The Keytesville Chamber of Commerce would like to take a moment to recognize the Friends of Keytesville as being the business of the month for the month of January! As such, we would like to share a bit with you about what the organization does to promote the town.
The Friends of Keytesville, Inc. was formed in 1964 in an effort spearheaded by Mildred Williams (deceased) to “preserve the town’s history and maintain a place to display significant artifacts of the town’s and its peoples’ past”. The 501(C)3 group has grown and changed over the years but its goal remains much the same as the original one. It also works to record “history in the making” by photographing and making collections of significant events such as the dismantling of the old water tower, the completion of the new water tower, as well as events and photos surrounding the recent demolition of old buildings throughout the town.
The group primarily runs the General Sterling Price Museum which is open weekdays from 2-5 p.m. from May 15th-October 15th every year. (The museum is closed weekends and holidays except by special appointment). Janet Weaver and Nancy Coy currently staff the museum and invite visitors to take a tour and enjoy a step back into Keytesville’s past. Visitors can learn about several famous people who were either born in Keytesville or raised there including General Maxwell Taylor, General Sterling Price, Cal Hubbard, Jane Rucker Barkley, and Charles Vandiver. Visitors can also see the museum’s extensive mineral collection and Native American artifacts. Pieces from almost every time period are included. Admission is a free will donation and tour groups are always welcome. The hostesses recommend making a reservation for a group so the proper accommodations can be made. The Museum Manager, Janet Weaver, can be reached at (660)288-3425 if need be to set up these arrangements. It is also worth noting that the museum has a handicapped accessible restroom and most of the museum can be seen easily by those with disabilities.
The Friends of Keytesville, Inc. group also maintains the 1853 Presbyterian Church and log cabin as well as the Keytesville calaboose and the necessary house. You can call Janet to arrange a tour of any of these structures. You can view the exterior of the buildings and read about their significance and history on bronze plaques at the site anytime.
2019 looks to be an exciting year for the group with its goals being to reprint the 1976 Keytesville Cookbook (which remains a bestseller with at least 10 reprintings), repairing things on the 1853 Presbyterian Church, continuing with the new cataloging system at the museum, and installing hanging brackets in museum’s annex for displaying saddles and farm equipment. For over 10 years the generosity of the Ingram Trust has provided funds to employ qualified staff at the Price Museum and last year, in addition, also provided funds to purchase a new security system, a new air conditioner, and a new back window for the Price Museum. In the last several years, the museum has been repainted inside and outside, had new lighting installed, and had new storage cases and a multi-functional closet built (all thanks to Finnell Trust Grants).
Besides the afore-mentioned Ingram and Finnell Trust grants, the Friends of Keytesville, Inc. receives funds through memberships ($10 a year for an individual and $15 a year for a couple), donations, fundraisers (3 bake sales—Christmas cookies, Valentine’s Day, and Labor Day, a cold Salad Sale and a garage sale with items donated from members and others specifically for this event), sales from Keytesville cookbooks, sesquicentennial history of Keytesville books, Christmas ornaments, General Price miniatures, Price Geneaology books, reprinted Hill House letters, and cracked and bagged pecans from the trees surrounding the Presbyterian church/log cabin complex. The organization uses the money raised from the bake sales and other fundraisers to defray the cost of continuing expenses such as insurance, security system fees, mowing, and so on.
New members are welcome and appreciated! You can join the organization by paying for dues to the Friends of Keytesville, Inc. and give or mail these to Kessie Friesz, Treasurer of the Friends of Keytesville, Inc., PO Box 102, or Janet Weaver, President of the Friends of Keytesville, Inc., PO Box 40, both of Keytesville, MO 65261. Meetings are held quarterly at 2:00 p.m. the second Saturdays in January, April, July, and October. Announcements concerning meetings can be seen on the Keytesville electronic sign and/or in the Chariton County Journal under the Community Events section.
The Keytesville Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the Friends of Keytesville, Inc. on being this month’s business of the month!