In 1893, when George Glosemeyer built the general store along the railroad tracks at Peers, the idea of his humble mercantile earning the distinction of the National Register of Historic Places in 2018 never crossed his mind.On Sunday, June 3, a celebration was held at the store with owners Dan and Connie Burkhardt, the Glosemeyer family, and representatives from the community and the Missouri Humanities Council on hand to show off the new plaque designating the store as a property worth preservation and recognition.Peers Store, once known as the Glosemeyer General Store, is just one of six buildings in Warren County to be recognized on the registry.George’s nephew, Linus, and his wife, Loretta Glosemeyer, are most remembered for running the store for 60 years. Other family members kept its doors open until 2012.Ralph Glosemeyer, son of Linus and Loretta, said the store “held a pretty significant meaning to this area.”“It helped feed a lot of families for many years,” he said. “I’m glad it’s being preserved.”The store was the hub of activity and commerce for several families living near the store and the farm families who worked the Missouri River bottomland.When it was built, the Missouri River could be seen from the front of the store. That all changed in 1903 when the river shifted two miles to the south.Claire Brunthrager, heritage resources coordinator for the Missouri Humanities Council, helped submit the paperwork necessary to apply for the national register. Brunthrager is currently working on the German Heritage Corridor project, which showcases the towns along the Missouri River heavily populated by German immigrants.“Being on the national register brings attention to the buildings,” said Brunthrager. “Unfortunately there are not a lot of similar buildings standing anymore.”Caitlin Yager, director of the Missouri Humanities Council Heritage Programs, helped coordinate the collection of oral histories from people who remember the Peers Store.“It was completely fascinating to me to hear the stories about the change in the scenery and in the river,” she said. “There was also a great shift in the culture from the time German customs were prevalent to the shift during World Wars I and II when people weren’t allowed to be German.”Yager said many people who settled in the area of the store were German immigrants. The families spoke German and went to German schools. That changed during the World Wars, but now the German culture is being revived once again.Oral histories will be gathered to preserve the stories of the people who used the general store and lived in the area. Sean Rost, Missouri Humanities Council oral historian, has been collecting the stories, preserving them at the State Historical Society.Diane (Glosemeyer) Lierman and Kathy (Glosemeyer) Holdmeyer, daughters of Linus Glosemeyer, shared their memories of growing up at the store during the celebration.“Dad was a very generous person to everybody,” said Lierman. “Almost everybody in the area ran a tab for credit at the store. They would pay their bill when the crops were in. He would also feed the hoboes riding the trains coffee or a soda and a bologna sandwich.”Holdmeyer said all the kids would get on the bus in front of the store. Locals would play poker or checkers in the evening. They also remembered times the store was flooded and how the family coped with rising waters, saying that the family never wanted to leave the store to the floodwaters.The sisters remember sitting on the front porch and watching the trains go by as children. They remember a time when they weren’t afraid to leave their doors unlocked. They had no incidents of stealing from the store.During the open house, the Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department provided bratwurst and the Riverside Wanderers provided bluegrass music on the porch. The fire department was also recognized by the Missouri Humanities Council and received a donation to apply to department needs.For more information about the Peers Store, visit katylandtrust.org. The store is open weekends from noon to 4 p.m. through October.

Musicians Hannah Satterwhite and Paul Rhodes entertained the visitors to Peers Store Sunday, June 3, during a special event at Peers Store. The store, built in 1896, was recently included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Record photo/Cindy Gladden

Peers Store, located west of Marthasville, was recently recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. A celebration was held Sunday, June 3. 

Record photo/Cindy Gladden

Sean Rost, left, Missouri Humanities Council Historian, laughs at some of the remembrances of Diane Lierman, center, and Kathy Holdmeyer, daughters of Linus and Loretta Glosemeyer, who ran the Peers Store for more than 60 years. The sisters were remembering how people would even stop by on Christmas Day, knocking to see if they could get some batteries for new toys or film for their cameras. They said their parents were very generous and caring to the people who used the general store, often letting farmers keep their purchases on tab until the crops came in. 

Record Photo/Cindy Gladden