New childhood toys exhibit on display this July-August
Now through August 31, relive your summer vacation with this special exhibit of toys, games, books, and more.
1904 Wabash Train derailment kills 8, injures 50, and rallies Warren County
In 1904, a Wabash Railroad train derailed near Warrenton, killing eight and injuring fifty. The wreck exposed the dangers of high-speed travel on poorly maintained tracks, prompted a major local rescue effort, and led to a legal battle over railroad negligence. It also highlighted ongoing safety challenges facing the rapidly expanding railroad industry.
How the “noble experiment” of Prohibition failed the Missouri Rhineland
Missourians, especially in the Rhineland, strongly opposed Prohibition, resisting both the law and the cultural pressures it brought. Amid widespread defiance, the region also endured harsh anti-German sentiments, as local traditions and livelihoods were targeted during a time of national upheaval.
Warrenton prepares for Taft Day, spectacle may “never be seen here again”
In October 1908, presidential nominee William Howard Taft made a campaign stop in Warrenton, drawing a large crowd from the town and nearby communities. He spoke briefly from his train, leaving a lasting impression on the local residents that affected the election outcome.
Hello? Number please? Warren County’s first telephones arrive
The arrival of telegraph and telephone technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries transformed communication across the country, including in Warrenton. These advances connected communities like never before and laid the groundwork for modern networks.
Inside the kitchen of German immigrants and the seeds of the Midwestern diet
The little provisions the settlers set out with on their journey west was soon gone. “The flour entirely. Very few had laid in any salted meat of any description, the season for venison was gone by. Turkeys scarce, beef and cattle there was none,” remembered Ichabod Nye. He, along with his brother Samuel, migrated to Ohio in 1807, some of the first settlers to make the overland journey into the present-day Midwest. Thousands more frontier families would face the same harsh realities. They made the best of their experience, but more than a few wished they’d never made the journey west. When Gottfried Duden traveled along the Missouri River in the 1820s, his writings sparked almost mythical interest and inspired a generation of young Germans to travel to Missouri. Unlike white settlers of the American colonies like Ichabod Nye, those who followed in Duden’s footsteps sought refuge, not merely adventure, reinvention, and wealth. Among them were Carl Schurz, who fled political unrest in Germany and settled in St. Louis, where he wrote thought-provoking analysis of slavery and education reform. The Muench family came to Missouri and advocated for progressive farming practices. The Poeschel and Dierbergs established a hub for wine …
Top tips to get started with genealogy and family trees this year
Want to trace your family history but don’t know where to start? This guide will help you get started with genealogy research. We’ll cover how to: Begin your genealogy journey and family tree Start your genealogy research by concentrating on what you know your own life. This foundational information will serve as the cornerstone of your research. If you don’t know a date, an estimate is a great place to start. “Sometime in the summer of 1964” or “Late 1972 or early 1973” can really narrow down records in online databases. Collect existing family stories and records Reach out to older relatives who often hold a wealth of family history information. They can provide you with stories, photographs, and documents that you might not have access to otherwise or just didn’t know existed. They may also have questions about their parents or grandparents you should know to look out for. Don’t overlook your home as a treasure trove of genealogical data, too. Family documents, old letters, and records stored in attics or basements can provide vital clues about your ancestors. Gathering information from personal and family sources sets a solid foundation for your genealogical research. Future generations are likely going …
See the winners of the 2024 Tablescapes
The people voted and the top three winners of the 2024 Tablescapes contest are below.
KWRE still going strong after seventy-five years
KWRE Radio has been broadcasting from Warren County for 75 years. The station’s formula has always been simple: authenticity.
The almost Western Confederacy and the Southern plot to decapitate Missouri state government
During the Civil War, four men met with the blessing of Confederate leaders in Canada. They hatched several plans, including one backed with $500,000 to form a third, Western Confederacy.