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Save Old South Point schoolhouse

After the Washington Missourian ran the article below, WPI was contacted by SkyView Contracting about the possibilities of their help in moving the South Point Schoolhouse. Andy Unerstall of Unerstall Construction came forth and has generously helped coordinate the details of moving the schoolhouse, and is donating his assistance on the project. Bob Horn of Horn Architects, AIA, has donated his assistance by providing the drawings and plans necessary for everyone involved. The community support has been generous with over $11,000.00 contributed to date. WPI is thankful for everyone's support and contributions. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Help is needed in everything from plasterwork to plumbing, from roofing to landscaping. Get involved by contacting us to let us know how you would like help in this worthwhile project - today.

Get involved in Preservation in Washington today

If you would like to join Washington Preservation or get involved with one of their initiatives, we would like to hear from you! Please contact us and let us hear how you would like to help preserve our history for future generations.

History of South Point

On May 25, 1804 Lewis and Clark pulled up at an excellent landing spot to spend the night at the home of Alexander McCourtney’s on his “plantation.” McCourtney’s Spanish Land grant would eventually become the town of South Point, and eventually part of Washington, Missouri. On March 6, 1841, the town plat was recorded by David Sterigere and James K. Rule, and given the name South Point because the landing there was already called that, it being the southernmost point of the Missouri River.
The original town was west of Dubois Creek, or Wood River as some early accounts called it, in a valley between two high cliffs, and contained eight blocks, some of which were named Jefferson, Madison, State, Union and Main. The town grew larger and had four additions.
The railroad arrived in the winter of 1854-55 and a Post Office was established in July of 1855. The steamboat captain and former general store owner James O’Hara was both the postmaster and the railroad agent.
In 1860 the Missouri State Gazeteer said South Point contained two stores, two manufactories, one church and “the South Point Institute.” There was a Methodist church, two coopers (barrel makers), a steam saw and a planning (wood) mill, a brickyard, general stores, hotels, blacksmiths, shoemakers, carpenters, tailors and a carriage and wagon maker.
Philip Hendrich started a lumber mill in 1857, and by 1867 George Kuenzle had opened the spoke and hub factory which also made axe, pick and shovel handles.
Then on October 1, 1864 Price’s army raided South Point and burnt the railroad depot, the hotel, the railroad bridge and several other buildings to the ground.
In 1874, the editor of the Franklin County Record visited South Point and said how “Dr. Gross, formerly from Gasconade County, we found to be a very sociable and intelligent gentleman, well posted in politics. For the love of the occupation, he is now engaged in teaching the very large and flourishing school at that place.”
The town had continued to grow until about this point, but then began its decline. In 1885, the Post Office there was closed and the town only had four businesses left, overshadowed by the flourishing town of Washington. By World War I the town was filled with vacant houses and overgrown yards.
Less than seventy years later that schoolhouse remained, but in May of 1952 would close and be sold to the highest bidders. At that time the Missourian reported that “South Point has turned out steady and continuous classes of eighth grade graduates for more than 100 years”. . . and that “the school at South Point is considerably more than 100 years old.”
In 2008 Washington Preservation asked the City of Washington if they accepted a donation of the old schoolhouse if they could move the building to the park to be placed on the Kohmueller farm that the group has already restored and maintains. The City of Washington agreed. Local support has grown and thanks to the help of individuals like Larry Promesy, Andy Unerstall, and Robert Horn, the project will soon become a reality.

Annual Events

Preservation Group Puts Out SOS to 'Save Old South Point School!'
By: Karen Cernich
11/25/2008

Preservation

You might never know it to look at it, but the dilapidated old clapboard structure that stands just behind the old Riechers gas station along Old Highway 100 has real historic value.From the late 1800s up until 1952, it was South Point School.On Halloween, students at the current South Point School, located just across Fifth Street, were given hayrides to their school's predecessor to learn a bit of its history. Dorris Keeven-Franke, president of Washington Preservation Inc., was dressed in period clothing to play her part as the schoolmarm.

As she shared what the town of South Point was like in the mid-1800s, the students became excited and animated imagining what it must have been like."What the kids found so interesting was that there were once four towns here where now we have just Washington," said Keeven-Franke, noting the towns were South Point, Washington, Bassora (or "Goosetown") and Nierstein."I told them in the 1880s, you could get on a train at South Point and ride it into Washington for a quarter."Today the old South Point School stands as a relic of those early days, and Washington Preservation Inc. wants to save it, but they need some help in the way of financial support from the community.

In August, just as students were heading back to school for the new year, the nonprofit group received permission to have the historic school moved to the city park adjacent to the Kohmueller Farm at Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Drive."It will be placed in a grove of trees on the southeast part of the lot," said Keeven-Franke.Washington Preservation Inc. embarked on a fundraising drive, "Save Old South Point," to raise the approximately $15,000 needed to move the building across town. So far, they have raised $6,000. The city originally gave the group 90 days to raise the funds to move the school. That time line expired earlier this month, but Washington Preservation Inc. has asked the city for an extension.Where the old school is located now, adjacent to Washington's new wastewater treatment plant under construction, is a problem, said Keeven-Franke. Washington Preservation Inc. fears if the old schoolhouse stays there, it won't survive much longer.

Expert Movers of New Melle have found the building is able to be moved the four miles to the city park.The plan to move it to the Kohmueller Farm property includes restoring the old school for use as a meeting room, education facility, historic resource, even for small weddings or receptions. And with Four Rivers Family YMCA just up the hill, the restored schoolhouse could also be a resource for Y activities, said Keeven-Franke."We already give school tours at the Kohmueller property, so this will be a nice spot to do education workshops about preservation and history," she said.

Andy Unerstall has signed on to help Washington Preservation Inc. as a general contractor on the project. Plans are to repair and restore the exterior first and then move to the interior."The building will be returned to its former glory, only a little better with central heat, water and restrooms," said Keeven-Franke.The city has agreed to provide the new location with a foundation and to run utilities to the site.

Why Save It?

Keeven-Franke has heard this question before, and as a historian, she isn't surprised by it. Yes, from the outside, the building looks horrible to the average person, she said.All of the original butter-colored paint has been stripped away with the years, and there are patches where the clapboard is missing. The original sets of 10 windows have several panes of glass missing."But so much of the original building is there," stressed Keeven-Franke. "Inside the floor is in good shape, and the plaster is still there on the walls." An inspection of the old South Point School was performed April 7, 2007, and the building was found to be "straight and structurally sound." All of the fascia boards around the windows seem to be intact. The corrugated metal roof is OK, and the shutters are mostly intact with most of the hardware.

Town's History

It would be easy to look at the apparently crumbling old schoolhouse and write it off, but members of Washington Preservation Inc. say there's too much history wrapped up in the building to let it go. "On May 25, 1804, Lewis and Clark pulled up at an excellent landing spot to spend the night at the home of Alexander McCourtney's 'plantation,' " which later became the town of South Point."On March 6, 1841, the town plat was recorded . . . and given the name South Point . . . it being the southernmost point of the Missouri River."

South Point was a steamboat stop in the 1850s and a train stop when the railroad arrived in 1854. The post office was opened in 1855, and by 1860, the population was over 200 with stores, factories and a Methodist Church, coopers (barrel makers), a tailor, blacksmith, brickyards, saw mills, wagon makers, doctors, hotels, shoemakers, carpenters and the South Point Institute."In October 1864, when Price's Raid occurred, the depot, the railroad bridge and several buildings were burned to the ground," noted Keeven-Franke. "By 1877, the town had dwindled to 100 inhabitants, but still had a good public school."

In 1885 the post office was closed and the town had just four businesses, "overshadowed by the flourishing town of Washington. By World War I, (South Point) was filled with vacant houses and overgrown yards."The school, however, continued to educate students until it was closed in 1952.'Turned Out Steady, Continuous Graduates'No one knows exactly when the old South Point School was built, Washington Preservation Inc. dates it to around 1880s - the same time frame as the Kohmueller Farm house where the group hopes to move the school.The old school was used as school up until 1952, "when the South Point School District combined with the Washington School District under new state laws."

An article in the May 22, 1952, issue of The Missourian marked the "rural school" closing. The article notes that, "South Point has turned out steady and continuous classes of eighth-grade graduates for more than 100 years . . . the records . . . are buried in the past, and about the only available information is that from old-timers."Those include old South Point School's last teacher, Margaret Rennick Niemeyer, now living in Columbia, who shared what it was like teaching 30 students in grades one to eight at the same time in the one interior room. Washington Preservation Inc. has an old newspaper clipping that includes a photo of the school's last group of students. It lists the students' names and the group is working to track down as many of them as it can.After the school was closed in 1952, the building was sold to Gary Riechers, who still owns it today, said Keeven-Franke. For the last 50-plus years he has used it for storage.Riechers has agreed to donate the old school to the city if it can be moved to the city park.

Seeking Donations

Washington Preservation Inc. is asking for those who support the cause to make a donation to the project. They can be marked SOS and mailed to WPI, P.O. Box 505, Washington, MO 63090."So much of the town's history is wrapped up in this old school - that's what makes it interesting and worth saving," said Keeven-Franke."One of the first buildings any new community built was a schoolhouse," she noted, "because it was used for more than just school. It was a schoolhouse Mondays through Fridays during the day, but at night they held meetings there, they had dances on the weekends, they might have even held church there on Sundays."It was South Point's civic center, you might say."

Keeven-Franke said restoring historic structures like old South Point School allow them to stand as tangible evidence to future generations about how far the community has come."If we don't keep in touch with the past, how can we understand how far we've come?" she asked.For more information on the SOS project, people may call 636-390-8257 or visit www.washington-preservation.org.

In eIn early January 2007, Gary Riechers contacted Washington Preservation about the former schoolhouse his family owned, behind the former Riechers Filling Station on Old Hwy 100 east of East Fifth Street. Intrigued WPI visited the schoolhouse to consider what could be done. A building inspection was done and the building was considered to still be sound. Still not sure about the project, as the building's appearance was rough to say the least, WPI contacted some local moving companies to determine what it would cost. Armed with the bid the group went to the Washington City Council to ask if the project could be considered. They were referred to the City of Washington's Park Commission because the location that WPI wanted to move it to, was on the Kohmueller Farmstead, which is in the City's park. Plans were drawn up, asking if the project would receive the City of Washington's stamp of approval. The Park Commission gave it their unanimous approval. After getting the "green light" on August 18, 2008, fundraising began in earnest.

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Initiatives South Point Schoolhouse Kohmueller Family Farm Window on Washington Washington Watch Preservation Awards Publications	Save Old South Point schoolhouse
	After the Washington Missourian ran the article below, WPI was contacted by SkyView Contracting about the possibilities of their help in moving the South Point Schoolhouse. Andy Unerstall of Unerstall Construction came forth and has generously helped coordinate the details of moving the schoolhouse, and is donating his assistance on the project. Bob Horn of Horn Architects, AIA, has donated his assistance by providing the drawings and plans necessary for everyone involved. The community support has been generous with over $11,000.00 contributed to date. WPI is thankful for everyone's support and contributions. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Help is needed in everything from plasterwork to plumbing, from roofing to landscaping. Get involved by contacting us to let us know how you would like help in this worthwhile project - today.		Get involved in Preservation in Washington today If you would like to join Washington Preservation or get involved with one of their initiatives, we would like to hear from you! Please contact us and let us hear how you would like to help preserve our history for future generations. History of South Point On May 25, 1804 Lewis and Clark pulled up at an excellent landing spot to spend the night at the home of Alexander McCourtney’s on his “plantation.” McCourtney’s Spanish Land grant would eventually become the town of South Point, and eventually part of Washington, Missouri. On March 6, 1841, the town plat was recorded by David Sterigere and James K. Rule, and given the name South Point because the landing there was already called that, it being the southernmost point of the Missouri River. The original town was west of Dubois Creek, or Wood River as some early accounts called it, in a valley between two high cliffs, and contained eight blocks, some of which were named Jefferson, Madison, State, Union and Main. The town grew larger and had four additions. The railroad arrived in the winter of 1854-55 and a Post Office was established in July of 1855. The steamboat captain and former general store owner James O’Hara was both the postmaster and the railroad agent. In 1860 the Missouri State Gazeteer said South Point contained two stores, two manufactories, one church and “the South Point Institute.” There was a Methodist church, two coopers (barrel makers), a steam saw and a planning (wood) mill, a brickyard, general stores, hotels, blacksmiths, shoemakers, carpenters, tailors and a carriage and wagon maker. Philip Hendrich started a lumber mill in 1857, and by 1867 George Kuenzle had opened the spoke and hub factory which also made axe, pick and shovel handles. Then on October 1, 1864 Price’s army raided South Point and burnt the railroad depot, the hotel, the railroad bridge and several other buildings to the ground. In 1874, the editor of the Franklin County Record visited South Point and said how “Dr. Gross, formerly from Gasconade County, we found to be a very sociable and intelligent gentleman, well posted in politics. For the love of the occupation, he is now engaged in teaching the very large and flourishing school at that place.” The town had continued to grow until about this point, but then began its decline. In 1885, the Post Office there was closed and the town only had four businesses left, overshadowed by the flourishing town of Washington. By World War I the town was filled with vacant houses and overgrown yards. Less than seventy years later that schoolhouse remained, but in May of 1952 would close and be sold to the highest bidders. At that time the Missourian reported that “South Point has turned out steady and continuous classes of eighth grade graduates for more than 100 years”. . . and that “the school at South Point is considerably more than 100 years old.” In 2008 Washington Preservation asked the City of Washington if they accepted a donation of the old schoolhouse if they could move the building to the park to be placed on the Kohmueller farm that the group has already restored and maintains. The City of Washington agreed. Local support has grown and thanks to the help of individuals like Larry Promesy, Andy Unerstall, and Robert Horn, the project will soon become a reality.
Annual Events Preservation Month Heart of Washington Washington Weihnachten Preservation Tour German-American Day Civil War Day		Preservation Group Puts Out SOS to 'Save Old South Point School!' By: Karen Cernich 11/25/2008
Preservation News Blog Special Events Resources Links National Register of Historic Places	You might never know it to look at it, but the dilapidated old clapboard structure that stands just behind the old Riechers gas station along Old Highway 100 has real historic value.From the late 1800s up until 1952, it was South Point School.On Halloween, students at the current South Point School, located just across Fifth Street, were given hayrides to their school's predecessor to learn a bit of its history. Dorris Keeven-Franke, president of Washington Preservation Inc., was dressed in period clothing to play her part as the schoolmarm. As she shared what the town of South Point was like in the mid-1800s, the students became excited and animated imagining what it must have been like."What the kids found so interesting was that there were once four towns here where now we have just Washington," said Keeven-Franke, noting the towns were South Point, Washington, Bassora (or "Goosetown") and Nierstein."I told them in the 1880s, you could get on a train at South Point and ride it into Washington for a quarter."Today the old South Point School stands as a relic of those early days, and Washington Preservation Inc. wants to save it, but they need some help in the way of financial support from the community. In August, just as students were heading back to school for the new year, the nonprofit group received permission to have the historic school moved to the city park adjacent to the Kohmueller Farm at Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Drive."It will be placed in a grove of trees on the southeast part of the lot," said Keeven-Franke.Washington Preservation Inc. embarked on a fundraising drive, "Save Old South Point," to raise the approximately $15,000 needed to move the building across town. So far, they have raised $6,000. The city originally gave the group 90 days to raise the funds to move the school. That time line expired earlier this month, but Washington Preservation Inc. has asked the city for an extension.Where the old school is located now, adjacent to Washington's new wastewater treatment plant under construction, is a problem, said Keeven-Franke. Washington Preservation Inc. fears if the old schoolhouse stays there, it won't survive much longer. Expert Movers of New Melle have found the building is able to be moved the four miles to the city park.The plan to move it to the Kohmueller Farm property includes restoring the old school for use as a meeting room, education facility, historic resource, even for small weddings or receptions. And with Four Rivers Family YMCA just up the hill, the restored schoolhouse could also be a resource for Y activities, said Keeven-Franke."We already give school tours at the Kohmueller property, so this will be a nice spot to do education workshops about preservation and history," she said. Andy Unerstall has signed on to help Washington Preservation Inc. as a general contractor on the project. Plans are to repair and restore the exterior first and then move to the interior."The building will be returned to its former glory, only a little better with central heat, water and restrooms," said Keeven-Franke.The city has agreed to provide the new location with a foundation and to run utilities to the site. Why Save It? Keeven-Franke has heard this question before, and as a historian, she isn't surprised by it. Yes, from the outside, the building looks horrible to the average person, she said.All of the original butter-colored paint has been stripped away with the years, and there are patches where the clapboard is missing. The original sets of 10 windows have several panes of glass missing."But so much of the original building is there," stressed Keeven-Franke. "Inside the floor is in good shape, and the plaster is still there on the walls." An inspection of the old South Point School was performed April 7, 2007, and the building was found to be "straight and structurally sound." All of the fascia boards around the windows seem to be intact. The corrugated metal roof is OK, and the shutters are mostly intact with most of the hardware. Town's History It would be easy to look at the apparently crumbling old schoolhouse and write it off, but members of Washington Preservation Inc. say there's too much history wrapped up in the building to let it go. "On May 25, 1804, Lewis and Clark pulled up at an excellent landing spot to spend the night at the home of Alexander McCourtney's 'plantation,' " which later became the town of South Point."On March 6, 1841, the town plat was recorded . . . and given the name South Point . . . it being the southernmost point of the Missouri River." South Point was a steamboat stop in the 1850s and a train stop when the railroad arrived in 1854. The post office was opened in 1855, and by 1860, the population was over 200 with stores, factories and a Methodist Church, coopers (barrel makers), a tailor, blacksmith, brickyards, saw mills, wagon makers, doctors, hotels, shoemakers, carpenters and the South Point Institute."In October 1864, when Price's Raid occurred, the depot, the railroad bridge and several buildings were burned to the ground," noted Keeven-Franke. "By 1877, the town had dwindled to 100 inhabitants, but still had a good public school." In 1885 the post office was closed and the town had just four businesses, "overshadowed by the flourishing town of Washington. By World War I, (South Point) was filled with vacant houses and overgrown yards."The school, however, continued to educate students until it was closed in 1952.'Turned Out Steady, Continuous Graduates'No one knows exactly when the old South Point School was built, Washington Preservation Inc. dates it to around 1880s - the same time frame as the Kohmueller Farm house where the group hopes to move the school.The old school was used as school up until 1952, "when the South Point School District combined with the Washington School District under new state laws." An article in the May 22, 1952, issue of The Missourian marked the "rural school" closing. The article notes that, "South Point has turned out steady and continuous classes of eighth-grade graduates for more than 100 years . . . the records . . . are buried in the past, and about the only available information is that from old-timers."Those include old South Point School's last teacher, Margaret Rennick Niemeyer, now living in Columbia, who shared what it was like teaching 30 students in grades one to eight at the same time in the one interior room. Washington Preservation Inc. has an old newspaper clipping that includes a photo of the school's last group of students. It lists the students' names and the group is working to track down as many of them as it can.After the school was closed in 1952, the building was sold to Gary Riechers, who still owns it today, said Keeven-Franke. For the last 50-plus years he has used it for storage.Riechers has agreed to donate the old school to the city if it can be moved to the city park. Seeking Donations Washington Preservation Inc. is asking for those who support the cause to make a donation to the project. They can be marked SOS and mailed to WPI, P.O. Box 505, Washington, MO 63090."So much of the town's history is wrapped up in this old school - that's what makes it interesting and worth saving," said Keeven-Franke."One of the first buildings any new community built was a schoolhouse," she noted, "because it was used for more than just school. It was a schoolhouse Mondays through Fridays during the day, but at night they held meetings there, they had dances on the weekends, they might have even held church there on Sundays."It was South Point's civic center, you might say." Keeven-Franke said restoring historic structures like old South Point School allow them to stand as tangible evidence to future generations about how far the community has come."If we don't keep in touch with the past, how can we understand how far we've come?" she asked.For more information on the SOS project, people may call 636-390-8257 or visit www.washington-preservation.org. ©Washington Missouri 2009


			In eIn early January 2007, Gary Riechers contacted Washington Preservation about the former schoolhouse his family owned, behind the former Riechers Filling Station on Old Hwy 100 east of East Fifth Street. Intrigued WPI visited the schoolhouse to consider what could be done. A building inspection was done and the building was considered to still be sound. Still not sure about the project, as the building's appearance was rough to say the least, WPI contacted some local moving companies to determine what it would cost. Armed with the bid the group went to the Washington City Council to ask if the project could be considered. They were referred to the City of Washington's Park Commission because the location that WPI wanted to move it to, was on the Kohmueller Farmstead, which is in the City's park. Plans were drawn up, asking if the project would receive the City of Washington's stamp of approval. The Park Commission gave it their unanimous approval. After getting the "green light" on August 18, 2008, fundraising began in earnest.
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