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In 1819, Abner Holt and his family headed
from Virginia to settle in Callaway County, Missouri.
Abner and his wife Elizabeth had a son named James who obtained
an education that made him an expert businessman. He had a
son named Timothy who in 1870 plotted Holts Summit around the
General Store owned by his father James, and a cousin.
They named the area "Holts Summit", because it is the highest
point between here and the Missouri River.
A train depot called "Hibernia Station" was located across from
North School on Summit Drive. Hibernia was actually
located on the North side of the Missouri River across from
Jefferson City. The Hibernia citizens got on the train on
the East side of the tracks and the Holts Summit citizens got on
the train on the West side of the tracks. One sign hung
from the train depot to let the citizens know which side to
board on. The tickets said "Hibernia" but referred to the
Holts Summit depot. The depot and the tracks were torn
down in 1934.
Holts Summit finally incorporated in 1973. The first Mayor
was Stuart M. Hunter and the first aldermen were Harry B. Rich,
David K. Hunter, Gary R. Cowherd and Jack Ridenhour. The
City has progressed since that time from dusty gravel roads to
paved streets, city streetlights, and a growing municipal sewer
system. The Police Department has grown from a part-time
police force to a Chief of Police, a clerk, a Lieutenant, two
sergeants, and four full-time officers.
Many new businesses have moved to the area since the
incorporation of the city. Although badly needed, the City
does not charge a property tax. We operate solely on a
three cent sales tax and franchise fees. Some of the sales
tax dollars are dedicated for special uses. One cent goes
into the general fund to pay for the administration, police
department and parks to name a few. One half cent goes to
the sewer fund for operations, one cent to the gas tax fund for
the repair and maintenance of the City streets, one quarter of
one cent is dedicated for animal control and one quarter of one
cent is dedicated for emergency operations. The revenue
collected for the emergency fund is being used to pay for the
emergency warning sirens placed throughout Holts Summit.
The City has just recently completed the development of the
first City Park, which we named Hibernia Station Park. The
park has a lot of playground equipment and a pavilion with
public restrooms. There is a walking trail about three
quarters of a mile long that winds around and through the park.
There are BBQ pits, picnic tables, benches, a full size
basketball court and a four-square.
The City recently purchased an additional fifty-five acres from
the Holts Summit Civic Association. The property has two
ball fields, a pavilion, a civic building, volley ball courts,
and a fishing pond. We plan to upgrade the park this
spring and hopefully have a ball program starting in 2007.
The City hosts an annual Easter Egg Hunt, a spring picnic, and a
Christmas parade. We are working on various other
community projects that we hope will be a great success as well.
If you are a current resident, we hope you are as proud of your
community's progress as we are. All residents are
encouraged to participate in the City's future. If you
have questions, please feel free to call City Hall.
If
you are new in the City - - - - - - - - WELCOME! |
