KINGSTON, MO.
Warm sunshine and a gentle breeze welcomed visitors of all faiths as they took their seats in front of the new Caldwell County Welcome Center in Kingston, on Saturday, May 19. A group consisting of Latter-day Saints, members of the Caldwell County Historical Society, the sheriff, the circuit court judge and other community leaders gathered for the open house and dedication. Inside the welcome center, a Far West-era log cabin fills one room as a reminder of the historic origins of Caldwell County.
On Dec. 26, 1836, Caldwell County was created by the Missouri State Legislature for the purpose of Mormon settlement. Far West served as the county seat and at its peak boasted 10,000 residents, which is larger than the current population of Caldwell County. The community boomed and served briefly as the headquarters for the Church, but after the infamous extermination order signed by Gov. Lilburn Boggs on Oct. 27, 1838, the Saints at Far West and other settlements in Caldwell and Daviess Counties once again abandoned their homes as they fled to Illinois for safety.
Far West was reduced to a ghost town and today there is little physical evidence that Far West ever existed. The county seat was moved to Kingston in 1843, and in a short time the homes, stores, stables and hotels were reduced to scrap. Today, the area that was once the bustling township of Far West includes only the Far West Temple site and a small chapel across the street owned by the Community of Christ, all surrounded by farmland, ponds and rolling hills.
For many local residents, the original Mormon settlements and heritage have been long forgotten. The log cabin room, crafted from original timber of a Missouri, Mormon-era log cabin, now stands as a physical reminder of Mormon history within the county. In the past some have chosen to ignore this history, but most have simply forgotten, until now.
Two years ago the Caldwell County Historical Society purchased an old home near the county square in Kingston. It was the hope of the historical society to turn this home into a welcome center and it was the vision of Dave McEwen, a Latter-day Saint and member of the historical society, to include in it a "Mormon Room" reflecting the early Mormon history of the community. With very few resources to renovate the house and create the "Mormon Room," Brother McEwen and the historical society approached the Far West Ward of the Church to assist.
In the summer of 2011 the plan was formed and work began to create a simple museum-style room with pictures and artifacts of the Far West era. Almost immediately, the project was complicated when structural damage was discovered. Members of the Far West ward worked together with members of the historical society and the community to repair the structure by building a strong and lasting foundation. During this time, local Church leaders contacted the Church History Department in Salt Lake City to inquire if there were any artifacts from the Far West era that could be donated for display in the "Mormon Room." Shortly thereafter the department offered to ship a supply of rough-hewn logs that had once been part of a Missouri, Mormon-era log cabin. This news changed the course of the project and expanded the vision.
The vision of a rustic log cabin room infused new enthusiasm to the project. For nearly a year, members of the community worked with members of the Far West Ward to create the interior of this log cabin with 100 percent donated labor and funded by community and Church donations.
Brother McEwen said, "Since no one working on the project had ever done anything like it before, it must have been inspired by the Lord and meant to be. I believe that this project is the best public relations the LDS Church has in this county. Everyone contributed the total finances and labor necessary to make this project a labor of love and success."
New friendships were formed and old friendships were strengthened. Not only did the log cabin room establish a visual reminder about the Mormon history of Caldwell County, it also inspired mutual respect and friendship among local Latter-day Saints and their neighbors in the community as they united for a common purpose.
Citizens and visitors alike will now be able to visit the Caldwell County Welcome Center to experience the Far West- era log cabin room and also seek out information on family history and historical land records for the county.
