Nearly 100 history lovers gathered for the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society's annual meeting Thursday night.
"Most people don't get interested in history until they're about 40," said Nancy Lewis, a society member.
Mike Boulware, who formerly served on the board, has a theory as to why.
"We get nostalgic as we get older, when we have time to reflect on things you fondly remember," he said. "You like to see them lifted up."
However, the attendees see both history and the historical society as integral to the community - far beyond simply a source for nostalgia.
Many society members have a deep personal connection to the county's history, like board member Joe Holt. Holts Summit bears his family's name.
"I've always had an interest in local history because my family is so involved in it," he said.
Beyond personal connections, the society serves the county at large.
"There was a lady in town, I think she was in William Woods, digging up information about downtown buildings," Lewis said. "When the city was trying to get parts of the downtown on the National Registry, I used a lot of her work."
Today, much of the downtown is registered as a historic place, which has granted Fulton access to grants it wouldn't have been able to apply for before. The planned repairs of cast iron on the courthouse's facade will be funded by one such grant.
Boulware helped organize the now-annual Callaway Vintage Tractor Drive through Fulton, which he said began about 11 years ago. This year it drew about 60 vintage machines.
"It'd never have gotten started without the help of the historical society," he said.
Since 2014, the society has been assembling an oral history repository. Volunteers interview Callawegians who remember important events and experiences relevant to Callaway County's past, like the nuclear power plant's opening, life during World War II, attending one-room schoolhouses and more.
"It lets you see how much has changed in the last 100 years or so," said Lois Long, who serves on the oral history committee. "We're archiving those things so that 50 years from now, when none of us are here and able to tell our stories, there'll be a reference library of some of those audio tapes."
To date, 48 people have been interviewed for the project, and there is a waiting list with 70 more folks hoping to tell their stories.
At the museum in downtown Fulton, giant files full of old documents and newspaper clippings are crammed into the small space, along with dozens upon dozens of artifacts.
"It's a source of resources," said Mary Jane Schultz, who also is part of the oral history effort. "I buy books from there."
She recommends "Mary Virginia" by Carolyn Paul Branch.
The society benefits individuals, too.
"The best thing they do is make a place to come and look for your family," Holt said. "If you have any connection to the area, they'll have something. ... If you want to locate all of them, good. If you don't want to find the cattle rustlers and such, you can stop there."
After time for mingling and enjoying a dinner catered by Sam Richards, the society conducted routine business. The 2016-17 board of directors was approved, alongside the slate of officers.
Between October 2015 and September 2016, the society operated at a $4,089 deficit.
After conducting the business meeting, society members enjoyed a lecture by Bruce Hackmann on the evolution of mail delivery in Callaway County.
History lovers gather for annual meeting
October 28, 2016 at 3:12 a.m. | Updated October 28, 2016 at 2:03 p.m.