1820 - November 16 - Chariton County was organized by the Legislature.
1821 - 1821 - February 26 - the first circuit court convened.
1832 - The town of Keytesville was laid out.
1833 - The County seat was moved from Chariton to Keytesville. From this time mail was carried regularly by horseback from Old Chariton to Liberty, the round trip requiring six days. The Town of Brunswick was laid out by James Keyte on the Missouri River one mile below the mouth of the Grand River about 400 yds. south of the present site.
1840 - Twenty-five votes were polled in an
election in Brunswick, indicating a population of about 125.
June 19 -The first school was built by Judge John Davisuilt by Judge
John Davis. It was a subscription school held in a log house. The first
church building, a Methodist Church, was erected.
It was a small
frame building located where the sale barn is now. It was used also as
a school room.
In August a colony of Germans came to Brunswick and settled in the Missouri River bottom southeast of town.
1841 - June 15 - Sol Russell, the well-known comedian, was born in a small frame house, Brunswick contained nine stores and three general groceries. A brick Methodist Church was constructed.
1842 - Another colony of Germans came, and most of them settled in town.
1845- The first Lodge was organized.
1847- October 14 - T
1847- October 14 - The first newspaper in Chariton County, The Brunswicker, began publication.
1849 - 534 steamboats arrived and departed this year.
1850 - About this time the Christian Church was organized.
1856 - The first bank, a branch of the Merchants Bank of St. Louis, opened in Brunswick. Building of a railroad ruined the steamboat trade.
1857- A brick Christian Church was built north of where the City Hail now stands.
1858 - Steps were taken to build a railroad from Brunswick to Moberly. The Civil War stopped work for a while.
1864 - The courthouse at Keytesville burned.
1866 - The second courthouse was built.
1867 - Work on the railroad from Brunswick to Moberly was restarted.
1869 - The St. John’s Lutheran Church was organized.
1870 - The railroad to Chillicothe was built.
1871 - The first public school was built on the site where the swimming pool is now.
1872 - The is now.
1872 - The Christian Church was organized again, and held services in the City Hall.
1876 - The present Christian Church was built.
1877- The Chariton County Exchange Bank was chartered.
1882 - The present Methodist Church was built.
1906 - The wagon bridge was built. It was the largest bridge in Missouri at the time.
1913 - The Lutheran Church burned.
1914 - Knight and Rucker built their new stores.
1915 - Main Street was paved. Brunswick was the first town in the County to have a paved street.
1917 - City Hall block burned.
1923 - The present Baptist Church was built.
1921 - Contract was made for the highway bridge over Grand River.
1930 - The highway bridge was completed. Highway 24 was graveled. Bonds were voted for a new school. The new school was completed.
1932 - June 5 - Receiver Englehardt gave the creditors of the Bank of Brunswick a 20% dividend. The First Nati 20% dividend. The First National Bank paid a dividend of l0% the same year.
1933 - March 3 - A successful Chariton County Agricultural School was held at Mendon with 150 adults attending. Sam Jordan III was the principal speaker.
July 1 - Aaron Bachtel was honored as founder of M.F.A. Brunswick plans its first horse show.
December 16- Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority was again asking for old toys to repair.
1934 - April - Brunswick completed the only fully automatic water plant in the State of Missouri. Modern filtration and purification gives double assurance of pure water.
1935 - With labor from the W.P.A., the colfrom the W.P.A., the colored school in Brunswick was remodeled and enlarged to two rooms plus basement, making a three-room school.
1936 - September II - Vernon Kennedy, of Mendon, ace pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, won his 20th victory of the season.
October 16 - 10,000 greeted President Roosevelt at Carrollton Tuesday night.
1937 - Dr. W. W. Bowen, MS., M.D., PHO, died, closing his Institute of Pharmacy, which had been in existence since 1910, and graduated more than 5000 students worldwide. A terrible sleet storm left three to six inches covering the ground.
May 14 - Missouri Highway Department will grade and pave eight miles of road between Salisbury and Keytesville, and 4.8 miles between Keytesville and Brunswick.
June 25 - Assets of the First National Bank, face value $100,000, sold at auction for $705.00.
1939 - March 5 - Mrs. Pearl and Joe Keyte have sold the dwelling home that had been in the family since 1844.
July - Wolf Bros. Garage and Kroger Store opened.
October 1 - New alfalfa dehydrating plant opened. The present Lutheran Church was built.
1940 - February 23 - Jack Glenn purchased a portion of the stock of goods of the Strub store.
April 18 - Fire damaged the Roxy Theater and Everett Haskin’s barber shop.
May 24 - Mr. & Mrs. S. M. Johnson broke ground for a new store building.
July 25 - Roxy Theater installed a cooling system.
August 22 - Dr. D. D. Stuart set up offices in the Gardner Drug Store building.
September 26 - An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people attended the Brunswick Fair Saturday night.
October 17 - Three hundred twenty-two men registered for Selective Service from Brunswick Township; 1,016 in Chariton County.
1941 - June 12 - Grand River Park opened and 79 children registered the first day; tennis courts and bathroom to open in August.
June 23 - Presbyterian Church, built in 1852, sold for Church, built in 1852, sold for $100 and was condemned and destroyed by order of the City Council.
August 14- Miami toll bridge opened.
December 11 - Red Cross asked to raise $1,200 in the first war drive.
1942 - Nation goes on "War Time" - one hour earlier.
November 12 - R. V. Bartow purchased Gamble Store.
December 5 - Because of war efforts, the Christmas Spirit in Brunswick will be lacking.
1943 - March 25 - Merchants adopted new closing time on Saturday night; 10:00 p.m. instead of 12:00 midnight.
December 2 - The Roxy Theater, Halliburton buildings and property owned by J. M. Perry were completely destroyed by fire. Dr. Jess Smith, the first veterinarian to come to Brunswick started practice.
1944- June 18- Army Mothers meet and install officers; Mrs. Opal Jones installed as president.
August 31- The farmland bar was under water for the third time this year. The new ird time this year. The new El-Jon Theatre was constructed and opened.
1945 - August 15 - Grover Jones purchased the Southside Barber Shop from Byron Magruder.
1946 - June27- The first wheat harvest, Pawnee, was combined near Miami Station and tested 61 at Farmer’s Elevator.
1947 - Rucker Sisters’ Sweet Shop moved to Vine Street to the first quonset house to ever be erected in Brunswick. Dr. Grover Rice opened his practice in Brunswick.
1948 - June 3 - Brunswick has six new building projects that can be seen from three miles northwest on Highway 11; threeles northwest on Highway 11; three pretentious dwelling houses, a barn, a filling station, and a lumberyard building. Construction work began on the American Legion building.
1949 - February 3 - Hot lunch program started at school.
March 3 - All bonds for the high school building were paid.
March 31 - Cabins and garages are under construction at Riverside.
May 19- ; May 19- City Council changed Brunswick ward lines to simplify the boundaries of the divisions.
June 2- Vernon Kennedy retired to his home in Mendon after 23 years in baseball.
1950 - After 63 years, Rucker & Rucker sold their dry goods store to Walton Brooks.
May 8 - Herman Moser poured foundation for a new restaurant building on East Broadway.
June 8 - Kansas City Power & Light Company and Union Electric will join forces to build a 154,000-volt line from Kansas City to Saliine from Kansas City to Salisbury.
September 7- Six memorial windows were placed in the Christian Church.
1951 - March 1 - Workmen poured concrete for a new depot.
March 22 - The Hedricks planted 7,000 pounds of potatoes.
April 5 - Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Casto took over Westlake Hardware and renamed it Brunswick Hardware.
August 30 - 70 people met at Daltogust 30 - 70 people met at Dalton on Saturday and organized a levee district extending from Brunswick to the Chariton River at Keytesville.
1952 - Drivers test was required for all vehicle operators.
1953 - June 29 - Dial telephones were installed in Brunswick. Work was started on the new telephone building.
1954- January 14- Dr. H. P. Fowler opened a hospital in Brookfield.
March - Mendon took first step toward installing a water system.
March 25 - City proposed a 5 mill tax, the money to be used for youth re the money to be used for youth recreation.
April 5 - Wabash Railroad razed coal shute built in 1912, and sold water tanks, formerly used to supply steam engines.
July 5 - Zion Church rededicated - 73 years old.
October 21 - UNICEF program used for the first lime in Brunswick.
1955 - February 3 - Beta Sigma Phi had 6th annual amateur show, netting $181.00 for polio, and attracting a huge crowd. The Bowen building was sold to Russell Bartow.
February 24- Work started on improvement of the City Park.
April 21 - Twenty-eight freight cars were derailed a few miles east of Brunswick.
1956 - January23 - The school bond election carried.
April - Over 200 children received free polio shots.
May - Miss; May - Miss Edith Marston retired after teaching 54 years, 45 of which were spent in Brunswick.
November - A contract was let to build the new school building at $10.31 per square foot.
1957- March 7- Charles Bates, role model because of his success despite great physical handicaps, died.
August - Missouri Pubic Service turned on Natural gas in Brunswick mains.
1958 - Controversy over whether an early bid of $500.00 for the old school buildings should be accepted. Charley Early closed his grocery business after 51 years.
January - Parallel parking came as the result of City Council and State agreement.
February - Free polio shots for all.
August - Bob Clayton bought The Brunswicker.
September - A new factory, Chariton Electric Company, opened with about 20 employees.
1959- Chuck Wells bought Holmes building.
May - Darrold Knowles began his career, hurling no hit, no run game for Ban Johnson League.
October - The old school building resold for $1,175.00.
1960- Forty inches of snow fell in the first month of 1960. Brunswick businesses lost in 1960 were Asbury’s Dress Shop, El Jon Theatre, Iglehart’s Appliance, and Western Auto.
March - 1-lunters took up a collection and fed 30,000 starving ducks. El Jon opened a bowling alley.
December - The alfalfa mill revealed plans for a $200,000.00 expansion program.
The Dalton Methodist parsonage burned.
1961 - January - The largest tax check in Chariton County ($217,568.75) was paid by Kansas City Power & Light Company.
February - A quarter of a million-dollar construction work was stollar construction work was started by Archer-Daniel-Midland. Under the sponsorship of the Worthwhile Club, 50 American flags were purchased, and would be flying January I.
May - The City of Brunswick bought a 25-acre lagoon site for $5,000.00.
June - The City Park shelter house sponsored by the Lions Club was completed and ready for use.
November 2 - Two live reindeer were purchased for the Christmas celebration.
December - A State Training Center for retarded children was set up in Keytesville.
1962 - January - Chariton County Hatchery was razed to make room for a post office. Sam Johnson’s announced plans for a new home laundry. Vic Dankert purchased W. B. Koch flower shop and will add a jewelry business.
1963 - January - Civil Defense class drew 92 persons.
September - City employees were pumping 1 million gallons of water a dllion gallons of water a day from Grand River into the City’s 8 acre sewage lagoon.
July - Brunswick Swimming Club pool opened.
1964 - Verle Minks bought Builder’s Supply from Hubert Bond.
March - Kenneth Finkle purchased Gardner Drug.
October - Only one negative vote was cast in the election to annex land to the City limits on both sides of town.
1965 - The Coast Guard came to Brunswick and built quarters near the mouth of the Grand River, Herman Moser ended 24-hour service at his restaurant after 20 years; the restaurant stayed open. Construction began on Highway 11. The Lutherans dedicated a new educational building.
1966 - A day care center under Lyndon Johnson’s Economic Opportunity Program opened with 20 small children. The boundary line between Northwestern and Brunswick Schools was decided, leaving many bitter feelings. The Baptist Church dedicated new classrooms.
1967 - A poor crop year. Late frost killed fruit, and flood killed the crops. Goe’s Truck Line and Brunswick Coca Cola Bottling Company sold. Norfolk & Western Railroad took off passenger trains. The Vietnam War claimed a Chariton County boy, Sgt. John L. Ponting.
February - The City Council created a Housing Authority.
July - Tuloma Fertilizer blending plant opened.
October - The City opened "City Dump".
December - Archer-Daniel-Midland alfalfa dehydrating plant sold.
1968- Reichert’s Department Store opened. Chariton County Bank sold to Commerce Bank of Kansas City. Parking meters were voted out. St. Boniface Catholic School closed.
1 1969 - Brunswick alumni voted to invite husbands and wives to the banquet. Community Betterment entertained a suggestion to recreate Ft. Orleans on the bluff overlooking town.
1970- January 1 - The alumni voted to change the banquet from December to the Saturday night nearest Memorial Day.
August - Voters overwhelmingly approved an industrial revenue bond issue to finance a new glove factory; 43 applicants have already been interviewed. November - Brunswick voters approved a proposition to annex approximately 10 acres to the east edge of the city limits.
1971 - A new nursing home named Grand Chariton Manor was complariton Manor was completed, and the Brunswick Area Public Library opened. Death ended the long public career of Ludwig A. Kinkhorst who served 34 consecutive years as Brunswick Mayor.
1972 - The Day Care Center changed to Head Start Program and cut to half days. Chariton County Ambulance Service was shaping up with plans for two fully equipped ambulances at a cost of $l 1,000; one located in Salisbury and one in Brunswick. The Lutheran Church celebrated their centennial.
From the Kansas City Star November 19 - Because of his grafting and merchandising of pecans, George James, in conjunction with State Representative Creason, legally proclaimed Brunswick the Pecan Capitol of Missouri.
1973 - The 107 year old Chariton County Court House burned. Many Brunswick natives were wearing prisoner of war bracelets.
March - Muskingum Coast Guard boat and crew were transferred to Memphis, Tennessee.
June - Meals on Wheels program began. OATS bus began operation. Sheltered Workshop was established. Darold Knowles became the only relief pitcher in baseball history to pitch in all seven World Series games. A gasoline shortes. A gasoline shortage was felt in Brunswick, as well us the U.S.A.
1974 - Daylight savings Time was established.
January - The County approved plans for a new modern style court house building costing $725,000. The Worthwhile Study Club, at the request of the Mayor, began trying to contact families of people buried in the City cemetery in an effort to get it endowed.
August - Two young girls were killed, and the mother of one was injured in a train-car wreck, which resulted in changes in the rail signals and crossings in Brunswick. The Friendship Wheel was organizedship Wheel was organized. The Bicentennial cookbooks were started.
1975 - January - Wilson Pork Processing Plant in Marshall closed, affecting many Brunswick citizens.
October - Brunswick jail, estimated to be about 80 years old, was torn down to make way for the new Commerce Bank.
December - Midwest Glove factory expands to make way for 35 more jobs.
1976 - 1.1 million dollars was provided by the government for water projects in Missouri, and work began on the Brunswick-Dalton levee. The Brunswick business office of the Central Telephone Company, opened in 1928, closed.
April - The Bi-Centennial celebration was in full swing. On July 4th church bells rang at 1:00p.m. for two minutes to proclaim the bi-centennial. The first copy of the Brunswick History Book was received.
1977- Mattingly Bros. Store closed after 24 years. The skating rink closed. A Western Auto store re-opened.
November - Indian Grove residents met and decided to eliminate the Brunswick phone line and switch to a Mendon line.
1978 - January - A new carillon was installed at the Christian Church. Jack & Patsy Allen opened a variety store.
1979 - Chariton and Carroll County Courts ordered the wagon bridge across the Grand River closed.
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June - Work began on a tower for cable television. The fishing lake at the old city dump is near completion.
1980 - Moser Coffee Shop sold to Pete Clagett, of Kansas City.
June - Work began on Grand River Senior Homes in mat Brunswick. Reichert Department Store closed. Kinkhorst's Brunswick Distributing Company moved to a new plant east of town.
September - Tuloma Fertilizer Plant was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.
1981 - April - The Lutheran Church began making Braille reading materiaking Braille reading material.
1982- October - the 2nd annual Pecan Festival was held. Kansas City Power & Light Co. moved to new quarters on west Highway 24. The wagon bridge collapsed.
1983 - April 5 - Brunswick approved liquor by the drink. Half of the rural water district now has service. Dr. Romie Richardson began his practice in Brunswick.
October - Mr. & Mrs. Larry Baxley purchased The Brunswicker. Brunswick Hardware went out of business.
1984 - The St. Boniface School was torn down, and the church remodeled. Brunswick Sale Company celebr Brunswick Sale Company celebrated 50 years in business withs its owner, Vernon (Weenie) Meyer.
April - Commerce Bank sold to investors from Moberly. Mr. & Mrs. Tyson Nichols donated a new scrollwork arch plus concrete drive to Elliott Grove Cemetery. Booster Club President Bob Unternaehrer presented plans for a Brunswick High School sports complex which was completed in 1985.
1985 - January - Efforts which proved successful were begun to repeal the blue law in Chariton County. James’ Starking Hardy GJames’ Starking Hardy Giant, developed at James Pecan Farms, has been crossed with a Mohawk variety of pecan, forming a new nut variety, the Pawnee.
April - Work began on new water facilities. As part of the Sesquicentennial celebration, the Missouri River Queen, a three decker luxury paddleboat, was to visit Brunswick in December.
1986 - January - Selections were made for businesses to be distributors of lottery tickets. The Brunswick Nutrition Site opened.
1987- A new sewer system was completed, and dedicated November 27, Rep Creason says everything is "Go" for the Conservation Department to take charge of and improve the marina. Guy Spencer and his faithful dog retire from delivering mail.
The first Brunswick dinner theater was a success. St. Louiick dinner theater was a success. St. Louis Bridge Company was given the go ahead to start a new bridge over Grand River on Highway 24. Dr. Mimms Mabee began medical practice in Brunswick. A drug manufacturing business was to move into the Moore building west of town. The Missouri River Queen arrived for excursions and tours on the Grand River.
1988 - The Lutheran Church’s Braille book assembly line, started in 1981, tarted in 1981, in expanding. Tom Kenny continues his search for sunken steamships and Fort Orleans. Vic and Joan Ousley open an antique business. A tornado on May 12 damaged houses and property as the area. Taylor’s store opened.
1989- The R-II school building proposal was placed on the ballot. Stanley Monnig bought and opened the Uptown Cafe. Spiker’s Drive-In opened.
1990 - The third annual fishing tournament was held April 21. Chillicothe to Brunswick rail received funding. County road sign group met and formed committees. Gen. Sterling Price statue was rededicated after 75 years. "Wed after 75 years. "Welcome to Brunswick" signs, purchased by the Camber of Commerce, were placed at the east and west entrances to town. Adult Education classes were being held weekly; nine students received GEDs. Lanny Lybarger and family celebrated 25 years as pastor of the Brunswick Christian Church.
1991 - R-II District (Brunswick) approved construction bid for new grade school from Barry Construction Co., California, MO. The building was dedicated October 24. A test run was made for raising canola. Several articles about Solveral articles about Sol Smith Russell appeared. Tom Kenny rates him America’s greatest comic.
1992 - Spiker’s Auto Mart opened in downtown Brunswick. Local historian, Tom Kenny, and his son, Mike, posed beside a newly erected Lewis & Clark sign located near the southern lip of the cutoff lake near Palmer Creek. The City contemplated purchase of the water facility. Employee training upgraded ambulance service. The City looked at water fluoridation and rejected it.
1993 - The nursing home changed owner from James Laidler to Doug Maddox, of Oklahoma, and he renamed it Brunswick Nursing Home. A tax was voted for a new county jail. Big flood and flood related activities.
1994 - American Legion celebrated its diamond jubilee. The first townwide garage sale was held. Charles Newsom, State Farm Insurance agent, died while deer hunting. The State Farm office now run by Debbie Minnick of Carrolton. Bad hailstorm destroyed many crops.
1995 - Decreasing size of pecans a growing concern in the county; cause sought. Many areas flooded from spring rains. Swan Lake Wildlife Refuge closed due to a lack of funding.
1996- Grand Court Apartments opened in Brunswick. Hampton Feed Lot expanded.
Irma Koch retired from the Heisel-Koch funeral home after 39 years of service. Lewis & Clark Discovery Expedition, including boat, crew, and dog, stopped in Brunswick for a celebration. A Public Safely Building that is to house fire trucks and ambulance was under construction. Jack Glenn’s Clothing Store closed after 56 years in business.
1997- The City voted so proceed with flood control project. Internet comes to Brunswick. Uptown Cafe closed. El Rio, Mexican cafe, opened. Concrete road at Elliott Grove Cemetery was extended.
1998- The City Council voted to participate in &quod to participate in "Tree City USA" program which should beautify the town. Heritage Tours in the County organized and began meeting.
A concentrated effort to was made to rid the town of drugs which resulted in several drug "busts". A Community Betterment group was formed in Brunswick.
A double rail system was run from Brunswick to Keytesville.
MOST OF THIS MATERIAL WAS RESEARCHED AND COMPILED BY GERALDINE STROEMER
DONATED BY CARL SHUBERT, MAYOR
PREPARED BY BARBARA BARRY, CITY CLERK
MARCH, 1999