Facts about the City of Mexico

Cite source of information as from Pictorial History of Mexico, Missouri , 1880-1959

Contributed by: Kathy Crouch

 Mexico was founded in 1835 by the Rev. Robert C. Mansfield and James H. Smith. It was part of Monroe County. The formation of Audrain County came a few months after the city’s founding.

 A.P. Green Co.

A.P. Green bought Mexico Brick & Fire Clay Co. in 1910

Mexico Refractories

J.B. Arthur requested ownership interest in A.P. Green Co. and was refused. He started Mexico Refractories Co. (Mex-R-Co) in 1929.  1940: 300 million bricks being shipped and 450 employees. 787 employees in mid 1950s. In 1959 the company was sold to Kaiser Refractories Co.

Past Theatres

Liberty Theatre

 Little Dixie Drive-Inn

 Sutton’s Palace Airdome: 1909-1914, 220 W. Monroe. Showed outdoor movies and had live vaudeville acts.

Crown Laundry

Founded by Warner W. Williams – he sold it in 1892, bought it back in 1904. The Crown Laundry has been operated by four generations of the Williams family and Crown Linen is the oldest family-owned business in Mexico. The laundry is located at Liberty and Washington Streets since 1909. Originally it was located at 113 S. Washington Street.

Shoe Factory

Established as Morris Shoe Co. in 1905 on West Liberty Street.  International Shoe Co. took over operations in 1912. At peak of operations: 440 employees producing 2000 pairs of shoes per day. Moved to Elmwood Drive in 1970. Closed in 1981.

Mexico Schools

School system dates backward to few years after Civil War.

Schools no longer in existence:

South Side, West Breckenridge Street

Central (1873-1928) , West Jackson and Olive Streets

Garfield

McMillan High (1906-), East Monroe St.

St. Brendan High

Hardin College/Hardin Junior High – College established in 1873 with 480,000 endowment from former Gov. Charles Hardin, Mexico resident. Was one of top female schools in Midwest. Served more than 5000 students before closed in 1931 with massive financial problems. Presser Hall, the gym and one of the dormitories were revamped as the Junior High School and was used as such until the present Junior High was built. Mexico Schools are now using the former Junior High School.

Hotels

The Hoxey, South Jefferson Street, destroyed by fire in 1980. Was previously gutted by fire in 1912 and rebuilt.

The Ringo, burned in the famous fire of 1913

Windsor (1880) , Jackson and Clark.

Planters

Air Park , built in 1950 adjacent to the airport. First motel.

Organizations 1880-1959

Kings Daughters Home for Aged Women was dedicated in 1905. Still in operation.

Kiwanis Club

Nexico Business and Professional Women’s Club

Boy Scouts

Girl Scouts

Orpheus Music Club

The Monday Music Club

Abbie Llewellyn Snoddy Music Club

Natural Born Grabbers Club

Elks Club had a convention in Mexico in 1924

Chamber of Commerce

Hospitals 1880-1959

Mexico Hospital, 1913, old Windsor Hotel building at Jackson and Clark. Building later became Hamilton Apts in 1919. Burned in 1930s

 Amanda Hospital (generally known as Coil Hospital) Founded in 1918 at 7`` E. Jackson and named in honor of Founder Dr. Paul E. Coil’s mother. Coil had a practice 1904-1945.

 General Hospital, West Love Street, Opened by Dr. H.I. Nesheim in 1940. Existance was attributed to split between MDs and Dos. Closed in 1955.

 Audrain Hospital –Only hospital still operating today – cornerstone of first bond-supported hospital in state was laid on March 18, 1918. Remodeled in with a new wing added 1954. The hospital has been remodeled and enlarged several times since then.

 Government

City Hall,, Promenade and South Jefferson, 1885-1970

Mexico Library, originally at Washington/Anderson Street, 1913, Much of funding provided by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation.

There are pictures on the web at