• Missouri Mule Museum (MMM): Jeanie Gay shared that the museum has resumed its Wednesday through Saturday operating hours, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Recently, Missouri Humanities published a digital story that was submitted by Jeanie Gay, curator of the Missouri Mule Museum in Perry.  The story is part of the Missouri Humanities’ Signature Series that celebrates our nation’s 250th birthday. The Story of U.S.  Jeanie’s submission tells the story of the Chipman mules and their attendance at the Missouri State Fair every year from 1950 to 2025.  It also showcases the family’s mules, which were invited to attend our nation’s Bicentennial Celebration in Washington, D.C.  You can find the story on our Facebook page, in our May newsletter, or online at mohumanities.org/show-me-the-mules-at-the-missouri-state-fair.  Soon, you will notice two new billboards highlighting the Missouri Mule Museum.

• Absalom Grimes Workshop:  Barney Bradshaw of Historically Speaking presented a lively workshop entitled “Gratiot Street Prison and the Life & Times of Absalom Grimes.”  The event was hosted by RCHS and the Ralls County Library on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Bradshaw shared a wide variety of information, including information about mail carrier and Confederate spy Absalom Grimes.  Grimes is buried in Barkley Cemetery in New London.  Grimes lived near Hydesburg and married Lucy Glascock of New London.  Ralls County Library has books on this topic available for check out by its patrons.

• Perry Bank Restoration: No update

• Preserving County Documents and other artifacts:  No update

• Area Historical Society Meeting: This group met at the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Joel Rhodes, Executive Director of the SHSMO, welcomed guests to the facility and provided a tour of the SHSMO, located at 605 Elm Street in Columbia.  Dr. John Bondy facilitated the meeting on behalf of area historical societies. The next meeting of this group will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026, at Randolph County Historical Society in Moberly.  

• All Time History: Andrew Bartison shared that a few more members have joined the All Time History platform.  

• Current Research Requests: A letter was received regarding the Stillwell family.  The letter seeks information about John Stillwell, who died on December 17, 1905, in Hannibal, MO.  Prior to his death in 1905, John Stillwell worked at the Tegler’s Planing Mill in Ralls County near Bear Creek.  He is seeking property tax records or other information that confirms he lived at 109 Settles Street, as well as confirmation of his birthdate and possibly a relation to the late Amos Stillwell.  If anyone has information about this individual or his family, please contact Delores Woodhurst

• Public Outreach Opportunities:  

  • May 22-23:  Perry All Town Garage Sales

  • May 23:  Old Fashioned Breakfast Fundraiser at the Perry Carousel

  • May 23:  Oak Hill School Gathering:  Meal, local music, no charge, 6:30 p.m.

  • June 5, 6, 7:New London Park Days (Patty Tinsley agreed to spearhead this setup.  We will have a booth at the event on Saturday from 10:00 to 2:00 or 3:00. Patty, Mary Jackson, Gina Jameson, and Carolyn Trower will plan to share time at the booth. We will have membership information, calendars, and a small genealogy book for sale.  The mule cutout will be on display for selfies. We will start setting the booth up at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6th.  If RCHS’s tent doesn’t work, Brad said he has a tent we can use.  

  • June 27:  Northeast Missouri Genealogical Society meeting.

  • June 27:  Oak Hill School Gathering:  Meal, local music, no charge

  • July 4:  Perry 4th of July Parade

  • July 15: RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • July 16: RCHS Depot Presentation at the Ralls County Library, 10:00 a.m.

  • July 25:  Oak Hill School Gathering:  Meal, local music, no charge

  • August 2:  St. Paul Ice Cream Social

  • August 7:  Area Historical Society Meeting, 10:00 a.m.

  • August 8:  Perry Annual Car Show at the City Park, 4:00-7:00 p.m., car cruise to Ray Behrens Campground at 7:00 p.m.

  • August 19: RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • August 22:  Northeast Missouri Genealogical Society Meeting

  • August 22:  Oak Hill School Gathering:  Meal, local music, no charge

  • August 29:  Misfits Car Show in ILASCO

  • September 4-5:  Perry All Town Garage Sales

  • September 16: RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • September 26: Oak Hill School Gathering:  Meal, local music, no charge

  • October 10:  ILASCO’s 2nd Annual Cake Piknik.   This is a ticketed event. 

  • October 21: RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • October 24: Northeast Missouri Genealogical Society Meeting

  • November 18: RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

  • November 21:  Perry Holiday Market

  • December 4:  Christmas in ILASCO

  • December 5:  Perry Small Town Christmas

  • December 16: RCHS Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Perry City Hall

• Recent Donations:

  • Kayrl Silvey:  Kayrl Silvey is a retired teacher and administrator from the Ralls County R-II School District.  

    • Group photos from New London Elementary, 1980-81, 1981-82; 1982-83; 1983-84; 1984-85; 1985-86; 1987-87; 1987-88; 1988-89; 1989-90; 1990-91

    • Back-to-School Newspaper Inserts 1988-89; 1991-92; 1992-93;  1994-95; 1995-96; 1996-97;  1998-99; 1999-00; 2000-01; 2002-03; 2004-05; 2005-06; 

    • Misc. Ralls County R-II related news articles

    • Misc. news articles, including New London’s First Christian Church service after 9-11; Center High School; 1994 Veterans Day Newspaper Insert; other misc. topics

  • Gaytha Webber: Items to be documented in next month’s agenda.

  • Lynn Broyles:  Sandie Storm shared a recent donation by Lynn Broyles.  The donation includes two photo albums of the 2008 flood of the Salt River.  The photos show the flooding that began at the dam's spillway as water was released from the main channel to keep the lake at an acceptable pool level.  The donation also included various newspaper articles and artifacts.

• Payment of Bills with Receipts:  None presented.

• Financial Information as of 4/30/2026:  Ending balance $48,327.64

• President’s Update: Ron Leake accepted a resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives that celebrates Ralls County Historical Society’s 50th birthday, which is being celebrated all year long.  Thank you, Representative Louis Riggs, for this resolution and for helping to document this significant milestone.  Ron shared that he is so pleased with the work of the Historical Society, and looks forward to continuing to improve the Society with new thoughts, ideas, and projects that help celebrate, honor, and preserve our county’s history. One project he would like to see if a collection of tombstones of Veterans buried in Ralls County.  Delores shared that the podcast that she and Carolyn Trower participated in about a year ago is now available online at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-in-plain-sight-a-missouri-history-podcast/id1890751260.  The podcast is called Hidden in Plain Sight:  A Missouri History Podcast, and it is produced by Margot McMillen and Heather Roberson, mother and daughter.  The particular episode that RCHS participated in is the April 4th episode entitled Marth Tolton’s Fight for Faith and Freedom:  St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ralls County, Missouri. A discussion was held to clarify the facilities available in Perry to celebrate our county’s history, including the Missouri Mule Museum, the Ralls County Historical Society Museum, and the Ralls County Historical Society Library and Genealogy Research Center (which is housed within the Missouri Mule Museum).  RCHS will work on signage and getting the word out to clarify which physical locations are available and when they are open. 

The meeting adjourned at —  The next meeting is June 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Perry City Hall.  The meeting is open to the public, and we hope anyone interested in preserving, celebrating, and honoring Ralls County's history will attend.

Students from the Ralls County Elementary Student Leadership Team and RCHS Student Interns assisted in the evening’s events, including welcoming guests, serving drinks, bussing tables, and assisting with the auction.  Ralls County Elementary Student Leadership Team members assisting included Izzy Browning, Haven Elliott, Mallory Diffenderfer, Trinity Logan, Auburn Simmons, Sapphire Muehring, Blaire Gilmore, and Avery Jones, Jaelyn Wieczorek, and Jackson Keil, along with their advisors, Diana Duckworth and Julia Henderson.  RCHS Student Interns assisting with the event included Landon Pease, Evie Bickel, Maeley Moss, Ericka Gilbert, and Alyvia Paxton.  Having youth involved was a wonderful addition to the event.

Jeanie Gay, Carolyn Trower, and Sarah Petersheim worked the main table, accepting memberships, selling calendars and books, and assisting with the auction.  All paper products for the event were donated by Dennis and Debbie McMillen, owners of Center Locker.

Presiding Commissioner John Lake and his wife, Sharon, and Western District Commissioner John Wieczorek and his wife, Carol, sold raffle tickets for a gun that was donated by all three commissioners, including Eastern District Commissioner Junior Muehring and his wife, Jenny.  Proceeds from the gun raffle will benefit the Ralls County Historical Society. 

After enjoying the meal, Elementary Leadership Team members led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off a brief program before the auction got underway.  President Ron Leake thanked those in attendance for their continued support and encouraged volunteerism. Leake has been the president of RCHS since 2002 and continues to be an integral piece of the organization.  Leake acknowledged and honored the men, women, and children who came together in 1976 to form an organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and honoring the history of Ralls County, several of whom were in attendance.  When the Society was founded in 1976, there were approximately 130 members. While membership has surged and waned over the years, RCHS is proud to have 135 members today.

In 2025, RCHS issued a call for submissions to design a new official seal for Ralls County Historical Society. Several thoughtful entries were received, and after review, RCHS unanimously selected Christina Strode's design.  Vice President Delores Woodhurst asked Strode to come forward, and Strode was recognized and thanked, as her seal, which was on display for viewing at the event, became the official seal of the Ralls County Historical Society.  The narrative that accompanied Strode’s design is included below.

Creating the Ralls County Historical Society seal has been a fun experience for me, and one that truly means a lot.  My husband Joseph's family roots run deep in the Ralls County dirt!  My family lives on my husband's family farm, where his 3x Great Grandfather Hedgman Wilson lived.  The Wilson family moved to Clay Township, near Spalding, in Ralls County, from Virginia in the mid-1800s.  His 4x Great Grandfather Jeremiah Strode moved to Ralls County, where his family grew.  Joseph's 3x Grandfather, Edward Strode, became a prominent doctor in New London, and there is even a street named after him. In an effort to create a unique design, I researched many seals from around the country for layout ideas.  In the outer ring, 1820 represents the year Ralls County was formed.  The central focus of the seal is our beautiful courthouse, with the year it was built, 1858, prominently displayed on the front.  Around the courthouse are iconic symbols of our county.  In the top right, you see the great Clarence Cannon Dam with the beautiful Mark Twain Lake behind it.  To the right of the courthouse is a crappie, a fishing favorite on the lake.  My son works at the marina, and the number one question he is asked daily is, "Are the crappie biting?"  There are oak leaves and acorns to show homage to the abundant nature in our county.  Near the bottom, corn represents our rich agricultural heritage.  To the left of the courthouse is the iconic state animal, the Missouri Mule.  On the top left, you see a handsome whitetail, representing the wildlife in our area.  Separating the words in the outer ring are yellow cone flowers.  These flowers are also known as the Ozark cone flower and can be found growing wild and free along many of our roads.  The three main colors of the seal are red, white, and blue.  They reflect the Missouri State flag, and, of course, our nation.  The people of Ralls County are patriotic and deeply love our land! It was my pleasure to research and design a seal that will serve as a lasting visual representation of our great county.  Thank you for considering my design for Ralls County Historical Society's official seal.

John Wallace, assisted by his grandson and RCHS Student Intern Landon Pease, facilitated the auction of donated items.   The auction served not only as entertainment but also as an important fundraiser supporting museum operations, preservation initiatives, and local history programming.  The feature item of the auction was shared ownership in RCHS’s copy of Ralls County Missouri by Goldena Howard.  In 1980, Goldena Howard published Ralls County Missouri, known to many as “the green book,” and the book remains the most comprehensive single history of Ralls County ever created. Mrs. Howard spent decades researching the people and places of Ralls County, personally funding the project and overseeing every detail. Nearly half the book is devoted to Ralls County families. Mrs. Howard believed it was important to document the people living here at the time, those whose stories were not yet recorded in history books.  Her work was never about recognition or profit, but about preservation. Ralls County Missouri continues to be a treasured resource for families, researchers, and community members. As RCHS celebrates its 50th birthday, Mrs. Howard’s work stands as a cornerstone of its mission to preserve, honor, and celebrate Ralls County.  Individuals purchasing ownership in this book, which will continue to be housed at the Ralls County Historical Society’s museum in Perry include Jon and Pam Barnes, Greg Sharpe for State Senate, Michele Keil, Wiley and Susan Hibbard, Ryan, Sarah, and Carter Petersheim, Brian and Linda Hodges, Brian and Delores Woodhurst, Ron and Sandy Myers, Cindy Lynn-Drainer, Chad and Meri Williams, Jim and Jeanie Gay, and Landon Pease. 

Numerous individuals, businesses, and organizations donated items for the auction, including Leanne Reed, Wiley Hibbard, Dustin Wasson of South Lake Design, Mary Kay Weiss, Michele Keil of Salt River Realty, Kerri Jo Reese of Crossroads Bar & Grill, Hannah Smith and Tessa Meranda of Polish & Glow, Dustin and Jan Garner of Lake Country Gardens, Delores Woodhurst, Cindy Lynn-Drainer of At-Home Realty, Brad Stinson, Tracy Mundell of Shaggy’s Hair Salon, Lydia, Lola, and Randy McDonald of Meadows Campground & Coffeehouse, Brandon and Skylar Anderson of Anderson Auto Body & Detailing, John DiMaria of Perry Economic Development Group, Debbie Hodges, Brice & Ashley Harvey of Harvey’s Floral Boutique and Premier Pest Solutions, Rachel Jones, Frances, Dean, Kris, Jason, and Kristie Yancey of Yancey Auto Sales, Ralls County Clerk Brandy Flynn, Ralls County Collector Tara Comer, Penny Cearley, Western District Commissioner John Wieczorek, Eastern District Commissioner Junior Muehring, Presiding Commissioner John Lake, and District 5 State Representative Louis Riggs. 

Ralls County Historical Society extends heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers who made the evening possible. The Society also thanks everyone who attended, contributed, or supported the event in any way.  As RCHS looks ahead to its next fifty years, the organization invites the community to stay engaged by becoming members, volunteering, or participating in upcoming events. For more information about the Ralls County Historical Society and its programs, please visit rallscohistoricalsociety.com or follow RCHS on Facebook.

More event photos are available on our Facebook page!

Physical Address:

Ralls County Historical Museum 

105 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Missouri Mule Museum & Ralls County Historical Library

114 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Mailing Address:

Ralls County, Missouri Historical Society

PO Box 463

Perry, MO 63462