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Witness
to History
The
first settlement in Callaway County was in 1808, at Cote Sans Dessein
along the Missouri River. The county was organized in 1820 and named
after Captain James Callaway, a grandson of Daniel Boone. The county
seat was established at Elizabeth and remained there until 1826, when
it was moved to what is now Fulton.
The railroad played a big part in the early history of the county. Rails crisscrossed the county from east to west and from north to south. Many current communities grew up and still exist where railway stations were located in those early years. Among the county's interesting tales is the story of the Civil War battle that wasn't - which is also the story of the region's "Kingdom of Callaway" moniker. In October 1861, a force of several hundred Union troops under General John B. Henderson moved west through neighboring Montgomery County and advanced on Callaway. Colonel Jefferson F. Jones, who lived in eastern Callaway County, heard of the Union advance and quickly mustered his own "army" to defend the county. Most of the county's able-bodied men were already away at war; the county's soldiers were represented in both the Union and the Confederacy. Colonel Jones' "army" was composed largely of determined old men and boys, ill-armed and ill-equipped for battle. As the Callaway troops marched east to meet the Union forces, they dragged along with them wooden logs shaped and painted to resemble artillery pieces. They deployed these "cannons" along the county line and built extra campfires to make the Union general think his opposition was stronger than it really was. In the end, the ruse worked - not a single shot was fired. The bamboozled Union general spent several days negotiating with Colonel Jones and finally signed a treaty with the determined Callaway officer! Hender-son agreed that the United States of America would not invade Callaway County as long as Colonel Jones did not invade the United States. Elated from the successful defense, citizens proclaimed their county "The Kingdom of Callaway," and the name still remains today. The Fulton area acquired national acclaim from a novel written by Fulton native Henry Bellamann. He was raised and attended college here, and Fulton is said to have been the author's model for the fictional town in the novel King's Row. In 1940, producers created a movie based on the book, which included Ronald Reagan as one of the cast members. A tour, following the structure of the book, wends through several sections of town and completes a circular journey through "King's Row." Westminster College in Fulton played a huge role in the history of the area when it hosted the noted statesman and war hero Winston Churchill, who gave his famous "Iron Curtain" speech on the campus. Today, the internationally known Winston Churchill Memorial & Library is a prominent landmark of the campus and the community and draws visitors from all parts of the world. Fulton boasts much historical charm. The downtown area has cobblestone streets with period lighting fixtures; pre-1900 buildings are scattered throughout the town. Historic Business Districts on Court Street and 5th Street and three Historic Residential Districts centralize the city's charm. The community has dozens of structures built between the mid 1800s and the early 1900s. During the 1980s, an effort to revitalize the downtown business area was instigated. Victorian-style light fixtures were added, and many of the turn-of-the-century buildings were renovated. Outlines for walking or driving tours through these historical districts are available through the Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce. The Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society provides education through its display of history from 1800 to 1998. The group presents rotating displays of different items of interest and offers numerous history books on Callaway County. Genealogy research may also be done on site, and assistance is available. There is also a growing photo library housed on site. In 1937, Dr. George Washington Carver came to Fulton to dedicate a new elementary school named in his honor and established for the children of the African-American community. After the building was no longer used for educational purposes, a group of Carver Elementary alumni and supporters decided to revitalize the historical significance of the school and the legacy of Dr. Carver by purchasing the building and establishing it as an historical landmark. The building is now listed on the National Register of Historical Places. At the center of culture in the area is the Gladys Woods Kemper Center for the Arts at William Woods University - a place where both college and community often come together to share cultural activities. The 41,000-square-foot complex opened in the fall of 1999 and combines the Mildred M. Cox Art Gallery and the Dulany Auditorium. The center provides academic facilities for visual, performing and communication arts students as well as an art gallery featuring revolving exhibits. A walk down the corridors of the building provides visitors with a view of the exceptional student work displayed along the walls. Dulany Auditorium is home to plays and musicals produced by the theater department. There is also a series of American and International films scheduled at the auditorium during the year. Rounding out the schedule of events is the President's Concert and Lecture Series. All of these performances are free and open to the public. Several museums add to the cultural and historical appeal of the Kingdom of Callaway. The Fishback Museum spotlights the history of the Missouri School for the Deaf. The Auto World Car Museum exhibits a collection of rare vehicles. The Historical Society showcases photos, genealogy research and history books. The Heart of Missouri Tourism Center features a display of King's Row memorabilia.
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