As part of the celebration of Springfield's Sesquicentennial in 1980, I was hired to put together a brief photo history of the city to that time. The result, after many hours of searching through boxes and closet and archives, was "A Million Hours of Memories". That book is now out of print and has been replaced by a new, more detailed history entitled "Crossroads at the Spring" published by the History Museum for Springfield and Greene County.
Unfortunately, attribution was not given to sources in the publication. Many came from the collection of the Museum of the Ozarks while others were taken by Betty Love, well-known photographer for Springfield Newspapers. The archives at many of the organizations mentioned produced others for the publication. Thanks to them all.
I'd like to share "A Million Hours of Memories" with you online. I hope you will enjoy it and learn much about the history of the "Queen City of the Ozarks."
- Dick Grosenbaugh
A Million Hours of Memories
- War hits close to home
- Those who followed also served
- Peace was an illusive thing
- And still there was war
- Education was important
- Schools changed with the times
- Higher education available early
- The state starts a school
- The educational community is diversified
A Summary of Springfield's Birth and Growth
- From a blaze on a tree to a modern metropolis.
- The settlement starts to grow.
- The war was a turning point.
- Slow and steady growth.
- Lifestyles reflected in homes.
- A period of industrial growth.
- Transportation was important to growth
- The streetcar makes its mark
- The rails brought progress
- Change chugged in with the auto
- Enter the flying machine
- Business was good
- Growth was outward and upward
- The other downtown
- Progress means change
- Economics tied to agriculture
- Quality products from the start
- A "boom' period for industry
- Of, for and by the people
- Growth breeds service
- Government continues to grow
- New directions, new programs
