Barry County Advertiser
  • Home
  • This Week's Issue
    • Obituaries
    • County Commission holds 2023 budget hearing
  • Contact us
  • Advertising
    • Advertising Rates
    • Place Ad
  • Archives
  • Subscription
  • Make Payment

A wrinkle in time

April 29, 2020
Picture
Current photo of the Messer house in Cassville
    Sheila Harris

    Melville C. and Mary Messer raised six daughters in this historic Cassville home, built shortly after the Civil War. According to youngest daughter, Maco (Messer) Farwell, the rear portion of the house was built first, by her (step) grandfather, Edward Smith, after he and her grandmother, Arabella Messer Smith, moved to the area from Rogers, Arkansas, after the war.

    The larger front portion of the house was added later.

    The dining room in the smaller portion was once used as the Cassville post office, where M.C. Messer’s sister, Eglentine Messer, served as postmistress from January of 1870 through December of 1884.

    M.C. Messer was a Cassville druggist for 40 years, until his death.

    According to Farwell, her mother, Mary Messer, kept boarders in the house, including visiting teachers and preachers. She also kept a fine garden, hogs, a milk cow and laying hens.

    The Messer home was the first house to have electricity installed when it was offered to Cassville residents in 1904.

    For more information about this and other historic homes, visit the Barry County Museum at 15858 Highway 76, Cassville. Or visit their website at www.barrycomuseum.org.


Barry County Advertiser
Office: 904 West Street, Cassville
Mailing: PO Box 488, Cassville, MO 65625
Office: 417-847-4475
Fax: (417) 847-4523
EMAIL US HERE
Contact Webmaster
Advertise with us
  • Home
  • This Week's Issue
    • Obituaries
    • County Commission holds 2023 budget hearing
  • Contact us
  • Advertising
    • Advertising Rates
    • Place Ad
  • Archives
  • Subscription
  • Make Payment