| From
the Feb 28, 2005, edition of “Northwest This Week.”
by Leslie Galbreath Spalding
On Saturday, March 25,
1905, Gov. Joseph W. Folk signed the bill that created the Fifth
District Normal School.
Though legislation enabling the creation of a state-supported
normal school in Northwest Missouri was now on the books, much
work remained, and competition among communities vying for the
proposed campus was fierce.
The bill signed by Folk included a request for $100,000 in funding,
but the Legislature failed to appropriate the money. So whatever
town landed the normal school prize would have to put up both
land and cash.
Folk appointed a commission to select a location for the school,
and bids from interested communities were to be submitted to the
state on July 16, 1905.
Stanberry, just east of Maryville, was one of the top competitors
and had been home to a privately operated normal school for several
years. Albany, Rockport and Savannah also submitted bids.
For its part, Maryville formed a committee to solicit monetary
subscriptions from local citizens, organized a media campaign
and evaluated land parcels where the new campus might be located.
Most of the movers and shakers in Nodaway County were involved
in the effort. Fund-raisers were held and editorials were written.
A Ladies Normal School Club was formed to raise money.
Maryville submitted its bid for the Fifth District Normal School
on July 14, 1905, via a special entourage representing the executive
planning committee. The proposal included $90,000 in cash and
a choice of seven different building sites.
It also spelled out what Maryville had to offer in the way of
“moral surroundings and atmosphere, healthfulness of location,
interest manifested in education work generally, railroad facilities,
and the ability of the town to give good and convenient accommodations
to students.”
After the bid was submitted, the governor’s commission announced
that it would visit Maryville on Aug. 29-30. This caused, according
to the “Platte Country Gazette,” a great deal of excitement.
Maryville “took the commissioners into town on a special
train at night,” the paper reported. “The drive from
the station to the city proper was brilliantly lighted, the streets
paved and unpaved were scrupulously clean, the water service brought
up to its highest possible state of perfection, her fine hospital,
library and other institutions were properly exploited, her stores
were filled with attractive women shopping unconcernedly; and
yet the commissions were so adroitly handled that they were allowed
to see all these things under the most favorable circumstances.”
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