Aunt Beck May House | Landmark Landing

 

Aunt Beck May House, taken by Jennie Moore

        In the rural town of Piedmont, Missouri sits a relic that once belonged to a beloved citizen. Rebecca (Payne) May was born on April 10th, 1848 near Sandborn, Indiana. She spent her childhood in Greene County, and on November 22nd, 1866, married William A. May there. The couple remained in their home town until c. 1876-1883, when the couple moved to Wayne County, Missouri, where they would raise 10 children.

        The two story log cabin seen above was originally built c. 1885-1890 on the western side of Mingo Swamp by John Albert Wilfong. In 1894, Wilfong would wed the daughter of William and Rebecca, Laura. Unfortunately, the marriage would be cut short, when Laura passes away during childbirth the same year. During this time, details are unclear about John's whereabouts, but the cabin he had built would be passed into the possession of his in laws, William and Rebecca May. Also around this time, the cabin would be moved to a spread of 43 acres 7 miles north of Wappapello. This land was gifted to William May for his time serving in the American Civil War. In this location, the pair raised their children, and orphaned grandchildren.

Side view of Aunt Beck May House, taken by Jennie Moore

        William and Rebecca were loved by their community. Rebecca in particular was considered a local treasure, thanks to her work as a midwife. She delivered many of the area children, and was lovingly gifted the nickname, "Aunt Beck". The two would spend the rest of their days in this cabin, with William dying on January 12th, 1906, and Rebecca dying on September 23rd, 1923. The community mourned the loss of their heroic midwife, who would leave a permanent footprint in Wayne County history. Though over the years as new generations came, Aunt Beck's memory began to fade. That was until a remarkable discovery decades later.

Rebecca "Aunt Beck" (Payne) May posted outside of her cabin

        In 1994, Earl and Ruth Carver were preparing to remove a building on their farm with intentions to construct a new barn. Though upon initial dismantling, they would quickly discover that beneath the façade, sat a log structure. This would quickly be confirmed to be Aunt Beck's lost cabin. The Carvers would reach out to locals Bob and Evelyn (May) Wilson, as Evelyn happens to be the great granddaughter of William and Rebecca "Aunt Beck" May. They immediately hopped into action, taking on the project alongside the Carvers of dismantling, restoration, and finding a new location for the cabin. Bob Wilson also created numerous graphs to number each cabin piece, and how it was to be reconstructed. The cabin was donated by the Wilson's to the Wayne County Historical Society. The organization then settled on the new location, on Route 34 in the city of Piedmont. By October of 1995, the reconstruction was complete, and could not have been done without the determination of the Carvers, the Wilsons, the Wayne County Historical Society, and group of volunteers. Now the memory of Aunt Beck can be shared for generations to come.

Aunt Beck May House signage, taken by Jennie Moore

    

    If you would like to visit the Aunt Beck May House, I encourage you to do so. It is easy to access, and requires minimal walking. The cabin also serves as a museum, so keep your eyes open for when it may be open to the public. You are able to walk the exterior at any time. Thank you all for tuning into the blog once again, I hope you will join me for our next stop! It is thanks to readers like you I am able to document these places.

        

Old McKendree Chapel | Landmark Landing

 

Old McKendree Chapel, taken by Jennie Moore

    

        Hidden on a wooded back road in Jackson, Missouri, sits a religious relic that played a major role in American Methodist history. Not only is McKendree Chapel the oldest standing Protestant church west of the Mississippi, but it is older than the state of Missouri itself. Constructed in 1819 by local carpenters and class members, the chapel was home to an early area congregation, founded in 1809. Before the chapel was built, services and revivals were held by the group on the same site. This two acre plot was owned by the Williams family, who would later donate the land for the chapel's construction. This site was chosen because of its poplar, oak, and maple tree groves, in addition to it's proximity to a natural spring, and being located on a high point. The chapel's name is derived from well known preacher William McKendree, who visited the site one year before construction began, in 1818. McKendree was the first native born Methodist bishop in America, and spent his life navigating the country to speak the word to thousands. He is often referred to as the "Father of Western Methodism".

        

Old McKendree Chapel, taken by Jennie Moore

         At the time of its construction, McKendree Chapel was a primitive log structure. Designed by architect Charnal Glasscock, the chapel showcases features uncommon for the era, such as windows with sashes, plank flooring, and a shingled roof. In the rear of the building, a sizable stone fireplace provides heating in the winter months. As early as the 1850s, weatherboard siding was added to the chapel, providing an extra layer of protection to the logs and mortar. Also on the property sits the Williams family cabin, and a cemetery.

Inside Old McKendree Chapel, taken by Jennie Moore

        The church congregation grew and flourished over the decades after its founding, serving many local families every week. In the 1830s, the chapel even became a schoolhouse. This trend was steady, until strain fell upon the church shortly before the Civil War. In 1844, the Methodist Episcopal Church split into a northern and a southern branch. McKendree Chapel's pastor, Nelson Henry, was a northern sympathizer, and kept his church associated with the northern Methodist branch. However, the Jackson area was of a very southern demographic, and this impacted McKendree's health as a church. From the time of the split, attendance dwindled, and the church's integrity weakened. By 1890, regular services along with schooling ended, and the congregation had disbanded. 

Old McKendree Chapel, taken by Jennie Moore

        Over the years after the chapel's closure, it began to fall into disrepair. Though the community recognized its significance, and decided to take action. In 1926, Reverend William Stewart was named pastor at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson. Stewart immediately took the reigns, and began renovations on the chapel. The initial restoration was completed in 1933, and without the guidance and enthusiasm of Reverend Stewart, McKendree Chapel may have been lost. On October 15th, 1933, the northern and southern branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church came together to host a rededication service at Old McKendree Chapel, with over 2,000 people in attendance. Also in 1933, the McKendree Chapel Memorial Association was founded to protect the chapel, cemetery, cabin, and grounds. 

Reverend William Stewart

        Improvements continued over the decades, thanks to the association. In 1958, a steel canopy was added over the chapel to provide further protection. Then in 1977, the weatherboard siding was removed from the chapel to expose the original logs. 9 years after that, the Williams family cabin was reconstructed on the property. After these changes, the Old McKendree Chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. In recent years, the original stones in the adjacent cemetery have been restored. Also recently (2022), another round of renovations are being done on the chapel and grounds. Such as a new steel canopy, improvements on the Williams cabin, and a fresh lawn. 

Old McKendree Chapel Stone, taken by Jennie Moore

        These days, Old McKendree Chapel once again sees the love and life it was built for. On the fourth September of every year, an event called Old McKendree Day is held at the chapel. All are welcomed to this event, as well as many others throughout the year. The McKendree Chapel Memorial Association has even more plans for the historic grounds. The future for the property is most certainly bright. For more information on upcoming events, information, visiting hours, and how you can contribute to the association's plans, visit their website. https://oldmckendree.org/