In this photo of the 1932-1933 second grade class at Webster School, Marie Hudson Meek is identified on the front row, third from the left.

Old News

From the 3rd floor
of the Webb City Public Library

Original Webster School was added onto twice to keep up with growing population

Webb City Area Genealogical Society
May 17, 2023

This 1895 image of the original Webster School building was taken four years after it was constructed.

The Webster School site (same as it is today) was on the north edge of Webb City when the original building was constructed.

As the population of Webb City moved north, there was a need for a school in that section of the city.

Webster School was constructed in 1889 at a cost of $7,500. The original structure contained four rooms, with two additional rooms added in 1900.

By 1906, the building had been enlarged from six to 10 rooms and was connected to the city sewer system at this time.

This large building served the community until 1937 when the school was deemed unsafe. It was demolished in January 1938.

BY THE WAY, we missed our chance to buy a rare, really nice picture of students at their desks in a West Central classroom. If you know who bought it at the estate sale, we’d sure like to have a copy of it.

By 1910, Webster School had been added onto twice, from four to six rooms and then to 10 rooms.

Sentinel bound volumes are now in the Genealogy Room

The WCAGS has accepted ownership of the complete collection of bound volumes of the Webb City Sentinel, from 1983 (after the fire) until the final issue on Dec. 30, 2020.

Those issues can also be viewed on microfilm, along with much older issues.

Webb City Area Genealogical Society

WCAGS members staff the Genealogy Room on the third floor of the Webb City Public Library. Current hours are noon to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month in the Genealogy Room.

Everything you want to know about Jasper County Missouri Schools is available at a site compiled by Webb City Area Genealogical Society member Kathy Sidenstricker.