Leonard at large
One of the greatest things I observed during my career with the University Extension was the development of the McGennis Youth Center. This has been a great facility for the youth and the people in this area and the demand for this type of facility will increase in future years. It meant much to me to have the opportunity to have a part in the development of the center located in the northern part of Vernon County, north of Metz.
Much has been accomplished at the center during the 35 years since its beginning.
The center is located on a l60-acre plot of land donated by Mary A. McGennis, who had a great interest in youth and the community and she wanted to give the land while she was still living, so she could observe youth using the facility.
The board asked me to write a story for the Vernon County History Book that will be published during the Vernon County's sesquicentennial year -- 2005. I finally got the story written. Many others are also waiting until the last minute to write and submit stories for this publication. Story submissions are due Feb. 1.
Peggy Pyle is a member of the sesquicentennial book committee and has been busy gathering and writing stories for the book. She brought me copies of newspaper clippings that her brother, Max Pettibon, had saved at the Pettibon home.
One was from the Bates County paper, one from the Rich Hill Mining Review, and one from the Nevada Herald.
Max was one of the contractors that contributed machinery and labor in building the six-acre lake at the center. In addition to the information I already had, the articles were helpful in providing information for the history book.
When writing the story, I found 300 words is not much for an organization that has had a major role in this area. I soon found that I had to stop and start again, covering only a few significant points.
Throughout the years, many people have volunteered time and labor to the center and there have been many donations.
One significant group was the 13 contractors who donated machinery and labor to construct the lake in three and one-half days during December 1968.
Miss McGennis (usually called Miss Mary) agreed to donate the land if there was sufficient interest in developing the center.
On the final day of the construction of the lake, she was so impressed with the construction that she announced she was going ahead and donating the land. I believe that final day was on Dec. 24, 1968.
Marvin Forkner was chairman of the McGennis Youth Center board at the time.
The article appearing in The Nevada Herald on Jan. 14, 1968, said, "The lake project was under the direction of Cecil Heckadon, Rich Hill, who served as chairman of the committee. Others who worked on the project were: Billy Gene Heckadon, Norris Withrow, Charles Blevins, Dean Cullison, Ken J. Kern and Lyle Hutchens, all from Rich Hill.
"Also, Charles Brohan, Ray Fairbands, and Russell Mermin, all of Prescott; Ralph Cullison, Moundville; Hubert Thomas, Fort Scott; Everett L. Banes and sons, Appleton City; Donald Hamm, Butler, Wally Sloan, Nevada, Ben Poland, Horton, L. G. Trower, Walker; Leo Ogle, Schell City; Max Pettibon, Deerfield; Gene Anderson, Sheldon, W. A. 'Pup' Jones, Nevada; Earl Troyer, Nevada, and Max Senkevich, Moundville.
Pete Peterson, Standard Oil dealer at Rich Hill filled all the equipment with fuel oil at no charge. J. W. Wright, Rich Hill, did all the welding on the overflow pipe. The Associated Natural Gas company at Butler provided the pipe without charge."
It was impressive to see all of these contractors in operation at one time, making this type of contribution. They worked hard and fast. It was thought that if they had been hired to do the work, they would not have gotten as much done as they did as volunteers.
What they did was a big jump start in getting the center established.
The lake has been used for swimming and fishing and has been a major attraction at the center.
Prior to the lake's being constructed, Miss. McGennis mentioned to her brother C. C. "Connie" McGennis of her idea to give 40 acres to the youth. He received a suggestion to contact the Missouri 4-H Foundation, which gave assistance to the McGennis family. She later decided to give the entire 160 acres of land if there was sufficient interest.
A steering committee was formed with representatives from Vernon, Bates, St. Clair, and Henry counties. Out of this committee a board was formed and incorporated, the Mary A. McGennis Agricultural Park and Youth Center, Inc.
Ralph Ricketts, state extension engineer specialist, met with the interested group, plotted the farm and made suggestions. He suggested that a lake be built that could be used for swimming and fishing, which would include a dock to be used for swimming.
C. C. McGennis was enthusiastic about building the lake and suggested that it be done as well.
At a meeting with Ralph Ricketts in Rich Hill, Connie made the statement, "Let's do it." He died before the final plans for constructing the lake were complete.
I had forgotten about a dinner meeting was held with the contractors prior to the construction of the lake, until Peggy brought me the articles. This dinner meeting was held on Dec. 18, 1967, at Belell's Dining Room, the week that the lake was constructed.
The group agreed to go with the project and was organized at that time. Most of this information will not be included in the story for the history book, but it is a significant part of the history for the center. Many more details make up the history spanning the 35 years since Mary McGennis signed the deed to contribute her land, which can not be included in the book.
After all, there will be many stories about the history of Vernon County in the book and you can not have all of the details in each story.
It will be a good book to possess.