direct result of the city’s cultural and historical heritage.”

A video of the event is HERE.

“This marks a significant turning point in Marceline’s attractiveness as a booming tourism hub,” Comber concluded. “We’re looking forward to continuing our efforts to preserve the history of Marceline. Our organization is honored to be leading Marceline into a new future as we look to the past. The past is truly Marceline’s future.”

Interested in being a part of and/or donating to the legal 501c3 Marceline Historical Society? CONTACT US.

April 28 2025

Mary Alice Hill, A Pioneer in Women’s Sports, PART II

Marceline HistoricalSociety Famous Females, Historical People, Marceline Historical Society, marcelineproject historic buildings, historic people, historic preservation, historical society, history, marceiine historic society, Marceline, Marceline Historical Society, Mary Alice Hill, Mary Hill, missouri, Title IX 0

This is Part 2 of the Story of Mary Hill.

POST-ACADEMIA

After SDSU, Hill wasn’t done fighting for equality.

In 1989, Hill set another first for women by becoming the Director of Recreation at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base during which she received the Federal Woman’s Achievement Award, letters of appreciate from President Reagan, Vice President Quail and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and a Unit Commendation from the U.S. Secretary of Defense for founding the “Operation Desert Shield Support Walk.”.

Hill was also executive director of the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports (NAGWS). During this time, Hill was the member of committees, task forces and foundations that furthered female’s rights. “At NAGWS I implemented the HERo Award…a program “designed to promote role models for women in sports.”

Hill also dove into horse racing. In fact, one of her horses, “Pardon Dolly”, won Delmar. The horse still holds the highest payoff in Delmar history. As it turns out, the horse’s name became a kind of good omen. Hill met Dolly Parton by chance multiple times. Once on a plane bound for Hawaii with the SDSU football team, Parton stopped and spoke with the entire team. Later, while flying from an NCAA council meeting in Tennessee, Parton again approached Hill.

“The important thing about this [Tennessee] meeting was I needed to schedule two non-conference football games. The two Athletics Directors wanted to meet her [Parton]. So, I said I need to schedule games with them. They agreed. Several ADs had told the press that I would not be able to schedule the non-conference games. I sure proved them wrong.”

MARCELINE MATTERS

When Hill settled in back in Linn County, specifically in Marceline, she shifted her attention to revitalizing Marceline. She became the executive director of the Marceline Industrial Development Authority (MIDA), and a member of the Marceline Project Charitable Foundation and other local organizations.

Between 1995-2001, during her time as MIDA’s executive director, Hill had a role in publicizing Marceline’s connection to Walt Disney, asking the Missouri State Historical Preservation Office (MoSHPO) if Marceline could be named an historic district (SHPO found several of the properties in Marceline eligible for the National Register), implemented the copyright for Main Street USA, was the event director of the world premiere of THE SPIRIT OF MICKEY at the Uptown Theatre (a property now listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and the event planner for the international celebration of Walt Disney’s 100^th birthday party. Furthermore, Hill was instrumental in the completion of the first phase of Main Street USA’s renovation and the Santa Fe Depot’s rehabilitation into the Walt Disney and Railroad Museum, a $35 million project. “I did get several grants for the renovation of downtown Marceline and the Disney Museum [which totaled] 1.5 + million.”

Simply put, Hill’s bravery was the catalyst for the full enforcement of Title IX protection. Without her, women’s and girls’ sports might still be treated as “separate but equal,” receiving paltry amounts of funding compared to boys’/men’s sports. Hill’s dedication to Marceline can’t be understated either. Without her, Marceline wouldn’t look like it does, and Disney’s legacy could have been lost. So, the next time you see her around, thank her for all she’s done for the nation, women, and the city.

Ed is the Founder and President of the Marceline Historical Society, a 501c3 nonprofit (marcelinehistoricalsociety.com).

April 19 2025

Timeline

Marceline HistoricalSociety african american schools, black schools, Churches, Coal, Coal Industry, entertainment, Historical Buildings, Historical People, Marceline Historical Society, Masonic Lodge, segregation, Uptown Theatre history, Maceline timeline, marceiine historic society, Marceline, missouri 0

OUR CITY’S TIMELINE

Interested in what’s happened and who is happening in Marceline? Here’s a developing timeline of our city.

1888

March 6, 1888: City of Marceline is incorporated
The City of Marceline was incorporated on March 6, 1888.
March 6 1888
Claud C. Dail is the first child born in Marceline. He was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Dail. He was born March 6, 1888, the same day Marceline was incorporated
Ruth Cannon is the first girl born in Marceline. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Cannon. She was born July 22, 1888.
The first newspaper of the city, The Marceline Journal, began publication around June, 1888, and it was closely followed by the appearance of The Marceline Mirror.

1889

First Opera House opens on the corner of Kansas Avenue and California Avenue
First coal mine (Marceline Mine #1, owned by Marceline Coal Company/Marceline Coal & Mining Company ) opens southeast of town

1896

First Phone Exchange: The first telephone exchange in Marceline was built about 1896

1902

New coal vein hit (20 May 1902 at 3:00 pm)

1905

Coal Mine #2 opens north of Marceline

1907

First Nickelodeon opens

1908

Second Nickelodeon opens (2 competing at the same time)

1909

Jeweler Albert Zurcher (pronounced like WORKER) moves to Marceline and soon becomes head timekeeper for the Marceline region of the railroads

1912

Two Nickelodeons close and a new one opens

1913

April 10, 1913: the Marceline Santa Fe Depot was dedicated

1915

First Christian Church is build by integrating the original church into the new design (a National Register of Historic Places property) opens

1920

February 9, 1920: Theodore Roosevelt American Legion Post #264 was chartered
November 1, 1920: Marceline Carnegie Library opened with 1,701 books ready for use. At the end of the first year, there were 990 borrowers and 3,024 volumes in stock

1923

Current Marceline Masonic Lodge (a National Register of Historic Places property) opens
First hospital, the B.B. Putnam Hospital opens on Howell Avenue. It is later taken over and run by the nuns of St. Francis

1924

Joseph Hemmings, the co-founder and superintendent of the Marceline Coal and Mining Co. opens his new Marceline Mercantile & Supply Co. at 125 E. California Avenue. It would later be run by the (Frank) Gucker (“Goo-ker”) Coal Company. It is a National Register of Historic Places property
1929
June 7, 1929: Marceline News puts out its first issue

1930

The Dickinson Theatre opens across the street from the Cater Opera House on Kansas Avenue

1933

Lincoln School is opened and runs until the end of Segregation in 1954 (a National Register of Historic Places property)

1936

The Dickinson Theatre becomes the Uptown Theatre (a National Register of Historic Places property) after a dispute between owner A.B. Cantwell and Leaser Dickinson Theaters
The Chief Theatre, run by Dickinson, opens

1942

May 1, 1942: Marceline’s first hospital, the B. B. Putman Memorial Hospital, closes on May 1, 1942. The nuns of St. Francis take over the day-to-day operations, expanding the hospital to include more beds

1955

December 20, 1955: Engine #2546 was placed in Ripley Square and dedicated to Marceline

1956

July 4 1956: The Walt Disney Municipal Park was dedicated on July 4, 1956
July 4 1956: Walt Disney’s movie “The Great Locomotive Chase” premiered at the Uptown Theatre

1960

October 16 1960: Walt Disney Elementary School was dedicated on October 16, 1960

1992

July 4 1992: the Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Ripley Square

2001

September 21 2001: Walsworth Community Center dedicated
The Walsworth Community Center is dedicated on September 21, 2001

2004

August 23 2004: The Walt Disney Post Office is dedicated on August 23, 2004

2023

Uptown Theatre placed on National Register of Historic Places, thanks to our efforts as the Marceline Historical Society (501c3, trademarked)

2025

Thanks to our efforts as the Marceline Historical Society (501c3, trademarked), four more historic properties are placed on the National Register of Historic Places: Masonic Lodge, First Christian Church, Lincoln School, and Marceline Mercantile/Gucker Coal Company Office.

Want more details about the history of our city? Read what the Linn county Compendium has to say:

THE FULL EARLY HISTORY OF MARCELINE

May 2 2024

Uptown Theatre, Part III

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The following information is from Ed Comber’s MAKING HISTORY column published in the Linn County Leader.

Everyone knows the Uptown Theatre was a community hub where people fell in love, owners buzzed their customers’ chairs, pageants and homeless benefits were held, and the World War II war effort was aided, but did you know it’s also an important work of architecture in rural Missouri?

Theater historian Maggie Valentine asserts that the “motion picture theatre served as a significant architectural experience for millions of people [and where] a significant architectural type, distinguished by program, emphasis, imagery, and history; one must read the building as such, as an architectural type, rooted in popular culture with its own symbolic program, to appreciate the architecture.” If you’ve ever stood across the street and looked at its façade, you can see how it fits Valentine’s description and is one of the exceptions due to its Spanish Revival architecture.

The Spanish Revival Style: External Architectural Aspects

What is the Spanish Revival style? It was popular in the United States between 1915 and 1940 and is most closely associated with the Southwestern United States. Virginia McAlester notes that Spanish architectural influence followed the Santa Fe Railroad as it extended northeast through Missouri. Sound familiar? That certainly explains why there are multiple buildings in Marceline and along the Santa Fe line that have Spanish-style architecture.

McAlester goes on to say that the range of “decorative detail found in Spain was extraordinarily diverse.” In other words, it was seen as a diverse medley of designs and styles. Thus, there is no one aspect most closely associated with Spanish Revival style architecture.

The Uptown Theatre is no exception. The Marceline News described the theater in the following way at the opening of the original theatre in 1930: “The entire front of [the theater is in] buff colored textured brick with vari-colored insets of terra-cotta.” The buff color indicates that the building is designed with one of the main characteristics of the Spanish Revival style, add in the floral designs and creatures in various configurations and you’re looking at a beautifully designed building in the style.

Furthermore, it’s a simple rectangular 3-story building in brick running bond with a rectangular plan shape and a flat, steel and stucco roof mimicking a tile roof that slants slightly between the two end pilasters, which imitate the columns typically seen in traditional Spanish Revival style homes.

While ornamentation is not uncommon in this style, the Uptown Theatre’s detailing includes urns, lions, and flowers, all of which are not typical of the style. However, ornate decorative façades with floral designs and creatures in various configurations is most representative of some 15^th century Spain embellishments, so there could have been some influence from that style as well.

Nonetheless, the theatre illustrates the intention of an application of a high style commonly associated with theater buildings.

The Spanish Revival Style: Internal Architectural Aspects

What was wonderful to see when I inspected the theater last year is that its interior space retains both its original function as a theater and much of the original 1930 architecture too.

A Marceline News reporter described it at its opening as follows:

Entering the lobby [the] walls are of a textured color plaster…Flex-O-Tile…presents much the same appearance as tile or terraza [sic]…. Just on leaving the lobby stands the… foyer.

The first impression upon entering the foyer is the [carpet]. Here again are notice soft lights reflected from the side wall fixtures…. The walls are of a soft shade of tan of textured plaster with a ceiling very subdued in color… In the center of the front wall will be installed the drinking fountain of the latest design and at each end of the foyer are the retiring rooms and the ‘cry rooms.’

The first impression on entering the auditorium is of a riot of color distributed haphazardly…. The ceiling is crossed with heavy beams… Bordering the celling and around the proscenium arch is a rich design of cast ornamental plaster…

At each side of the proscenium arch are decorated plaster arched grills thru which the house will be heated in the winter. These grills are finished with the same decorative plaster…. The walls are finished in a heavy textured plaster….

If you’ve been in the theatre in the last 50 years, you’ve noticed how strikingly similar the inside is to this description. Sadly, the only things missing now are the “cry room”.

Marceline Comparisons

Per the 2018 Marceline architectural survey, the subtle influence of Spanish architectural styles is evident in several buildings in the city; however, only one other commercial building in Marceline has significant Spanish architectural characteristics. That building, built in 1900, is the former mortuary. It exhibits more traditional Spanish architectural characteristics which make it more reminiscent of Spanish Missionary than Spanish Revival.

Another building that displays Spanish architectural characteristics is the Santa Fe Depot (also eligible for the National Register), built in 1913. It is the most traditional example of Spanish Revival in Marceline and is generally reflective of Santa Fe Railroad’s corporate styling.

The reason the Uptown Theatre is so much more important architecturally than the depot is because Cantwell and Wolfskill understood it needed to blend into the commercial district without standing out very much, as the Chief would a few years later. As a result of this thinking, the theater remains unimposing and unostentatious, exuding an earthy feel that blends well with the other buildings in the downtown commercial district at the time of its erection. You’ll note that the Masonic Temple does a similar thing. Given that it was built in 1923, my guess is Cantwell and Wolfskill decided to imitate the blond buff brick look, which just happened to be part of the Spanish Revival style.

Ed is the Founder and President of the veteran-owned Midwest Preservation Group, LLC, a historical preservation company dedicated to assisting rural communities with preserving their history. For more details about the company and historic preservation, please visit the FAQ page of midwestpreservationgroup.com.

No part of this article can be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the author.