Waynesville, Missouri
Main Street Waynesville many
years ago
In 1831 or 1832, the first white
settlers, settled the area just east of the Roubidoux Creek and north of
Old Historic Route 66. G.W. Gibson "squatted" on the site of Waynesville
at this site, which was before the county was actually organized. About
1835, a small store was opened next to the creek by James A. Bates and
the next step in organizing the county came when a temporary courthouse
was made in the old log store. William Moore moved down from Stark's Ford
and bought Gibson's claim, and Elijah J. Christeson built a house on the
hill overlooking the community. In 1847, the town began to build up around
the old courthouse square. Most of the people lived up on the hill when
the town was platted, which was done soon after Mr. Moore donated the land
for the courthouse site. Up until the Civil War, the town remained a quite
tranquil little country town. In 1861 or 1862, a fort was built on top
of the hill overlooking the town and the road that ran from St. Louis to
Springfield, called then "The Wire Road." This fort, called Fort Wayne,
had control over the entire area. The town was named after the "Mad Anthony
Wayne." No business was done during the war, and all the stores had either
been rifled and some were burned. The town had to virtually begin again
after the war.
Waynesville's Main Street
Since Waynesville was the only
town of any size in Pulaski County not located on a railroad, the major
actions were centered around the courthouse square until the early part
of the 1920s when Highway 66, was constructed through Pulaski County and
down the center of Waynesville and past the front door of the courthouse.
After this major construction the town began to expand some toward the
west side of the Roubidoux. Although millions traveled the busy highway
and through the town, it was not until the 1940's that the area experienced
a "boom" when Fort Leonard Wood, would be constructed just south of town.
Thousands of workers converged into the small town and the construction
made jobs available for many residents of the area.
Waynesville's Main Street
Even though the years have passed,
the courthouse square remains as the business hub of Waynesville. The Heath
Center building is now gone, replaced by a nice gazebo, built by pioneer
descendent Benny Doolin. The old concrete, jail is gone, replaced by a
new three story courthouse which houses the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office,
Jail and 911 Emergency Center. Many of the old businesses that lined the
square are gone, replaced by new businesses catering to todays societies
needs. A new three lane road has been built going up the hill into St.
Robert, to help with the increased traffic flow.
The fourth Pulaski County Courthouse
built 1903
The Pulaski County Courthouse
built in 1903, still stands, but is now houses the Pulaski County Museum
and Red Cross. This courthouse was still in use up until about 1990. Waynesville
has continued to grow, now farther west toward the community of Buckhorn.
New homes are being built in preparation for the coming of the Military
Police and Chemical Warfare schools at Fort Leonard Wood. As time passes
and we enter into a new century, our past becomes more distant, but more
important. Waynesville's past and future depends on how we choose to remember
those..........