Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1340134
e history of Jane is something Gayla Baker takes very personally. e Jane Preservation Society is her hobby and her love. "My family has been here since the beginning of Jane," she said. "I just love history and Jane's history and my family's have been tied together from the start." e first settler in White Rock Prairie (Jane's original name) was James Billingsly in 1834, according to the Southernland & McEvoy's Gazetteer. However, MacDonald Country did not begin to get populated until the 1840s. In 1854, the first post office appeared, and that building and its history have been the subject of a major renovation project by e Jane Preservation Society. "e society acquired the old post office three years ago and have been working on restoring it," Baker said. "We are turning it into a museum that will have store the history of the post office and Jane with photos and other artifacts including the antique post office boxes." e post office museum is scheduled to be complete by the next Jane Day in September 2020. e society will also be placing a gazebo over the historic Jane well, which was once the center of town. e well, fed by the Sulphur Spring, was said to have healing properties, as did many of the springs in McDonald County. ere is documentation that during the Civil War, both North and South watered their horses at the well. "e healing properties of the springs were a big pull to the area," Baker said. "My family came from Tennessee in the mid 1800's. ey were farmers and businessmen who ran the general store when they came to this beautiful area." Community events In addition to historical renovation projects like the post office, the society sponsors an Easter egg hunt every spring on the Sunday before Easter. "Along with the egg hunt we have demonstrations on how to dye eggs the natural way," Baker said. "ey way they did it in the old days. e kids really like it and the event has continued to grow year to year." e society also sponsors Jane Day in September every year. e day kicks of by a breakfast sponsored by the Jane Fire Department. at leads to fun for the whole family Don and Gayla Baker with daughter Sara. McDonald County's gateway community Jane: 30 | McDonald county Directory www.facebook.com/meatshopandprocessing/ 125 N Roy Hill Blvd • Goodman, MO 417-364-8115 Providing quality cuts of meat for purchase and custom meat processing in SW MO and NW Arkansas. We process beef, pork, sheep, goat, deer, elk, and Wild hogs S e r vi n g th e c o m mu n i ty s in c e 1 9 6 2 Local Telephone & Long Distance Service 417-628-3844 Toll Free: 866-628-3844 info@leru.net • leru.net 555 Carter Street Box 147 Stella, MO 64867 Quality service for 58 years! Broadband Services