The Christian County Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Christian County, Missouri. It operates the Christian County Museum on donations only.

The Museum is located at 100 E Elm St, Ozark, MO 65721 on the historic Ozark Square and is currently open Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

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Christian County Museum & Historical Society

Thu August 20th

Christian County Museum & Historical Society
Our shout out and many thanks to sponsors Ozark Chevrolet, Jenkins CPA, and Professional Business Associates for sponsoring our 4th annual Night at the Museum. These community-minded businesses make things happen! …
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Christian County Museum & Historical Society

Sun August 16th

Christian County Museum & Historical Society
CHRISTIAN COUNTY BY-GONESThe Ozark Cheese Company, begun in 1926, weathered the Great Depression years. It opened in December 1926 under the management of Fred Ogi, a native of Switzerland and a national award-winning cheese maker formerly from Wisconsin. The factory was a blessing to Christian County; by early 1929 production had already outgrown the building located north of the square on what is now N. 2nd Ave. Despite the fact that in the previous eighteen months the factory had paid $72,000 to local farmers for milk, the building owners were not interested in incurring improvement expense. The economic crash that began the Depression occurred in October 1929, but in 1930 Ogi purchased a truck to haul cheese to Springfield. The factory continued to profit, and in 1932 Ogi sold it to Mr. Bender, also a cheese maker from Wisconsin. Bender did not do well, however (perhaps due to drought and the shortage of feed and water), and in 1934 he closed the factory and sold the equipment. A Mr. Strong leased the building later that year and resumed production. By 1935 J. (Joe) R. Major, who had won first prizes for three years in Kansas for his cheese, managed the factory. By 1940 he owned the factory, and in 1942 moved it west of downtown to the southwest corner of 10th St. and W. Hall St.(From Sanborn Map Co., 1930; Christian County Republican 12/2/1925, 12/3/1929, 2/14/1929, 1/3/1929, 1/10/1929, 6/5/1930, 6/2/1932, 12/2/1932, 7/12/1934, 8/16/1934, 10/25/1934, 6/6/1935, 10/3/1940, 7/30/1942.) …

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Christian County Museum & Historical Society

Sun August 2nd

Christian County Museum & Historical Society
If you missed Richard Crabtree speaks on Chadwick Flyer history at the museum on July 18 you can now watch his excellent presentation on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Jl7WEEeh7KU. …

History of the Chadwick Flyer

youtu.be

Richard Crabtree gives a great overview of the Chadwick Flyer Railr…

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Christian County Museum & Historical Society

Sun August 2nd

Christian County Museum & Historical Society
CHRISTIAN COUNTY BY-GONESIn July of 1937 Henry A. Tegtmeyer set up Tegt’s Shoe Rebuilder Shop on the north side of the Ozark square, staying there until 1971. Born in 1898 Missouri to German immigrant August Tegtmeyer and Missouri native Gertrude Bauer Tegtmeyer, Henry was deaf. His parents, both of whom were literate, sent Henry to the Missouri School for the Deaf at Fulton, MO to be educated. In 1919 Henry married Jennie M. Brown of Sparta, beginning his connection with Christian County, although a year later they lived with his parents in Pettis County, MO. In 1930 Henry and Jennie had their own household in Saline County, MO, where Henry had begun his career as a shoemaker. Sometime in the 1930s the couple moved to the Sparta area, then later to Ozark. Henry continued to expand his business, but also participated in local and regional associations for the deaf and church activities. In 1971, after thirty-four years in his location, Henry sold the business. Wife Jennie died in 1976 and Henry followed in 1991. Both are buried in Sparta.(From Christian County Republican 7/15/1937, 4/14/1960, 5/18/1939, 10/23/1958; Findagrave.com; U.S. Census 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930; Springfield Leader and Press 3/29/1932, 6/3/1949, 5/19/1940, 3/28/1971, 6/13/1976) …

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Christian County Museum & Historical Society

Sun July 26th

Christian County Museum & Historical Society
CHRISTIAN COUNTY BY-GONESDuring the mid-1920s car dealerships became growing businesses in Christian County. As early as 1924 Ozark had Ford and Dodge Dealerships (see previous July posts), but while Chevrolet advertised in local newspapers, there was no dealership in the county. That changed in mid-1925 when the C. A. Neyer Motor Company of Billings, formerly a Ford dealer, discontinued its sale of Fords and became the county’s first Chevrolet and Firestone Tire dealer. Around that same time the Clever Garage offered Chevrolet sales and service, and Christian County was well on its way to leaving behind the horse and buggy.(From Christian County Republican 7/14/1922; Billings Times 6/18/1925, 10/1/1925, 5/7/25) …

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Contact Us

Address: 100 E Elm St Ozark, MO 65721 on the south side of the Ozark Square

Hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Admission is free.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 442 Ozark, MO

Email: christiancohistorical@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianCoHistorical/

Donations/Events

The Christian County Museum runs entirely on the generosity of donors and volunteers. Below are ways you can help:


Membership

Support local history and the Christian County Museum -- join the Christian County Historical Society today! All levels of membership receive the Christian County Historian, our quarterly publication with fascinating articles on county history and announcements of upcoming events.

Membership levels


(To pay by check, please contact us.)

Christian County Museum and Historical Society, Inc. is a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization