| Pomona, MO A History 1894 to 2003 |
| Time Line 1880-Pomona a cow pasture with crossroads 1880s-RR built, Train comes to town, school called College Hill moves to northeast of town in 1899. Land for school donated by C. D. Renyolds. 1880s-Christian church built on the outskirts of Pomona 1894, September 28, William & Margaret Pitts of Illinois along with George & Julia Nettleton of Kansas City created a plat and called the new town "Pomona" after the Roman goddess of fruit. First Street, RR Avenue, Front Street, Second Street, Third Street, Main Street is now Highway-N. 1894, October 17 the 1st mail service came to Pomona, 1st Post Master was Henry Livingston. 1890s-1900s, Blacksmith and shoe cobblers were available. 1900-Newspapers were POMONA POST, POMONA SENTENIEL, POMONA PROGRESS, THE POMONA CRESENT. 1900-a hardware store was operated by L. L. Runyon along with other numerous stores. Several doctors and midwives to deliver babies were located in Pomona. 1900s-Frank and Ern Richards ran a grocery hardware store on Main Street. 1900-T.P. Moderall owned and operated a photography and jewelry store. Pomona had sidewalks. 1900-Justice of the Peace was Samuel Farmer and George Acree was Constable. Court sessions were held at Pomona. H. T. Snyder was Justice of the Peace from 1927 to 1946 when the last court session was held July 8. Snyder was Nortary of the Public until 1949. Attorneys had offices at Pomona, also. 1904-Missouri Fruit Company established due to growing of fruit in community. 1905 a hotel was located northwest of the RR tracks on Front Street and operated by Mrs. L. H. Edmonston. 1906 Pomona Citizens Bank established on south side of Main St. 1906-1907 a 2-year high school was located in Pomona. 1907-Presbyterain church built near RR tracks now Immanuel Baptist. 1919-telephone service came with Phone Line #13 1920's A. L. Babb head cashier embezzled the bank's money to invest in the Pomona Oil and Gas Company. According to Russ Cochran, West Plains Gazette Mr. Babb left a note on the door of the bank saying "Bye, Bye. birdies." 1922-until early 1930s Pomona Oil and Gas company operated until it ran out of money. The company and the people were bakrupt. A. L. Babb was sent to prison for embezzlement. 1934 the Pomona oil well near Antioch was torn down. We know about the oil well as my grandfather Ivan Snyder assisted in the building and dismantling. Ivan kept a journal and wrote poems about the oil well. |
| 1924-1930's a Fruit evaporation plant and Pomona Canning Factories operated. 1920s-1930s The Pomona Hospital was owned and operated by Dr. D. D. Cox on the west side of 3rd Street until 1937. Dr. Cox owned and operated the Pomona Drug Store. 1932 Claude, Newell, and Dwight Richards opened Richard Brothers Store. 1939-1940s Electricity came from MO-Ark Power Company at Mammoth Springs, Ar. 1940s-REA Electricity came along with propane and butane gas. 1945-Richard Brothers store burned at Pomona. It was rebuilt and burned again in 1949. 1964-first meeting to form a public water district at Pomona was held at the old Christian Chruch located across from new Post Office. 1967-waterlines were installed and 1968 water was turned on with 84 patrons. 1969-the Ozaarks Industrial development Corporation purchased 1,000 acres of land for an industrial park at Pomona. 1975-Sheltered Workshop opened to train the handicapped with disabilities. 1979-Fire Department was organized. 1984-85, the West Plains Municipal Airport was opened at Pomona. 2001-Christian Church renovated to seat 500+ 2003-Pomona was setup to be a town, however; it has never been legally incorporated into a town or a village and is operated by Howell County and the State of Missouri when it comes to crountry roads, streets, and law enforcement. Residents want things to stay the same, and do not want to be taxed to support a village. |
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| Presbyterian Church built 1907 now Immanuel Southern Baptist Church |
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| George Tremmer, Pomona Depot |
| For Sale: BIOGRAPHIES & HISTORY POMONA, HOWELL COUNTY MISSOURI by Mary Louise Snyder-Corman $10. per book $6. postage per book contact: [email protected] |