MAGNOLIA – BEST READ WITH A MINT JULEP
By Patricia Smith & Dan Cast
A few months ago, someone asked us why Magnolia was such a common name for businesses in Johnson County, Missouri. Doing some research, our research turned up some unexpected surprises! Warrensburg, Missouri was home to two prominent venues, Magnolia Mills and the Magnolia Opera House, as well as the Magnolia General Store a few miles south of town and another business or two. There was also a very vibrant town named Magnolia in Johnson County Missouri! Trying to find out why Magnolia was such a common name has been a fun challenge for us and thought you might want to know the story.
First, some background about the word magnolia! You may be familiar with the flower, Magnolia. The Magnolia flower was named by the Swedish botanist Carl Linneaus in 1737 in honor of the French botanist Pierre Magnol (1638-1715). The plant which Magnol had described is that we now know as Magnolia Virginiana, an evergreen American species which despite its name was already growing in Europe by the mid eighteenth century. The magnolia tree is a beautiful and ancient species that has been around for over 100 million years. It’s no surprise, then, that the name “Magnolia” has been used for centuries to name girls. It is known for its beauty and elegance, and it’s often associated with femininity and grace. It is also a symbol of perseverance and strength, as the tree is able to withstand harsh weather conditions and bloom year after year. Magnolias are also believed to symbolize nobility and dignity as well as a love for nature.
In the United States, the magnolia tree symbolizes luck and stability. It’s a staple in Southern gardens and delights people with its flower in the early to mid-spring. It is also known to often be used in traditional folk medicine.
And now…the Magnolia name in Johnson County, Missouri!
MAGNOLIA MILLS
Magnolia Mills, also known more recently as Innes Elevator Mills, was a historic grist mill complex located in Warrensburg at the corner of West Pine Street and Washington Street. The original building was built in 1879, and enlarged in 1884, 1888 and 1918. It consisted of a four- story frame mill building with a three-story frame elevator topped with a monitor roof and large cupola. A modern concrete elevator and mill were added in the late 1940’s. Only the concrete elevator remains of the original buildings. The initial owners of the mill, William H. Hartman and Isaac Markward were active in its daily operation for many years, and both became leading businessmen in the community. The time period in which Hartman and Markward were building the mill and developing their business represents a turning point in the technology of making flour. These two entrepreneurs were active community members, building and owning many houses and contributing financially to build a better Warrensburg by starting and operating another business in 1903, The Magnolia Milling and Investment Company. Part of the building still stands. We still don’t know why they named it Magnolia Mills.
MAGNOLIA OPERA HOUSE
Issac Markward and William Hartman expanded upon their mill’s success by constructing a combination office building and theater – The Magnolia Opera House, which opened on October 25, 1890. The three-story building sits at the northeast corner of Washington and West Pine. The theater seated about 800 people, with 300 balcony seats and room for 500 within its main seating area. This theater hosted community theater and traveling troupes for decades.
The Magnolia Opera House structure itself consisted of spaces used for offices and retailing. In fact, the ground floor included a shop the partners managed that sold Studebaker wagons and buggies, along with gasoline engines and farming implements. The Opera House still stands but has been converted into The Warrensburg Opera House Loft Apartments.
MAGNOLIA LIGHT, HEAT, AND POWER COMPANY
The partners were also involved in bringing electricity to Warrensburg, and in 1893 the Magnolia Light, Heat, and Power Company was incorporated. The power plant was located just one block east of Magnolia Mills. It brought 6,000 lights to Warrensburg and placed electricity into homes and businesses.
MAGNOLIA MILLING AND INVESTMENT COMPANY
This company was the original company formed by Markward and Hartman to purchase the Mill and other properties. After the death of his longtime business partner Hartman, Markward retired from the Magnolia Mills and sold the business to the Magnolia Milling and Investment Company.
Hartman remained active in the Warrensburg community but was no longer with the Magnolia Milling and Investment Company, which now had five shareholders. The Board of Directors included President, Daniel Bullard, Vice President, W. H. Hagemeyer, H. F. Kirk, along with two other individuals from Holden, Missouri. Bullard and Kirk came to the scene, both with prior milling experience, and Hagemeyer from a solid business background.
MAGNOLIA, MISSOURI
On May 9, 1886, W. H. Hagemeyer, Vice President of the Magnolia Milling and Investment Company, gave the land needed to found and establish the town of Magnolia, Missouri. Magnolia was located about 15 miles southwest of Warrensburg. The town was named Magnolia by Hagemeyer because he liked the Magnolia tree and how the name was used in the establishment of the businesses in Warrensburg
About the same time of Magnolia’s founding, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad laid tracks in Magnolia as a part of the east to west railroad system, a venture that led to many towns springing up on their line. Quickly Magnolia became a thriving community. The decision to bring Magnolia to this location was likely because of the two watershed systems and the site’s elevation of 883 feet, enough to provide a sustainable water system for Magnolia.
The town quickly thrived! With a bank, a lumberyard, two churches, a high school, a physician and general stores, Magnolia quickly grew into a vibrant town.
Magnolia ceased to exist in 1956 and today there is little to remind anyone that Magnolia was once was an active community. The only remnant is the original Baptist Church that is still standing. It was nostalgic for us to walk around the area that had once been such a vibrant place.
And so, we come to an end – well, not quite! Very recently an old building in Warrensburg has been restored to house Magnolia Mercantile. One of the owners spent the first six years of his life growing up in Magnolia, Missouri. He now lives on his family land and operates this wonderful new venue! Read more about Magnolia on a future despersonages.com Blog – you will be introduced!
Thank you everyone who helped us with this history! Ann Houx, thanks for your diligence!