| Charleston Had It All #66
Inside Clara Drinkwater Newnam Library
By Mildred Reeves Burnett
The library Memorial Garden and fish pond were built 1998 with donations in memory of Joe Dark’s mother, Wilma Heckman (Bill Dark). The gardens are very popular. Mothers with small children come to watch orangey gold fish swim playfully in the fish pond. Occasionally they’ll walk over the bridge crossing the pond and have picnics in the gazebo across the yard.
The memorial stone sidewalk from the library to the bridge and resuming on to the gazebo was bought with funds in memory of deceased and in honor of the living.
The corner lot was donated by First Security State Bank with the gazebo being donated by Mississippi County Savings and Loan Association. On the “Corner of Colors”, during special occasions, many Americans flags flutter in the breeze. They are placed there by Boy Scouts.
Looking through double glass front doors into the library and also into the Frances Daniel Room in back, one may see reflections of two dazzling brass chandeliers which brighten further the lighted rooms.
The front doors open into an entrance hall, and a hallway to the Danforth Community Room, with two large restrooms off the hall. The great library room consists of a Genealogy nook, Reference Books, computers, small reading area, Adult, Young Adult, Juvenile Books, and Easy Reader’s sections, plus much more
The Audio Bookroom is dedicated to Louise Marshall, who for enjoyment, listened to all the audios, and was a generous and discreet donor to the library.
The circulation and book checkout area and office are at the front of the room, with Technical Service/Break-room behind.
A 1995 oil painting of the Danforth Y.M.C.A. by artist Hunter Bynum, and a 1963 landscape by the late Mary Frazier ((Mrs. Robert Frazier) hang in that locale.
Often people sit and read in the quiet and cozy Frances Daniel Reading Room in back.
FRANCES DANIEL
REMEMBERS LIBRARY
The Enterprise Courier Jan. 24, 2002.
Frances Elizabeth Daniel died January 20, 2002. She was born December 12, 1912 in Scott County and was the daughter of Ollie and Clara Berns Daniel.
Miss Daniel spent most of her life in Charleston. Following her father in his business, she owned and managed Daniel Insurance Agency for forty-two years. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Athena Club, Charleston Chamber of Commerce, and had been Charleston’s Honorary Woman of the Year.
An accomplished musician, she studied at the Julliard School of Music in New York after her graduation from Central Methodist College.
“The Frances Daniel Reading Room has been made possible by her generous bequest and it is gratefully dedicated to her memory.
“The Frances Daniel Room was constructed in 2003 and dedicated in spring of 2004.” 1
The mahogany and leather furniture in the front hallway and reading room altogether with the brass chandeliers, add a warm, rich look. Carolyn Howlett Fox of Monroe, Lousianna, formerly of Charleston, was commissioned to paint Clara Newnam and Frances Daniel portraits displayed in those places.
In 1995 staff member and artist Cindy Moxley Bledsoe, donating her talents, painted the acrylic mural “Favorite Story Classics— Once Upon A Time” in the Easy Readers Section of the library. The mural contains colorful fairy tale scenes flowing from one to another.
Two watercolors by Glenda Manche are library garden scenes, which she donated.
Watercolor Loading Watermelons circa 1985 by renowned artist, Stephen Shell Pace of Manhattan, New York, and formerly of Mississippi County, was donated by the Byron L. Reeves Family. Reeves is cousin of Pace.
Glenda Manche’s painted watercolor titled “Lewis and Clark, My Interpretation,” was given to the Mississippi County Historical Society in 2003, during the county’s celebration of Lewis and Clark’s first steps into the Louisiana Purchase Territory at what became Mississippi County, Missouri.
LEWIS AND CLARK
COMMEMORATIVE SITE AT WHIPPLE PARK
The Mississippi County Historical Society sponsored the Bicentennial of the Corps of Discovery headed by Tom Graham Bicentennial Committee Chairman.
“Those who assisted were Nancy Clinard of East Prairie, Silvey Barker and Sophie Dugan, co-chairmen of the Mississippi County Tourism Council. Liz Anderson wrote the Grant and the Bicentennial Committee received state funds to construct the Lewis and Clark Commemorative Site. Those grants were matching grants.
“Charleston architect Swayne Byrd donated time to design the concept for the site. The County Commission, consisting of Jim Blumenberg, Homer Oliver, and Martin Lucas, was supportive. From the City of Charleston, City Manager David Brewer, Dave Teeters, Mike McElroy, and others helped. Randy Cave constructed the site and gave much labor.” 2
The central focal point of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Visitors’ Center (the commemorative site) is a Diaz black granite map of the continental U. S. indicating “Lewis and Clark’s journey from Pittsburgh with a gold star at the location of their first steps in what came to be known as Birds Point, located approximately 12 miles east on U.S. 62. Missouri Department of Natural Resources has erected and titled this sign No. 1 in the state.” 3 The map is by local architect Thomas Swayne Byrd.
Behind the map fly flags of their day representing the nations that claimed this territory, including Spain, France, and the 15 stars and stripes of the United States. 4
Four mural panels were painted and installed, two on each side of the flags, and along with the flags create a semi-circle around the granite map. The murals are supported by six columns, donated by the County Commission. salvaged from the 1903 County Courthouse which burned in 1997. The 11. 5 foot columns are solid limestone weighing one ton each. 5
The Lewis and Clark murals are by local artists Joan Nash Robbins and Glenda Manche. According to them, “Each individual panel has a central focus depicting a part of their voyage that took place in this area, based on Lewis’s journal entries dated November 15 – 20, 1803.” 6
A Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Marker stands at the site entrance. Along the sidewalk to the site, steel plates mounted on metal posts tell the Louisiana Purchase story. 7
1 Info—Memorial plaque in library.
2 Info—Tom Graham, telephone interview March 2007.
3 Info— Steel plates at Whipple Park.
4 Ibid., 5 Ibid., 6 Ibid.
7 Info—from steel plates and historic marker.
To Be Continued |