Yesterday was a "Ride About" to enjoy the beautiful day. It started off with a scrumptious breakfast from 254 Cafe.
Then it was roll on... MO 83 to US 65, Lincoln, MO, then MO 52 to Cole Camp, Stover, and Versailles,MO. A lot of History on this road.
It was said back in the day that "One could tell who was winning the Civil War by whether Confederate or Union soldiers happened to be staying at the first Martin Hotel.” Located at Hwy 5 & 52.
Versailles has been the Morgan County seat since 1854. Missouri Pacific Railroad reached the town in 1858.
In the late 1800s, large numbers of Swiss and German families settled there and many of them were Mennonites, still prominent among the farmers that till the prairie uplands north of the community. The business district of Versailles is built around a square, and this early street scene shows businesses along the north side.
The street in this photo, circa 1910, is not yet paved.
Today...
Courthouse
Today...
Morgan County, was organized in 1833 and named for Gen. Daniel Morgan, a Revolutionary patriot.
The Martin Hotel, a half-block north of the square, was built by Samuel Martin in 1878 and is now a museum. At the 26-room hotel, guests were furnished with a bed, washstand with bowl and pitcher, and a chamber pot. A coil of rope at a window in each room served as a fire escape.
Next stop was brief in California, MO.
The City of California was established in 1834. The seat of justice of Moniteau County was originally known as Boonesborough.
When Moniteau County was organized in 1845, it was decided that Boonsborough would become the county seat. Because the county court was unwilling to pay for land in Boonsborough, a site was selected one-mile west and this would become the new county seat.
In 1846, the Post Office required a new name to be selected for Boonsborough since there was already a Boonsborough in Missouri. The city was renamed California on January 25, 1847 for the territory on the West Coast that was just then drawing attention due to progress of the overland railroad. That same year, a courthouse was erected on the square.
California was incorporated in 1848 and elected its first city officials in 1858, ten years later.
The Weekly California News printed its first edition on September 18, 1858 and has since been Moniteau County's oldest established business still in operation. Today it is known as the California Democrat.
By the end of the Civil War, California's population was around 1,000. The city had 10 dry goods stores, 2 drug stores, a tobacco factory, a large steam flouring mill and carding machine, a high school, a printing office, and a bank.
In 1867, money was appropriated for a new courthouse, which was completed in 1868 and is still in use today.
Courthouse...
The day was a full day of history and the bones were getting weary. So... Jefferson City would be the night's resting point.
A Fantastic Day Along The Road!
Nana
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