Turney Bound

For no other reason than that it was a point on the map, the latest expedition wandered the back roads to land in the tiny little town of Turney, Missouri.  It was a good day to be out on the road one last time, before heading back to the confines of the office space.

Not much is left of the old town, originally laid out in 1869 and named after a state politician.  Only a couple hundred folks call this place home now, though there is evidence that it probably boasted a slightly larger population in years past.   Most homes and businesses are slowly being swallowed by time and the surrounding landscape.

The local historical society has been relatively busy restoring some of the older buildings, such as the train depot that was once a major stop on the Kansas City Branch of the Hannibal-St.Joe Railroad.  The station was was built in 1905, but has been relocated, and reportedly also once serviced the Chicago Burlington & Quincy line.

Another project they have been working on is getting the old schoolhouse in shape.  This was put up a few years before the depot, dating back to 1902.  The last graduating class from the school were issued in 1948, but the building housed elementary students until the 1960's.  Neither of the structures are on the National Register of Historic Places, but are likely candidates for the near future.

There is not much else to see out in this area, excepting other small towns struggling to escape the same fate.  Wide open spaces abound and that was really the goal for this particular journey anyway;  just getting out behind the wheel and watching the highway unfold as the clouds roll by.

. . .

Further Reading

Turney

Clinton County, Missouri

Turney Missouri Historical Society

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