Scott County histories for bicentennial book due

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

SIKESTON — There’s still time to submit entries for publication in a book commemorating the Scott County bicentennial.

Many people are using their increased time at home during the coronavirus pandemic to put together entries for the book, “Scott County, MO Families and Histories Bicentennial Edition,” according to Gail E. Crader, member of the Scott County Bicentennial Committee.

“The essays have been coming in, and we’ve received close to 100 in the last three weeks,” Crader said on Monday.

One Wisconsin woman’s quest to submit an entry became a family affair, Crader said. The woman heard about the book from a cousin and wanted to submit an entry, she said.

“The telephone was the only way they could reach each other … what a beautiful way to connect, and the story was written,” Crader said.

Another man who lives in a nursing facility where visitors currently aren’t allowed due to the pandemic received help from the nursing home staff to submit his 850-word essay, Crader said. The man’s sons first contact their father and then they worked together to a photo for him to submit, she said.

“They couldn’t have physical contact with each other, and even through this virus, a story was written,” Crader said.

Even though the bicentennial committee has been collecting submissions for nearly a year now, it seems like it’s taken a little more time to get the spark going for some, she said.

“I really do think it’s in their minds all along, and just like when you’re in school and given an assignment — 10 percent turn it in early and 70 percent wait until the night before,” Crader said. “It’s the same kind of process – but it’s just a matter of sitting down and doing it. People are realizing the deadline is here.”

The Missouri Bicentennial will be celebrated on Aug. 10, 2021, and Scott County will have a bicentennial celebration in 2021 as well. The publishing of the book is one of the major projects to celebrate the Scott County bicentennial, Crader said.

“I think we’re doing well,” Crader said about submissions received. “We’ll be continuing to work on the project.”

In addition individuals submitting their family histories, business, churches and organizations have submitted entries for the book, Crader said. The quilters group will have their story in the book. Some of the schools planned to submit entries, but Crader said she was recently told by some teachers they didn’t get to it before school let out due to the pandemic.

“I’ve been reaching out to the smaller communities — Perkins, Benton, Chaffee — and they have jumped in there with submissions,” she said.

Some towns have used their previous histories and added a sentence to update it, she said.

“You don’t have to rewrite history,” Crader said.

Crader pointed out nearly every town in Scott County has its own event. For example, Blodgett will celebrate the July 4, 2020, sesquicentennial; Oran celebrated its sesquicentennial last year. Chaffee has its German Days, and Sikeston has the cotton carnival and the rodeo, Crader noted.

She encouraged anyone who has not yet submitted an entry to do so.

“Just keep writing, and if something comes up that is unique about a community, write about it,” Crader said.

Crader said there are also plans to include the most recent history-maker in the book — the coronavirus. A timeline of the virus and its impact are slated to be included in the book, she said.

“Talking with family members, perusing old pictures, laughing and crying over life’s stories — today is a good day to begin writing a family history,” Crader said.

Histories, which are officially due Thursday, may be emailed to Crader: gcrader@gmail.com or mailed to: “Gail Crader, Scott City, Missouri, Chamber of Commerce 1508 Main Street, Scott City, MO 63780.

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