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Harold Bell Wright Museum in Pierce City, Missouri
Harold Bell Wright Museum
Pierce City, Missouri
Harold Bell Wright
     The best selling author of Shepherd of the Hills was Pastor of Pierce City Christian Church in 1897 (his first pastorate). Wright was later ordained a minister while serving the church at Pittsburg, Kansas.
HAROLD BELL WRIGHT MUSEUM
404 N. Walnut St.
Pierce City, MO 65723-1158
HBW Museum Survived!
     Pierce City's museum building 'weathered' the May 4, 2003, tornado that damaged or destroyed much of the historic downtown.  It became a place to gather for social events and meetings in the year of recovery and rebuilding that followed.  MUSEUM OPENED JUNE 3, 2006! As of June 2006 building renovations had progressed to the point that the museum was opened to the public.  The museum is open Saturdays from 1-4 p.m.  As always, tours are available by appointment. Contact Pierce City Hall.
The Mission of the Harold Bell Wright Museum is to "Celebrate Pierce City History!"

     Pierce City's Harold Bell Wright Museum is housed in the former First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), also known as the Pierce City Christian Church, and the "Harold Bell Wright Library and Museum" building located at 404 North Walnut Street (Pierce City, Missouri).
     While living in Mt. Vernon (Missouri) Wright was asked to preach in Pierce City and later became Pastor of the church (in 1896-7?).  He went on to lead churches in Pittsburg (KS), Lebanon (MO), and Kansas City (MO), before moving further west. He was a best selling author and his novels set in the Ozarks are often credited for Branson's first tourism boom.
     Our museum will house Harold Bell Wright memoriabilia and local history including notable Pierce Citians Ragtime composer Theron Bennett and artist Grace Tinker. The building was coverted to use as a public library in 1933. A very generous donation entrusted to Mayor Carol Hirsch by David H. Jones, Hirsch's persistent and dedicated drive to see the project made a reality, and many hours of volunteer labor by herself, husband Fred, retired Mayor Mark Peters and many others, yielded a new library built downtown.
     In March of 2000, again at Hirsch's urging, the Board of Aldermen voted to create the Harold Bell Wright Museum Board of Trustees to oversee the next phase of the site's history. The old church building, previously the city's library, is now the Harold Bell Wright Museum.  
     After countless hours of building renovations in the past few years by Betty and Jay Bierkortte and others, the museum board opened the museum JUNE 3, 2006! The HBW Museum is open Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. It also continues to be open by appointment. Contact Pierce City Hall to arrange a tour.
100th ANNIVERSARY!  January 3rd was the 100th anniversary of the publication of Harold Bell Wright's essay "Just as Good Old Days Ahead,"  published January 3, 1897 in The Christian-Evangelist.
CONTACT US:
Harold Bell Wright Museum
404 N. Walnut Street, Pierce City, MO 65723

Museum Curator, Betty Bierkortte  (417) 476-3531
Pierce City Hall  (417) 476-2323

E-Mail the Museum Board
or
HBW MUSEUM OPEN SATURDAYS 1-4 P.M.
HBW MUSEUM OPEN!
Pierce City's museum is open Saturdays 1 - 4 p.m. and by appointment. Contact Betty at (417) 476-3531 or City Hall at (417) 476-2323 to arrange a tour.
September 2007 issue of Show Me the Ozarks magazine featured Pierce City with articles about local artist Becky Golubski and art and history in our town!
THERON BENNETT T-SHIRTS - $6 EACH
 (includes shipping!)
E-mail: bjeanbierkortte@sbcglobal.net, call (417) 476-3531 or send your order "snail mail" to: HBW Museum, 404 N. Walnut Street, Pierce City, MO 65723.
CURRENT EXHIBITS 2008
General Raupp, 203rd Hound Dog National Guard, I.O.O.F. Pierce City, Friday Night Lights Football, "How the Railroad Formed Pierce City," Harold Bell Wright, Festivals of the 1970s, Pierce City "Turn of the Century, 1890-1910," Theron Bennett, Pierce City Memorabilia, Grace Tinker, 15 Miscellaneous Scrapbooks.
LINKS
One Year by Historic Pierce City
News stories from the Pierce City Leader-Journal after the May 4, 2003 tornado that damaged the town. Contact  HPC President Sherry Reed at 417- 476-5251.
Learn more about Roaring River Parks Alliance at this web page:
David H. Jones' book of postcards, photographs, and memories of Pierce City is available for sale at the Pierce City Senior Citizen Center.  (417) 476-5006.
Harold Bell Wright inducted into initial (2005) class of Rome Arts Hall of Fame!
The Capitol Theatre's Rome Arts Hall of Fame honors native or long-time Romans for their important contributions in the varied genres of artwork: decorative arts, perfoming arts and literary arts. Harold Bell Wright (literature) was one of the original 2005 Inductees on December 3, 2005 in Rome, New York (his birthplace).
City of Pierce City Web Site
Missouri Life magazine, Aug. 2007 issue FEATURED THE HAROLD BELL WRIGHT MUSEUM!
MAY 13, 2003 E-Mail received from the Family of Harold Bell Wright
      "The Family of Harold Bell Wright is pleased to announce and endorse the Harold Bell Wright Museum in Pierce City, Missouri. They are currently adding to their museum inventory so if you have items you can donate to them, please contact the President of the Museum, Kristin Nama via her email address of kse1990@aol.com.
     You can learn more by visiting their museum website. Thankfully the museum was not damaged in the recent tornadoes; however the community does need your help and prayers.
     Best of luck for great success to those promoting and preserving the writings of Harold Bell Wright."
SECOND PRINTING OF 1906 "PEIRCE CITY" BOOK! Contact Murray Bishoff to get your copy of this popular book! E-mail news@monett-times.com or call The Monett Times 417-235-3135.
Thank you to Dave Hadsell for sharing with us this early Pierce City postcard image of the museum!
DON'T MISS THIS PIERCE CITY WEB SITE! LOTS OF INFORMATION AND PHOTOS! Historic Pierce City (lasr.net)
Have you seen my bell?
(Maybe you can help us solve a mystery!)
     There is a bell tower in this undated photograph of the former Pierce City Christian Church (aka Harold Bell Wright Church, aka First Christian Church) in Pierce City, Missouri. That building is now the Harold Bell Wright museum but the bell tower has vanished.  Do you know what happened to the tower or its bell? If you have any information, gossip, wild stories, etc. regarding the vanishing of the building's bell  and tower, please contact us by E-mail or regular mail.  Thank you!
The rededication of Pierce City's bandstand was well attended on May 8, 2004. The local landmark was rebuilt after being badly damaged in the May 4, 2003 tornado that hit Pierce City and many other area communities.
Pierce City was featured in the May 2004, September 2006, and September 2007 issues of Show Me the Ozarks Magazine! Click here for their web site!
Copyright 2007 by Kristin Nama  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

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