Pronounced “awe-vaz,” Auxvasse has grown slowly but surely over the centuries. Over the years, the name Auxvasse has been no small problem for cartographers, county officials, and village residents alike in its spelling and pronunciation.
Location
Auxvasse is located in northern Callaway County on U.S. 54 between Mexico, Missouri, and Kingdom City. The USGS coordinates are Latitude 39°01’09”N Longitude 91°89’29”W. The Atlas shows it in Twn 49N, Rng 9W.
Settlement
Auxvasse — originally named Clinton City — was laid out in 1871; however, the plat wasn’t filed for record until October 23, 1873, and it wasn’t officially incorporated until November 6, 1885. One story has it that the postal department required a name change since there was already a Clinton Post Office in Henry County. Postal records indicate the name change to Auxvasse was in effect by April 2, 1874.
The first mail train ran from Mexico to Cedar City on July 26, 1872, and the train schedules were all printed showing the depot name of Auxvasse. As customary, the railroad company named their depot, this time taking the name of the nearby Auxvasse Creek, which had caused the engineers and construction crew so many problems in spanning it.
Economy
Despite its role as a farming community, Auxvasse has housed a flour and a sawmill, hotels, restaurants, a cheese factory, a smithy, and several garages and car agencies.
Infrastructure
As Auxvasse grew, so did its skyline. The first mercantile building on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut streets was erected by John A. Harrison, who served Auxvasse as postmaster in the 1880s. In 1884, Charles and “Ap” Adams opened Adams Brothers there. In the same year, E.M. Dudley built a two-story frame building on the southwest corner of Main and Harrison streets, where he conducted a general mercantile business for around 20 years. The second story was known as the opry house.
The first brick building in town was built by John A. Harrison on the southwest corner of Walnut and Main Streets. Its first floor housed Charles McCue’s general merchandise, and the second floor was home to the Odd Fellows’ lodge room. In 1884, the building was extended, allowing it to house the Auxvasse Review, a weekly newspaper edited by Z. W. Hook. Harry S Truman announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in front of the Review office.
Banking occurred in the Auxvasse Bank Building built by John A. Harrison from 1886 until it closed in 1924. The People’s Bank came next, followed by The Farmer’s and Trader’s Bank. On February 15, 1930, a group of local citizens — Frank Holland, Hughes Maupin, E. C. Wood, C.H. Hook and R. E. Mottaz — opened the Security Bank of Auxvasse until 1982, when it was sold to Mid-MO Bancshares, Inc. A branch facility opened in Kingdom City in February 1975. In December 1989, the name was changed to United Security Bank, and on October 9, 1990, the bank headquarters moved from Auxvasse to Fulton.
The post office, established around 1874, bounced from one side of the street to the other over the years; currently, it is situated near its original location. Before moving to the structure built in 1961 by Wilbur Foster, it was housed in the former bank building on the corner of Main and Walnut streets.
Starting in 1872, train service ran between Mexico and Auxvasse. Records indicate that Thomas Harris was the person who was mainly responsible for the construction of the Chicago & Alton railroad through Auxvasse instead of Concord, which was then a thriving community. Passenger service continued into the 1920s. The process to abandon the rail spur in Callaway County began in 1978. Abandonment was delayed for a time, but all rail service was eventually discontinued.
The Grand Prairie Baptist Church was formed on November 26, 1843, northwest of present-day Auxvasse. In 1881 it moved to its current location on North Main Street. The Second Baptist Church of Auxvasse, an outgrowth of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, was organized in 1897. In 1902 they bought the former Methodist Church building where they met through the 1980s. The Auxvasse Christian Church was organized July 20, 1886, and continues to meet in a building on the original church site. The Auxvasse City Presbyterian Church was organized in 1887. Services were held in the Baptist Church until the church building was completed in August 1888. They continue to meet in part of the original building. The Methodist Church was organized in August 1873 and dissolved in 2007.
Education
The first public school in Auxvasse was built in 1887. The old Lime Kiln School was located south of Auxvasse, and the Swon School was located north of town. In 1915, the Auxvasse schoolboard erected a new brick school building in town, consolidating all three schools.
The original school was built for white children only; the black people erected their own school in 1897. When the school board decided to build a new school building for black children, it was known as the Auxvasse Negro School. The school was later named the Dunbar School in honor of the Negro poet of the time, Paul Dunbar.
Auxvasse has one school — Auxvasse Elementary — in the North Callaway School district. Starting with the 2020-21 school year, this school will become the Middle School for the North Callaway School District. Elementary school children living in Auxvasse will attend class at the Hatton-McCredie or Williamsburg elementary schools.
Governance
City government comprises a five-person city council made up of the mayor and four council members.
Today
The population of Auxvasse has grown to 983, according to the 2010 census. The town’s current businesses include Baumgartner’s Furniture Store, Casey’s Convenience Store, Kingdom Telephone Company, Maupin Funeral Home, One Stop Custom, Show Me Oil Quick Shop, Taylor’s Plumbing, United Security Bank, and just north of town is Foster Brothers Wood Products and south of the cemetery is R&R Processing meat locker.
Events
Old Loafers Week, founded by Homer Norris in 1960, connects farmers during the winter during the window between harvesting and planting. During this week, farmers drink coffee, play cards, share meals and visit with friends. It has continued with the help of the Lion’s Club, which creates various fundraisers that contribute to community programs.
In addition, the Callaway Youth Expo purchased the Auxvasse Lion’s Club Park in 2016 to hold events for FFA and 4-H members.
Compiled January 2021
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Images of Auxvasse, Missouri
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