The Historical Preservation Society of Cameron is a non-profit, tax deductible organization dedicated to preserving and maintaining a century old public school building (Known locally as "The Old School") for the benefit and betterment of the community. The $50,000 price tag boasted all the most modern conveniences, steam heat, drinking fountains, electric lights, inside toilets, and a gym. Geolog
ical Society place a survey marker on the southwest corner of the school building in 1920, near the foundation. It indicates the highest point in the city of Cameron at the time, 1039 feet above sea level. Later the U.S.G.S. established a monument benchmark near the curb in the southwest part of the lot. (Its purpose, even to this day, is a vertical and horizontal contact point for surveyors in the community.) The last graduating class from this building was 1947 when the high school students were moved to another location. The Cameron School district used the building for lower grades until 1993 when the decision was made to raze the building. The "Old School" facility today-
The Historic Preservation Society, under the direction of Dr. E. Richard Schmidt, was formed to buy and preserve the "Old School" as an icon of the community and to make make it available for public use. Lining the halls are pictures of Cameron's graduating classes from 1909 through the mid 70's. There are also 3 glass display cases with memorabilia of various years. On the upper level are trophies awarded to school teams from bookkeeping & shorthand to track and basketball and more. Original printings of the school paper "The Tank" are also available to be reviewed. Meetings, luncheon, birthday parties, seminars, litigation reviews, weddings, wedding receptions, family reunions, Halloween parties, Christmas parties, dances and a variety of other events continue to keep the "Old School" a viable and active part of the Cameron, Mo. Next year this grand building will celebrate its 100th birthday! It's financial survival depends on donations from everyone inclined to help preserve the structure and the history within. Materials, goods, services, manual labor, volunteer hours, and dollars are all contributions that help maintain the effort.
