Memories of 78 years ago

by Flossie Hudson as told to Sonya Wilson

"I hold many fond memories of the now near ghost town of Guthrie, Missouri. It was a booming little country village with a drug store, post office, harness and saddle store, mill and blacksmith shop, a Presbyterian church, a Baptist church a little ways down the road, C & A branch train depot, a barbershop, and three stores containing groceries, dry goods, novelties, and most anything a well-to-do-residential area could get by with until the residents could go to one of the three larger towns which were Fulton, the county seat of Callaway County; Jefferson City, capital of Missouri; and Columbia, county seat of Boone County.

"I especially have a slight memory of a small circus that came to Guthrie in the early summer around 1905. A large tent was set up between the railroad tracks and the business places west of the tracks. The tent faced east and had a large opening on the south end. It was equipped with amphitheater seats that were well filled with eager and excited spectators. I remember about six or eight small elephants in the ring, each holding the tail of the elephant in front of them with its trunk and marching around and around the ring. At the crack of a whip, they would turn loose of each other and would get on a tub apiece with all four feet. I also remember trained dogs doing stunts and clowns. "The entrance fee to the circus was 25 cents for adults, 10 cents for children under 12, and free for children under five. I had a younger brother who was five years old at the time. My father wanted to save some money so when it came time to pay the entrance fee, he pointed to my brother and said he was four years old. Well, as most children, my brother didn't want to be claimed younger than he was, so he spoke up and said, 'I am five years old!' My father turned and said, 'You little rascal, why didn't you keep still?' He had to pay the 10 cent fee for my brother after all. The incident caused much laughter as the circus itself did.

"I also remember visiting my grandfather who lived right in Guthrie and he would take me on a train ride sometimes when I visited. We would board the train in Guthrie and ride down to Cedar city, Missouri, and back which would usually take an hour. The train would make a stop at New Bloomfield and Holts Summit."