| 1952 |
The concept of
Missouri Girls Town is born on a train leaving St. Louis after
the GFWC of Missouri convention. The idea to help abused and
neglected girls in Missouri springs from a conversation between
Mrs. Clarence Kemper of Clinton, Mo., the newly elected state
president, and Mrs. Hatten of Nevada, Mo. |
| 1953 |
“Missouri Girls
Town Foundation” is incorporated in the state of Missouri. The
next year, at its convention in St. Joseph, Mo., GFWC of
Missouri adopts Missouri Girls Town as its number-one project. |
| 1959 |
After seven years of steady planning, organizing and
fundraising, Girls Town is officially opened and dedicated on
Oct. 20, during its first “Open House.” Girls Town’s first home
is a 40-acre ranch near Mountain Grove, Mo. Four-and-a-half
years later, four young women become Girls Town’s first
high-school graduates. |
| 1967 |
Girls Town adds a new building to expand service. The new wing
is named after Netta V. Jones of Springfield, Mo. She begins a
long line of GFWC benefactors contributing lead gifts each time
Girls Town expands. |
| 1969 |
After ten years, Girls Town has helped 65 girls start a new life
free of abuse and neglect. |
| 1981 |
Missouri Girls Town moves to Kingdom City, Mo., taking up
residence on more than 20 acres donated by Bill & Peggy McClain. |
| 1981 |
The
first building on campus is built. Hope House is named after
Phenie Hope Pott, a clubwoman and longtime supporter of Girls
Town throughout her life. |
| 1984 |
The
first administrative building is built and named in memory of
Herman T. Pott, Phenie Pott's late husband. A second residential
home, Gerbes House, is also erected and named in honor of Frank
J. and Minnie S. Gerbes. Mrs. Gerbes was also a GFWC clubwoman
and longtime contributor. |
| 1987 |
Roy
R. Fowles, Ph.D., comes to Missouri Girls Town as the
organization’s tenth and longest running executive director.
|
| 1990 |
The
Oliver Hook House is built and brings Girls Town’s capacity to
30 girls. The building is named for Denabel Oliver and Otie
Hook, late parents of Helen Hook Vainikos, clubwoman and
generous supporter to MGT. |
| 1992 |
A
new administrative building, McDonough Hall, is dedicated in
memory of Judge Dayle C. McDonough, late husband of Isabelle
McDonough Bram, a clubwoman from Maysville, Mo., and current
member of the MGT Board. |
| 1996 |
Girls Town begins two transitional programs off-campus to help
older teens transition into adult life. The Auxvasse Group Home
is established as a community-living program for five girls
starting independent life, and the scatter-site apartment
program provides final guidance for young women preparing for
total independence. |
| 1996 |
Construction is completed for the Wirts Center. The new dining
and activity center is named in memory of Robert Wirts of Lamar,
Mo., by his wife Margaret Wirts, a GFWC member for more than 50
years. |
| 1998 |
The
McClain-Williams House opens on campus in August. The 12-bed
residence brings an expanded and redesigned transitional living
program back to campus and raises Missouri Girls Town’s capacity
to 50 residential clients at one time. The new building is named
by Bill & Peggy McClain, of Wellsville, Mo. |
| 1999 |
The
Scallorns Recreation Center, complete with gymnasium, craft
room, exercise room, client lounge and recreational office
space, becomes the ninth building on campus. Joe & Fran
Scallorns of California, Mo., provide the naming gift for this
building. Mrs. Scallorns is also a longtime GFWC member. |
| 2002 |
The
Lindsey Vinton Rickey School opens in August. The school is
named by Isabelle McDonough Bram in memory of her father. It
contains six classrooms, a kitchen, computer room, conference
rooms, offices and two multi-purpose rooms. |
| 2003 |
Maternity House is built to accommodate residents who are
pregnant or new mothers. House parents work with these girls to
teach them the skills of prenatal and neonatal care. |
| 2004 |
Missouri Girls Town becomes licensed and contracted to accept
Dept. of Youth Service’s “Level 4” youth, meaning that MGT can
accept even the girls who need the most care and attention due
to extreme circumstances. |
| 2006 |
Maternity House is reconfigured to function as transitional
home between campus life and off-campus "Group Home" living.
Independent living program is implemented to focus on ensuring
life skills in older teenage residents. |
| 2006 |
Lindsey Vinton Rickey School joins with North Callaway School
District in order to act as an alternative school on the MGT
campus. |
| 2007 |
Kathy Becker is named the new and current Executive Director
of Missouri Girls Town. |
