Hometown Matters

By Pauline Masson –  James “Jim” Schwinkendorf, retired BNSF vice president who made Pacific home to be near an old steam engine he managed, revived the storied romance of Pacific’s railroad past. Passenger trains no longer stop in Pacific, but the city’s debt to its railroad boom years received a huge contribution from one man. James Schwikendorf died February 21, 2025. He lived in Pacific for his final years, a little over two decades. During his 40-plus year railroad career he … Continue reading “A Railroad Honcho in the Waning Days of Steam Travel Helped Revive the Romance in Pacific’s Rail Heritage “

By Pauline Masson –  The request for limited parking in front of a facility that serves addiction recovery individuals led to a lengthy discussion on parking in general and disagreement among aldermen.  Acting police chief called for hiring a traffic specialist to study congestion parking at the site and offer sugggestions. The discussion took place at the Mar. 4 board of aldermen (BOA) meeting. The Tuesday evening discussion that followed did not address the location of the limited parking request … Continue reading “No Easy Answers to Request for Limited Parking Near Recovery Facility”

By Pauline Masson –  Alderman Rafael Madrigal may be displaying a new trend in city government – friendly response to speakers who address the board of aldermen (BOA). The Ward One alderman has traditionally made a point of offering holiday greetings to all, and recognizing successful local events, inviting citizens to attend and thanking civic groups for their work. But this week he opened a full-blown back and forth on a request from a citizen that offered a thorough discussion … Continue reading “Alderman Comments May Signal Shift in City-Citizen Relations / 101 Citizens Witnessed the Moment”

By Pauline Masson – In 1860 there were 1,572 slaves in Franklin County, according to Herman Gottlieb Kiel. In his 1925 Centennial Biographical Directory of Franklin County, Mr. Kiel named every Franklin County slave owner counted in the 1860 census and listed the number of slaves each owned.  Since 1820 the Missouri Compromise, that allowed Missouri to be admitted to the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, slavery had been legal in Missouri With many … Continue reading “Court Martial of Union Officer Over Runaway Slave Provides an Early Record of Black History in Pacific”

By Pauline Masson –  When the Thomas and Nancy Roberts family moved to rural Missouri in 1831 from Charlotte County Virginia, they brought along their slaves, including two small children, a boy named Joe and a girl named Nancy Lane.  Joe’s age at the time is uncertain but in a 1906 interview, he said he was “a very small child,” when he was brought to Virginia Mines.   Nancy Lane’s age is also uncertain but if she was 80 in … Continue reading “From Slavery to Local Prominence / One Family’s Place in Black History”

By Pauline Masson – City Building Commissioner Steve Brune has resigned his post, leaving a staggering gap in city services. Mr. Brune submitted his resignation and two weeks notice on February 4. His last day on the job will be Tuesday, February 18. The Building Commissioner’s action is required in every building improvement, and each stage of new home construction in subdivisions. The building commissioner is the fourth official to leave Pacific City Hall under the current board of aldermen, … Continue reading “Building Commissioner Resigns / the Fourth Pacific Official to Exit City Hall in Recent Months”

By Pauline Masson –  History has taken baseball for granted in the formation of the city, but no worries.  A few weeks run through old newspapers reveals 100 summers when weekly baseball games pulled the town together for an afternoon – and eventually an evening – of hometown oneness when everybody was rooting for the home team. Out of Pacific’s myriad baseball leagues from the late 1920s to 2025 came several minor league players, one major leaguer and one of … Continue reading “Amateur Baseball / 100 Summers When Everyone Was Rooting For the Home Team  “

By Pauline Masson – They did not consider themselves elderly 45 years ago when 14 Pacific families started an effort to build a nursing home that would provide extended care for the town’s ill, injured and senior citizens. The fact that some of them eventually came to need the facility they fought so hard to build seemed to make it all worthwhile. The late Joe Dailey was credited with the development of the nursing home, now Pacific Care Center (PCC). … Continue reading “How a Long Legal Battle that Reached the U.S. Supreme Court Landed a Nursing Home in Pacific”

By Pauline Masson – Score one for the history buffs. In local geologist and seasoned state parks tour guide Jo Schaper’s first meeting as a member of the City Tourism Commission she commented on a an agenda item that could promote Pacific as a destination. She said we should think about reviving the former annual Railroad Day celebration. It is unclear which city entity could approve reviving this annual festival but it is worth thinking about. For a dozen years … Continue reading “Railroad Day Revival Discussion Calls Up Memories of Decade of Rousing City Promotion “

By Pauline Masson-  When I called the Pacific Jaycees the guys in the white hats for their efforts to rescue the popular Halloween Spookfest that was running out of steam in 2009, they accepted the accolade in good humor by donning white cowboy hats when they delivered a check to the Chamber of Commerce to help fund the event. Good fun and Good works had been a trademark of the Pacific Jaycees from the beginning. Ever since they formed as … Continue reading “Pacific Junior Chamber of Commerce / 85 Years of Community Service and Fun, White Hats and All”