Kirkwood Students Get First Hand Look

At Historic Kirkwood Archives

Kirkwood, Missouri -- Tuesday, November 27, 2007 -- Students in Lisa Grommet’s 5^th grade class at Tillman spent a day in Kirkwood learning about finding primary resources when doing research. Primary research involves collecting data about a given subject directly from the real world.

            One stop brought them to Kirkwood City Hall to research why the city changed the name of Main Street in downtown Kirkwood to Argonne Drive back in 1919. Students had just visited the newly dedicated monument located outside the historic Kirkwood Train Depot on Argonne. The monument recounts the Kirkwood soldiers’ lives that were lost during the Battle of the Argonne Forest during World War I. When they arrived at City Hall, students were able to see first hand the original minutes and ordinance books from 1919 when the City Council voted to change the street’s name to honor the lives of those Kirkwood men that were lost during the war.

            City Clerk Betty Montano showed the students the oldest city record book of the city, which dates to 1851. “We don’t get these fragile documents out too often in an effort to preserve and protect them for future Kirkwood generations. I’ve been City Clerk since 1995 and I’ve only had the occasion to look at these historic books three times myself,” said Montano, who maintains all the city’s historic documents. “Knowing that you are truly doing ‘legwork’ in your research, I knew you’d appreciate the unique opportunity to view these historic books firsthand.” The students also made stops to Kirkwood Public Library and St. Peter’s Cemetery.

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