Stone Chapel...Springfield, Missouri

DATE:  November 14, 2015

HISTORICAL SITE:  Stone Chapel

LOCATION:  E. Central Street, Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri

MARKER #:  82000583

DEDICATED:  October 21, 1982

Stone Chapel   Long recognized as a symbol of Drury College, Stone Chapel resulted from a gift by Mrs. Valerie G. Stone, Malden Mass., and named for her. Cornerstone was laid Nov. 16, 1880. Fire loss delayed completion until 1892. Special features: First bldg. made of stone, pipe organ, and stained glass windows.

MARKER PLACED BY:  Springfield Historical Sites Board  City-County Bicentennial Committee

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: 

Like Dirk and I seem to do way too often, we arrived at the chapel just as dusk was falling.

The chapel is located on the grounds of Drury University, which was established in 1873. It was named Stone Chapel because it’s the oldest stone structure in Springfield…or so I thought! It was actually named Stone Chapel after Valerie G. Stone, one of its benefactors who gave the initial $5,000.00 contribution but then another $20,000.00 later. So, it was named after her.

In spite of a fierce snowstorm, the laying of the cornerstone on November 16, 1880, was very well attended. The cornerstone was put in place during a heavy snowstorm on November 16, 1880.  

I was so fortunate during this trip. I had packed for cold weather at Dirk’s insistence, although really, California’s answer to winter is to put long sleeves on our summer clothes so the material is just as thin…just with long sleeves. I brought along only 2 short sleeve shirts and probably wore those more than all my nice warm sweaters. People complained about the unseasonably warm weather, but I just smiled and thanked the El Nino we are having this year.

 

On December 12, 1882, classes were in session on the 2nd floor when an explosion ripped through the church as the furnace exploded. Thankfully, everyone got out unhurt but their nice new chapel was destroyed. It was said that most of the town watched the bell tower come crashing down.

It took another decade to rebuild the chapel on its original foundation at a cost of $45,000.00

The first commencement class ceremony to be held in the chapel was in 1892…all female.

In 1906, the Chalfant Organ was put in place where it is still used today

This has nothing to do with the church, but I thought it was an interesting story nonetheless.

Near the church, on the Drury campus are two cannons left behind from the Civil War era. They moved around Springfield quite a bit before calling Drury University home in the late 1800’s.

They always sat free, but sometime soon after the cannons were placed on campus, one went missing while the other was often borrowed for parades, memorials and other celebrations.

Then in 1905, Springfield High School borrowed it and for some reason the Drury campus manager told them they could keep it. Well, the Drury students didn’t agree, so they went and took it back. They mounted it on a solid stone pedestal in its current location, facing the street.

In 1913, while cleaning out a warehouse area, the second cannon turned up at the Frisco shops. It took some negotiation, but the cannon ended up back on Drury University property where it was mounted across from the other one.