The Old Stagecoach Stop remains active in the celebration of Old Settlers Days. It will be open for tours throughout the weekend, and amongst the Civil War reenactments the Old Stagecoach Stop Museum and Foundation will be the site of Teresa and David Chuber.
Asthis weekend’sOld Settlers Day approaches atRoubidouxPark in Waynesville,itis only fitting to reflect back 42 years when the celebration first started. Old Settlers Day began in 1981 with an idea of “creating community spirit and togetherness through the revitalization of the 1880’s,” Mabel Motteznoted in her book, “Lest We Forget.”
The event was planned and facilitated by a group of Waynesville and St. Robert citizens who were known as the Community Betterment Council. More information on the Community Betterment Council will be found in the July 26, 1986,issueNo.4 of the Old Settlers Gazette.
What started as a small-town country picnic has since become a 42-year-old tradition. Whichhasincluded, games, live entertainment, crafts, good food and friends. In order to keep traditions alive,the responsibilities of Old Settlers Days have changed hands on multiple occasions.
After the CBC disbanded, the Downtown Business Association took over the organization of the Old Settlers Days event until 2002. That is when Virgie Mahan agreed, under the sponsorship of the Old Stagecoach Stop, to facilitate the event. The OSS continued to sponsor the Old Settlers Days with Kelly Howley,secretary,planning the weekend events. The Old Stagecoach Stop handed the Old Settlers Days over to the Pulaski County Historical Society in 2015 and itcontinues withthat responsibility today.
With the sponsorship of the Old Settlers Days being handed over to the Pulaski County Historical Society, the Old Stagecoach Stop continued with the preservation of thehistory of Waynesville.
The Old Stagecoach Foundation was officially incorporated June 8, 1983, for the purpose of saving the Stagecoach Stop building from demolition. The building was first built in the early1850s by William Walton McDonald and served as a stagecoach stop and post office before the Civil War. When the Civil War broke out,the Stagecoach house was commanded bya Union Armycolonel to become a hospital.
A building rich in history was meant to be restored and protected,sothe firstmeeting was held atWitmorFarms Restaurant Oct.2, 1984.In its first10years as afoundation, the main order of business was to preserve, restore, protect and maintain the original structure of the building.
The Old Stagecoach Stop remains active in the celebration of Old Settlers Days. They will be open for tours throughout the weekend, and amongst the civil war reenactments the Old Stagecoach Stop Museum and Foundation will be the site of Teresa and DavidChuber. TheChubers willsharetheir knowledge regarding medicinal plants and instruments used during the Civil War. They will have a30–45-minutepresentation demonstrating how each was used.DavidChuber’s presentation will runthroughout theday.
Along with tours and medicinal presentations,the Old Stagecoach Stop will be passing out itsannual publication “The Old Settlers Gazette,”published since 2004,with all 40 volumes available on their web site. The Gazette is a historical publication that is completely composed, designed and published by volunteers,from advertising sales to the layout. The final draft isdelivered to the printer on a flash drive and ready to print. All proceeds go to building(s) maintenance and restoration of the Old Stagecoach Stop and McNeese Building and Property. The Old Stagecoach Stop Foundation is only possible due to the dedicated,hard work and historical passion of theboard ofdirectors and volunteers who make all that is done for the building(s) and the community possible.
The Old Stagecoach Stop Foundation’s mission is "to preserve, restore, protect and maintain the historic structure in Waynesville, Missouri known as the Old Stagecoach Stop,in order to permit its educational value to be appreciated by future generations; to engage in educational and charitable activities related to the Old Stagecoach Stop.
For additional information about thefoundation or meetings, contact Jeanie Porter atgjporter@embarqmail.com or(573)336-3561,go tooldstagecoachstop.orgorFacebooktooldstagecoachstop.
