Transformation of a Midwest Town: Rolla, MO

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Transformation of a Midwest Town Rolla, MO
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Timeline Divisions
1852 1900
1950 2004
1852-1860 1860-1870 1870-1890 1890-1910 1910-1925
1925-1935 1935-1950 1950-1970 1970-1985 1985-2004
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1852-1860
Track work begins in Franklin, MO (now Pacific).
Bishop est. head-quarters in Rolla
First train pulls into Rolla. Civil War starts
Phelps County Courthouse 1860

• 1852
  1857

Photo courtesy of Stuart Baur
1855
1860
SW branch of Pacific RR charted through Rolla
based on Lt. Aberts survey
Phelps County organized
Track Work 1860
Photo used with permission from John Bradbury
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1860-1870
Beginning of Civil War
Union Army leaves Rolla
Union Army leaves Rolla

• 1860
  1865 1870
  

Fire destroys downtown Rolla
Fire destroys downtown Rolla
Union Army occupies Rolla
Old Jail 1860-1912
Photo courtesy of Stuart Baur
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1860-1870
Topography Map of the County around Rolla, 1862
Photo used with permission from Phelps County
Historical Society
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1860-1870
Topography Map of the County around Rolla, 1865
Photo used with permission from Phelps County
Historical Society
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1870-1890
Establishment of St. Louis San Francisco RR
(Frisco)
Crandall House (later El Carney Hotel) 1882

• 1871
  1881

1876
Rolla secures the Missouri School of Mines
Great Fire destroys 16 major buildings along 8th
St.
2nd Train Depot 1882
Rolla Building 1871
Photo used with permission from John Bradbury
Photo used with permission from John Bradbury
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1890-1910
Beginning of the automobile in Rolla
Edwin Long brings one of the first autos to town,
a 1908 Stephens-Duryea
Delivery (pre-automobile)

• 1890 1900
  1910

1905
View of Pine Street during a Bryan for President
parade, 1896
Whiskey Row, 1908
City streets begin to get paved, 1908
Photos used with permission from John Bradbury
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1890-1910
Map of Rolla, 1907
Photo used with permission from Phelps County
Historical Society
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1910-1925
World War I
Old Post Office, 1915
Texaco (Route 66)
Photo Rolla Public Library
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri

• 1910 1915
  1920 1925

City orders removal of watering fountain at 6th
and Pine, 1925
Blacksmith shops gone or turned to filling
stations. Prominent businessmen are driving
Fords, Packards, or Overlands around town.
Oliver Chilled Plow Store
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri
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1925-1935
Penant Tavern built
U.S. Hwy 66
Texaco Gas Station
Steam Locomotive
Photo http//www.yesteryeardepot.com/friscor.htm
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri

• 1925 1935

1930
Congress authorizes U.S. Highway 66 to pass
through Rolla from Chicago to the Pacific
Shoe Factory 1926
Penant Hotel
RollaMo Theatre
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri
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1935-1950
World War II ends
World War II
Third City Hall
Diesel Locomotive

• 1935 1940 1950

Photo used with permission from John Bradbury
Photo http//www.yesteryeardepot.com/friscor.htm
1945
World War II Emergency Housing, Hwy 72
Route 66 moves. Downtown becomes business loop.
United States enters World War II
First parking meters installed in Rolla
Steam Locomotive
Photo used with permission from John Bradbury
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1950-1970
Centennial Parade (downtown) 1957
Post Office
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri

• 1950 1960
  1970

Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri
Phelps County Regional Hospital, 1951
Last passenger train stops in Rolla
Rolla Motor Parts
Photo Portrait of Phelps County, Missouri
Schumans Tourist City 1950s
Photo used with permission from John Bradbury
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1970-1985
First Wal-Mart comes to Rolla (located where JC
Penney is now)
Thomas Jefferson Hall

• 1970 1975 1980
  1985

10th Street Forum Shopping Plaza late 70s
Other notable retailers opening in
Rolla Kmart JC Penney Sears
End of Vietnam War
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1970-1985
Map of Rolla, 1971
Photo used with permission from Phelps County
Historical Society
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1985-2005
JC Penney, location of 2nd Wal-Mart
Rolla Center K-Mart Big Lots
Havener Center at UMR
Big K Mart

• 1985 1995
  2005

Notable hotels opening in Rolla 1980s-
2004 Drury Inn Hampton Inn Holiday
Inn Ramada Comfort Suites
Current Wal-Mart
72 Center, location of 1st Wal-mart
Residential College
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Acknowledgement

• AAF/Accent on Architecture CAN Insurance
  Companies/
• Victor O. Schinnerer Company, Inc.
• Phelps County Historical Society
• The Newsletter of the Phelps County Historical
  Society
• Rolla Area Chamber Of Commerce
• Mann Collection - University of Missouri-Rolla
  Archives
• City of Rolla
• Jeffrey Schramm, Ph.D., University of
  Missouri-Rolla
• Angela Schachner, University of Missouri-Rolla
• Joseph Craig , University of Missouri-Rolla

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Bibliography
Bradbury, John F. Jr., Rolla The Old Town, G.
Bradley Pub., St. Louis, Mo., 2002 Phelps County
Historical Society Archives Western Historical
Manuscript Collection Rolla, University of
Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Mo