Hannibal_April_2011

M A G A Z I N E

Hannibal RegionalHospital Foundation

Inside this issue

SPECIAL

ELECTRONIC BANKING SERVICES...

For More Information Visit:

... or call Toll Free 877.221.6424

WWW.BANKFM.COM … or One of Our 10 Locations:

Rich Heiser

Hick Finn Lisa MarksBob Yapp Terri McClainJonathan Arnold Ryan MurrayNancy Crow Brady RowdsRobin Doyle Terry SampsonMichael Gaines Gene ScholesSheila Gosny Gina SheurmanKenneth Marks Amanda Vogel

Holly Heiser

Jonathan ArnoldSteve ChouMichael GainesKenneth & Lisa MarksLibrary of Congress

Rich Heiser

Learning OpportunitiesQuality Works, Inc.111 South 10thHannibal, Missouri573-221-5991

McClain Creative [email protected]

M A G A Z I N E

Publisher’s Note

W

ow is the time to take action! Whether you have unidentified pain, a new mole,

are overdue to get a physical, a toothache or a need for retirement living for a

loved one, make a call today. And be sure to use the following pages as your

guide for all types of medical, dental, fitness and retirement living services in the region.

We are proud to present Hannibal Magazine’s 2nd Annual Regional Medical Services

Directory. Many changes continue to take place regarding available medical services in

the region. Our Regional Medical Services Directory will help you to navigate all types

of medical services, where the medical services can be found, what choices are available

and how to access these services.

From prenatal care to retirement living, our Medical Services Directory is designed

to be kept for reference as medical needs arise. We made every attempt to make our

directory comprehensive through our research and with the help from area medical

services providers. We thank all who helped us in our compilation and we apologize for

any omissions.

Our region has come a long way since the time when a great deal of travel was neces-

sary to obtain a full range of medical services. Not only do we have a huge range of avail-

able services, we have choices between qualified service providers.

Health & FitnessWhat’s Your Problem?

2011 Regional Medical Services Directory

Hospitals

Clinics & Medical Centers

Physical Therapy & Chiropractic

Elder Care, Home Care & Assisted Living

H A N N I B A L M E D I C A L C A M P U S

573-221-1166

Marion County Health Department & Home Health Agency

When you’re just starting out, you need exceptional care. And every step of the way, Hannibal Regional Hospital provides it.

Here the brightest medical professionals are reshaping the quality of your healthcare, combining technology with compassion.

From diagnosis through recovery, we provide complete care that reaches a higher standard, all in one location.


Raise your hand and make a difference.

Our volunteers give over 23,000 hours of their time a year.

To learn how you can help, discover volunteer opportunities by calling 573-248-5272 or by visiting hrhonline.org/volunteer.

Give your child the education they deserve.

Our teachers, families, and the community collaborate to empower each child by providing resources to develop a passion for learning through interactive play.

Children will develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually through positive, playful experiences that are challenging, engaging and nurturing.

To learn more, call 573-406-5700 or visit hrhonline.org/hcc.

Allergy/ImmunologyMohammad Aktaruzzaman, M.D.

Family Practice Sebastian Baginski, M.D.Connie Dochterman, FNP-BCKaren Grawe, FNP-BCAndrea C. Hawkins, FNP-BCJeanette Kamp, FNP-BCCharles Lichty, M.D.Cheryl McGowan, FNP-BCTatyana Rains, FNPCindy Salsberry, FNP-BCAdam Samaritoni, D.O.Scott Simmons, M.D.Dale Zimmerman, D.O.

OptometryAmy Knickerbocker, O.D.Kent Wolber, O.D.

OphthalmologyGary Bodiford, M.D.

AnesthesiaMark Belcher, M.D.Tammara Goldschmidt, M.D.Ryan Easley, M.D.

Psychiatry/Mental HealthSteve Boling, LCSWLyle Clark, M.D.Katarzyna Derlukiewicz, M.D.Carol Greening, CNS-BC Jennifer Scholes, LPCJoseph Spalding, D.O.

CardiologyPervez Alvi, M.D.Mark Shima, M.D.Lynn Shima, ACNPRichard Valuck, M.D.

Occupational MedicineGregory Henry, D.O.

Internal MedicineAlex Kosloff , M.D. John Greving, D.O.Sohail Gulzar, M.D.

Emergency MedicineAnne De Lonais, M.D.Aziz Doumit, M.D.Richard Draper, D.O. HRMG Medical DirectorDavid Glasgow, M.D.Joaquin Guzon, M.D.Karl Harmston, D.O.Donald Miller, M.D.Timothy Raleigh, D.O.Angela Rountree, M.D.

SurgeryPlastic SurgerySchuyler Metlis, M.D.

Pain ManagementLuvell Glanton Jr, M.D.

PodiatryEdward Cline, D.P.M.

Hannibal RegionalMedical Group

hannibalregionalmedicalgroup.org573-629-3400

Hannibal Regional Medical Group off ers accessible, attentive providers in a broad range of specialties.


VISION INSTITUTE

Don’t let back pain slow you down.

Your sore back will benefit from the comprehensivecare available at the Spine Center.

Providing assessment and treatment for your back and spine. Call 573-629-3330 or visit hrhonline.org/spine.


NORTHEAST MISSOURI AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER

As the first licensed and Medicare certified

ambulatory surgery center in this region,

we offer a

.

Sandra Ahlum, MD Richard Baumann, MDJohn Bennett, MD

Christopher Bieniek, MDMichael Bukstein, MDCurtis Burton, MDEdward Cline, MD Steven Cockrell, MDScott Friedersdorf, DPMShelly Friedersdorf, DPMMark Greenwell, MD Daniel Gwan-Nulla, MDAphrodite Henderson, MDPatricia Hirner, MDKevin Imhof, DO

Bhagirath Katbamna, MDLaura Maple, MDAlan Stoll, DDSLynn Walley, MDTria Wilhite, MD

ek, MDnn, MDDMDMDMDMDMD llll, MMMMMDDDDf, D, PMMMMMMMrrrf, f, fff DPMMMMl,l, M MD la,l MDMDMDDDsoson, n MDM, M, MDDDOmna, MDMDDSMDMDTriTria Wa Wilhilhiteite, M, MMD

The NEMO Ambulatory Surgery Center is fully accredited by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).


Counseling/Mental Health Services

This is What a Health System

Looks Like

Dentistry

Assisted Living is for the individual who is capable of living

independently with some assistance and supervision.Pleasant View

Terrace ApartmentsRetirement community, affordable housing for independent seniors.

• Private rooms w/private baths•Choice of 2 fl oor plans

• Appliances• Safety equipped bathrooms

Growing intothe Future 573-221-6000

Celebrating50 Years

•Nutritional meals & snacks• Washers and dryers• Library

•Community rooms• Much more

• Library• Exercise classes• HUD assistance

• Handicapped accessible units

• Much more

We offer the following services to our residents:• Medicare and Medicaid certifi ed facility

• Personal care from a professional staff including RNs, LPNs, Certifi ed Nurse Aides, and Certifi ed Restorative Aides

Alzheimer’s Care• Specially educated staff to meet the special needs of

dementia residents

• Secured exterior doors with alarms

• Hallways end with a window to look out of and a bench to rest on

• Secured patio and courtyard with outdoor seating

• Semi-private and private rooms featuring individual temperature control, bay windows, and memory boxes

• A large living area with natural light from large windows

• An active environment featuring plants

• Activities specially designed for individuals with memory impairment, offered 7 days a week, including holidays

• Family-style dining

• Pastoral care

Rehabilitative ServicesBeth Haven’s well-trained, experienced team of in-house professionals takes pride in providing an interdisciplinary approach to helping individuals regain independence and rebuild strengths and capabilities.

Complete rehabilitation services include:

• Physical therapy

• Speech therapy

• Osccupational therapy

All therapy is personalized with the goal of helping people get well and return to their normal daily routine as quickly as possible.

Beth Haven Nursing Home

Optical

Your Neighborhood

Pharmacy

Anita Christal Lisa Culp

Fitness Medical Equipment & Supplies

Autism: Statistics Represent Families in Need of Understanding

pril is Autism Awareness Month. This month will feature news stories,

talk shows, and magazine articles on the topic. Every year the cover-

age grows, along with the rising statistics of the disorder it represents.

But for those living with autism, there is no need to make them aware of this

disorder—they go to bed and wake up each morning to the reality of autism.

A diagnosis of autism brings a host of issues a family must learn to deal

with. Issues ranging from sensory, social, medical, speech, hyperactivity,

and behavior will become part of every day. Sometimes the autism can be so

difficult that the child’s symptoms override the plans of the day and getting

through the day is the entire agenda.

Later on, as school years start, the autism will likely affect their education.

If a parent never knew what an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) was prior

to autism, they certainly will after their child enters school. Parents of kids

with autism are usually common faces around the school building, as there is

a need for a team approach between educators and parents.

Just as autism affects the child, it has a way of affecting the family, too.

Because autistic children suffer with sensory problems, it can create situ-

ations where the child may not be able to do the same things their family

does. Attending a basketball game might be painful for a child with autism;

people shouting and the referee whistle may cause what is known as

“sensory overload.”

The hidden pain of autism comes from the social problems affecting the

child, as well as their families. Children with autism have difficulty fitting in;

due to problems relating to other kids (and vice-versa,) lack of imaginative

play, and speech issues. Another issue is the isolation some families feel due

to things they are unable to do, or must do in shifts.

As autism rates increase, hopefully communities will better understand

these children and the families who love them. No matter who the children

are, or how severe the autism is, the common thread that ties them all to-

gether is the need for understanding.

• Department of Mental Health – DMH helps parents and caregivers with

assessments and collateral information, aiding in the process of helping

any child with a developmental delay or diagnosis. Phone: 800-811-1128.

• Touchpoint Autism Services – Provides services for autistic children;

offers informative conferences and events. Phone: 800-675-4241 or

www.touchpointautism.org for more information.

• Northeast Missouri Autism Support Group – Meets 3rd Tuesday of

each month, hosted by Marion County Services for the Developmentally

Disabled, #12 Northport Plaza in Hannibal. Phone: 573-248-1077.

a division of Palmyra State Bank Member FDIC

Autism Facts:

Run Out Child Abuse 5K/10K Walk/Run

he Run Out Child Abuse 5K/10K race

begins at 9:00am in Riverview Park.

The 5K course will loop through the

park, while the 10K course continues out of

the park, towards the river, and ends back in

the park. There will

also be a 1 Mile Kids

Fun Run.

Age groups will

be divided into 10-

year categories and

medals will be given

to the 1st, 2nd, and

3rd place finishers in

each category. Every

participant will re-

ceive a T-shirt. There

will be drawings for

several prizes, including a

Wii and a 32” TV!

Proceeds benefit The

Child Center of Hannibal,

a place where a compre-

hensive, coordinated approach

is taken in response to allegations of child

sexual and physical abuse occurring in our 15

county service area. At the Center, specially

trained child forensic interviewers, investiga-

tors, law enforcement, and medical personnel

form a team to make decisions about inves-

tigation, treatment, and prosecution of child

abuse cases. All services are provided at no

cost to children and their non-offending fam-

ily members.

For more information or to register by

phone, call Kristin at (573) 221-2256.

y

p

w

Hannibal . Palmyra . Monroe City . PerryBowling Green . Troy . Wentzville

www.hnbbanks.com 877.382.8680

hnbbanks.comYour online resource to help you expand your financial possibilities

any years ago, the physician community, led by Dr. John

Scott of Quincy Medical Group, determined a need to

sponsor a prescription program to assist those who

cannot always afford their medications. Patients often have to

choose between food and needed medications, due to limited

incomes. Quincy Catholic Charities MedAssist Program provides

this service to area residents regardless of race, color, or religious

beliefs.

The Bridge the Gap to Health Race was created as an event to

help fund the MedAssist Program. The first ten years of Bridge the

Gap to Health has helped the QCC MedAssist Program leverage

over $8 million to help those in need receive their prescription

medication. All money raised from this event stays in the com-

munity. The need continues each and every day and we rely on

your support to continue providing this valuable service to our

friends, family, and neighbors. Donations to the QCC MedAssist

program are tax-deductible.

The 11th annual Bridge the Gap to Health Race will be held

on May 14, 2011 in Clat Adams Park, Quincy, IL. This year’s race

marshal is 6 time Olympic Medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Ms.

Joyner-Kersee will motivate runners at the Race Expo on Friday,

May 13th, at the Quincy Holiday Inn and will lead the race on

Saturday. The race features a 5K, 10K and half-marathon run, a

competitive 5K and half-marathon walk, a 5K leisure walk, and a

children’s fun run. The certified race course includes the Quincy

Memorial and Bayview bridges that span the Mississippi river. For

more information or to register for the race visit www.bridgeth-

egaptohealth.com or follow us on facebook.

Bridge the Gap 6th Annual American Cancer Society Pink Ribbon Golf Tournament & Dinner Program

2500 Pleasant StreetHannibal, MO(573) 221-6000www.bethaven.org

Faith Based Community Not-for-Profi t Since 1957

2010 People’s Choice Nursing Home

Charter Member of Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Home & Nursing Home Quality Campaign

Independent Living

Pleasant View Assisted Living

Terrace East & West Apartments

Skilled Nursing

Alzheimer’s Care (Gardens)

Long Term Care & Retirement Community

eginning this Fall the Hannibal Children’s Center

(HCC) on the Hannibal Medical Campus will offer a

new, full day kindergarten program. At HCC family

members and the community collaborate to empower each

child to become healthy, self-confident individuals. This is

done by providing children the resources to develop a pas-

sion for learning through interactive play.

“Our new kindergarten program will expand each stu-

dent’s love of learning, their general knowledge, their ability

to get along with others, and their interest in reaching out

to the world,” said Meredith Andrews, Director of the Han-

nibal Children’s Center. “Our kindergarten students will

develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually

through positive, playful experiences that are challenging,

engaging and nurturing.”

The HCC kindergarten program will be led by Amy Sut-

ton, a certified teacher with a strong background in elemen-

tary education. Ms. Sutton will provide children what they

need to grow physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

To reserve class space or learn more about the kin-

dergarten program at Hannibal Children’s Center, please

contact Meredith Andrews, Director at 573-406-5700 or go

to hrhonline.org/hcc.

Hannibal Children’s Center AnnouncesNew Kindergarten Program

annibal Regional Hospital will be honoring more than

260 Auxiliary members this April during national volun-

teer month. The Hannibal Regional Hospital Auxiliary

was founded in 1988 when Levering and St. Elizabeth hospitals

merged. One of the many special activities this month will be the

Annual Awards Banquet where the Auxilian of the Year is an-

nounced.

The Auxiliary provides opportunities for adults and students

to volunteer at the hospital. More than 260 men and women of

diverse ages and backgrounds volunteer their time to provide

support in numerous areas. The Auxiliary helps support vari-

ous hospital initiatives through annual fundraising events which

include luncheons, bake sales, vendor sales and more.

Since 1988, the HRH Auxiliary has raised over $2,000,000 for

Hospital services and equipment. Over the years some of the ma-

jor projects the Auxiliary has donated money towards include the

Hannibal Children’s Center, James E. Cary Cancer Center, HRH

Cardiovascular Institute, Judy’s Boutique Gift Shop, improve-

ments to the HRH mall area and operation of the patient/family

shuttle service. The Auxiliary also helps the hospital in other

ways. Every year, it provides four scholarships to team members

pursuing advanced educational opportunities.

In 2010, the Auxiliary provided nearly 23,000 hours of service.

Hannibal Regional Hospital Auxiliary services include distribut-

ing copies of newspapers to patients and hospital waiting rooms,

sewing bonnets for new babies, and making puppets for children.

Patients at the James E. Cary Cancer Center are often comforted

by a caring volunteer. As well, volunteers can be found in various

locations throughout the hospital, such as the information desk,

surgery waiting rooms, both gift shops, physical therapy, emergen-

cy services, operating the shuttle, serving as greeters, and more!

If you would like to know more about the HRH Auxiliary or be-

coming a member, contact Jean Harlow at 573-221-7784 or Alicia

Rollins at 573-248-5272 or go to hrhonline.org/volunteer.

HRH Celebrates Auxiliary during Volunteer Month

mong the pre-1900 and “deadball era” players enshrined

in Cooperstown, New York’s Baseball Hall of Fame, Jake

Beckley stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ty Cobb, Honus

Wagner, and Cy Young… yet few baseball fans have heard of the

Hannibal-born and raised first baseman who played for 20 sea-

sons among four National League teams.

Born on August 4, 1867, as a teenager Beckley spent his off-

hours playing as a second baseman for several semi-professional

teams in and around Hannibal. Recommended to the manager of

a Leavenworth, Kansas professional team in the Western League

in 1886, what would now be considered a minor league team, the

18-year-old batted

.342 as a left-handed

second baseman and

outfielder in his first

season.

Because his

throwing arm had

proven to be weak

in these positions he

was converted to a

first baseman in his

second season. The

change benefited

him, as he hit a com-

bined .420 for Leav-

enworth and another

Western League team

in Lincoln, Nebraska

the following season. The Lincoln team then sold him to the St.

Louis Whites of the Western Association (another higher quality

minor-league team) at the beginning of the 1888 season. From

there, he was sold to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the National

League for a reported $4000, roughly equivalent to $95,000 today.

Beckley filled the Alleghenys’ need for an everyday first base-

man by batting .343 as a rookie and earning the nickname “Eagle

Eye” for his hitting skills. He went on to play for the Alleghenys

(renamed the Pirates in 1891) for seven seasons, becoming the

most popular player on the team. His National League career

was interrupted in 1890 when he chose to defect with eight other

teammates to the newly-formed Pittsburgh team of the Players

League, which was created as a response to low wages and unfair

treatment of players in the National League and, to a lesser extent,

the American As-

sociation. Beckley

led the Player’s

League in triples

(22) that year before

the league folded,

sending him and his

teammates back to

the Alleghenys.

Even with a severe batting slump in

1892 following the sudden death of his wife, Beckley achieved a

.300 batting average in 930 games with Pittsburgh, leading the

league in putouts three times and in assists four times. Five times

he drove in at least 96 runs, a difficult feat in an era where home

runs were scarce and one baseball would be used for the entire

game or until it unraveled, making hitting conditions worse in

the latter innings. However, he had been in a slump in 1896, and

the team decided to trade him to the New York Giants for another

player and $1000 in cash—a move that angered Pittsburgh fans.

The stint with New York lasted for the second half of 1896

and the first month of the 1897 season, with Beckley continuing

his slump. Thinking Beckley’s career was nearly over, the Giants

released him in May, only to see him signed within weeks by the

Cincinnati Reds. The Reds needed a first baseman, and Beckley re-

gained his stroke. His “comeback” that year culminated in a three

home-run game against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 26;

no previous Reds player had ever hit three homers in a game, and

no other major league player would duplicate this feat for another

25 years. Beckley would play seven seasons in Cincinnati, and his

.325 average ranks as the third best in Reds history.

Sold to the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the start of the 1904

season, his first two years with the Cardinals showed little erosion

of his playing ability, but injuries forced him to miss over a third

of the 1906 season. His recovery sputtered at the start of 1907,

and the Cardinals released him after 32 games. Three months shy

of his 40th birthday, Beckley found an opening with Kansas City

in the American Association; he would play three seasons there,

doubling duty as a player-manager in 1909.

Baseball was such a driving force in Beckley’s life that he

continued to play in semi-professional leagues after his pro career

ended. In 1911, his last year as a professional player at any level,

he returned to Hannibal and hit .282 as a first baseman/manager

for the Hannibal Cannibals team at the age of 44. As late as 1913,

SportsJake “Eagle Eye” Beckley

302 South Fifth StreetHannibal, Missouri573.221.8188

www.jamesodonnellfuneralhome.com

Since 1901, we have helped area families Celebrate Life. Whether burial, cremation, or a simple gathering

of friends and family, our staff, services, and facilities are unsurpassed.

The mark of excellence for five generations.

after moving back to Kansas City, he even worked a season as an

umpire for the fledgling Federal League that would assert itself as

a third major league the following year. His major league totals

would impress in any era, much more so for a player from a period

with some of the lowest average run scores in baseball history.

With Beckley’s career longevity, consistently high levels of

performance, and career numbers, one could see how he would

appear to be almost a lock for the Hall of Fame. Yet, it wasn’t until

1971—53 years after his death—that the Hall’s Veterans Committee

voted him for inclusion, even though none of the voters had ever

seen him play. How could he have been overlooked for so long?

First, he never played for a pennant winning team. Second,

he played in parts of the “pre-history” and “deadball” eras, where

the style of play and emphasis on statistics differed significantly

from the modern era. Third, he came from a time period where the

media coverage was limited, even in daily newspapers, and overall

attendance for an average National League team like Pittsburgh

would hover around 2,000 people per game at best – the game’s

popularity as a professional sport was still being established.

The “deadball” era has been portrayed by various biographies

and histories as a lively, colorful time with intense players who

would look for any advantage for the sake of winning, and Jake

Beckley fits the description. Some of the Hannibalian’s antics

intended to entertain the audience while gaining a psychological

advantage in the field, especially in trying to compensate for his

lackluster arm strength. According to several sources, Beckley had

developed a hidden ball trick to trap runners from stealing bases.

Some of Beckley’s techniques influenced future team strategy

and rule changes. New York Yankees managing legend Casey Sten-

gel used Beckley’s unorthodox bunting method as an example for

his early teams. Just as the pitcher would finish his delivery to the

plate, Beckley would flip the end of the bat and bunt using only the

handle. A little too effective, the method was eventually outlawed.

In addition, he would disrupt a pitcher’s rhythm by yelling phrases

like “Chickazoola!” while at the plate.

If it appears that Jake Beckley played an unethical brand of

baseball by today’s standards, his efforts reflected a general ap-

proach to the game shared by most of the successful players of the

time—that of intense, aggressive competition in a game where

all of the rules (written and “unwritten”) had not been developed

yet. The emphasis in this era was placed primarily on defense and

avoiding the strikeout; strategy fueled a game dominated by base

hits, sacrifice bunts, and stolen bases, or what would be termed

“small ball” in today’s language. The difficulty in fielding hits with

thin fingerless gloves was matched with the challenges of a batter

facing a pitcher only 45 feet from home plate wielding then-legal

spitballs; while batters hit for average, run scoring was at a pre-

mium, and a little extra aggression or toughness could make the

difference between an average player and a great one. Jake Beckley,

one of the most prolific first basemen in baseball history, helped

form the character and work ethic that defined the sport at the

turn of the 20th century.

pril means one thing to local residents here

in the Midwest. It means that “cabin fever”

has yielded to warmer days, sunshine and

green grass. The snow in residents’ yards has been

replaced with robins and the sweet smells of spring.

What catches my attention is the trees and foliage regaining

their leaves. That means several things to me. I will be spending

time in the woods listening to the thundering gobbles of the wild

turkey, my fishing pole will be bent in half with the tug of large

slab crappies, and, with any luck at all, my mushroom sack will

have a few nice morel mushrooms in it!

I simply love spring. To me it exemplifies rebirth. When all

of the shades of winter brown give way to the bright greens of

spring, it is a feeling like no other. It is not the fact that I like to

participate in the season, but it is the fact that I have to. It is a call-

ing that traces back to my youth.

This is a premier time for families to spend time together in

the outdoors. I admit that the weather isn’t always ideal for tent

camping, but you can have a lot of fun not too far from town. We

are blessed with many Missouri Conservation and Army Corps of

Engineer properties close to Hannibal, and all of them are avail-

able for public use.

It was not so many years ago that I was utilizing one of these

properties for the opening day of spring turkey season. I was

seated on an oak-covered hilltop, in full camouflage, listening to

turkeys gobbling. I knew success was only a few minutes away.

Daybreak would almost guarantee another trophy turkey in my

freezer. I knew this because I had years of experience and suc-

cess to draw from. I guess you could label me an “expert” when

it comes to hunting. Put it in simple terms, the turkey had just a

few more minutes before he was on the way to my freezer.

As the turkeys began to gobble continuously, I studied the

treetops for my prey. It is hard to believe it is difficult to see a

twenty-plus-pound bird in a tree with few leaves, but it is. After

twenty minutes I heard the birds fly down, and I knew it was time

to start calling and turning on my turkey charm for Mr. Gobbler.

With every few calls my turkey would answer and draw a little

closer. My heart was racing with excitement, and then progress

came to a screeching halt. My “sure thing” decided to stay just out

of gun range and charm me to him with his calling. The standoff

lasted for thirty minutes, and then the woods fell silent.

Apparently no one informed this bird about my “expert”

status, and he decided he no longer wanted to play. I sat there in

disbelief. I think I was pouting.

Suddenly the world became right again as I looked around,

seeing one mushroom and then another. It was fortunate that I

was a mushroom “expert,” too. I sat silently studying the surround-

ing forest floor. The more I sat, the more mushrooms I could see.

I never forgot the turkey that eluded me, as I would call occasion-

ally, but the mushrooms were calling me it seemed. Suddenly I felt

like I had redeemed myself. It was no turkey, but I wasn’t com-

plaining. I could no longer sit still. If I could see these mushrooms

from where I sat, then I

could only imagine what

awaited me just beyond my

line of sight.

I stood up, leaned my

camouflage shotgun against

the tree and pulled out

the mushroom sack that I

always keep in my pocket.

That is the “mushroom ex-

pert” part I was referring to.

I was correct in my assump-

tion that there were more morels than those I had first located.

My excitement mounted, and I picked mushrooms by the twos

and threes. Now this was worth rolling out of bed at 4a.m.!

I got so involved in mushroom picking that I became oblivious

to my surroundings. Suddenly a turkey gobble almost dislodged

my hat from my head. As I froze in a bent-over position, I slowly

looked up to see a huge gobbler staring at me. I studied the sur-

rounding trees, looking for my camouflaged shotgun.

I am here to testify that the camouflage pattern on my shot-

gun works great. I could see no traces of my gun. I studied the

base of the tree where I had been sitting. I knew the gun had to

be there. As I finally spotted it, I moved slowly in my bent-over

position, covering twenty yards as this huge bird watched and

analyzed my every move. It was obvious that my “expert” knowl-

edge had paid dividends, and this beast thought I was just a big

bush moving slowly in the spring breeze.

As I reached my gun, I slowly shouldered it and stood erect,

only to discover nothing but an empty logging road where my

morning turkey had stood. He was gone, leaving me with the

thought that he had been a hallucination.

As I looked back at my sack of morel mushrooms at the base

of the tree where I began my morning, I could only smile. The sun

was beaming through the treetops, and it was evident that it was

going to be a beautiful spring day. I had to concede and give this

morning to the turkeys. I had been defeated. Apparently turkeys

have “experts” of their own.

Discover

s 2011 marks the 150th an-

niversary of the beginning

of the Civil War, emphasis

will likely be placed on the

battles and generals that marked major

turning points in the course of the war.

Often overlooked in this approach is

how the war impacted the daily lives of

civilians in border states like Missouri,

where being a slaveholding member of

the Union invited an array of contra-

dictions and uncertainty – including

divided loyalties that caused some cit-

ies to be ruled by what would now be

considered martial law. In this respect,

Hannibal serves as an example of a

border city in a border state, a Northern-based economy with

some southern sympathies whose assets were as integral to the

Union’s ultimate success as any traditional battle victory. Union

control of Hannibal as an important trade and transportation

center focused on the railroad as a strategic and symbolic front

line for the defense of northern Missouri.

The final spike connecting rail service from Hannibal to St.

Joseph, appropriately named the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad,

was struck at Chillicothe on February 13, 1859, seven years after

the first groundbreaking ceremony. By then, business specula-

tion in Hannibal had set the foundation for the most successful

period in the town’s history, nearly tripling its population in ten

years and making it the third largest city in the state behind St.

Joseph and St. Louis – all three being the first rail centers west of

the Mississippi river.

Emphasis on the importance of the railroad’s existence could

not be overstated. First, the route was the first to cross the state

of Missouri and connect to an in-progress Atchison, Topeka and

Santa Fe railroad to the west. Second, it connected the Missis-

sippi and Missouri rivers, offering a faster route than river traffic

for passengers and some cargo. Third, eventual cooperation

with the CB&Q positioned Hannibal as a pivot point for multiple

railroads in the future to add service between Chicago, eastern

Iowa, and St. Louis. Eventually, six different lines would simulta-

neously provide service to and from Hannibal.

As the Hannibal &St. Joseph Railroad dominated in its early

years as a prime mover of men and materials between the east

and west, it was a vital asset to the Union and a major target

of siege from the Confederacy. Missouri’s status as one of four

border states (states allowing slavery but not seceding from

the Union) only added to the state’s reputation as being ‘up for

grabs.’

Although Hannibal resided within the margins of ‘Little

Dixie’, a previously dominant southern and pro-slavery culture

had been infiltrated by other influences, thanks to economic de-

velopment sparked by the railroad. The largest shareholders of

the H&SJ Railroad were Boston-based Unionists; in addition, the

construction and trade industries needed workers, which Ger-

man and Irish-born immigrants

were able to oblige. The influx of

immigrants and Northern busi-

nessmen introduced another

form of culture at odds with that

of the original influence from

the South – especially in terms

of slavery. Moreover, the Federal

grants provided to the railroad

company for the line’s construc-

tion had come with conditions,

one of them being the right to

transport federal (Union) troops

without restriction.

Despite appearances, Missouri’s

political divides were not restricted

to anti- and pro-slavery factions.

The 1860 Presidential Election

results would show that Abraham Lincoln would receive only

10% of the popular vote in the state, even less in Marion County;

yet, nearly every vote for Lincoln originated from Hannibal. The

election featured four candidates from the Republican (Lincoln),

Northern Democrat (Stephen A. Douglas), Southern Democrat

(John Breckenridge, sitting vice-president), and Union Constitu-

tionalist ( John Bell) parties.

Civil War HannibalEconomics, divided loyalties and bushwackers

573-221-8171 8 Diamond Blvd. • Hannibal, MO

WELCOME HOME!

www.prestigerealty.net

Call one of our full-time agents for more information.

MHDC Grants Available Now!

Leading

the Way…

Callll one of oouurr

Don’t let record low rates pass you by!

None of these parties

campaigned directly on

the eradication of slav-

ery, but rather on future

growth of slavery and

other issues that would

affect the economic for-

tunes of the south. Only

Breckenridge’s platform

threatened the secession

of slave-holding states from the union if states’

rights were not respected; thus, the fact that he finished third in

voting across much of the state indicated that pro-slavery forces

were not necessarily pro-secession, and that a number of voters

were pro-Union but ambivalent on the issue of slavery.

Hannibal’s political landscape differed from the rest of Marion

County and Little Dixie because of its business interests. For

the city to maintain its growth, the railroad was essential, and

cutting ties with the Union meant also losing access to Northern

investment, raw materials, and markets –

all of which had defined and supported the

city’s success. Even slaveholders under-

stood the ramifications of this choice, since

the local economy did not function in a way

that would simply blend in with the south

if secession occurred. Businessmen faced

possible choices of voting with the heart, the

mind, and the pocketbook.

Divided loyalties within the city created

unrest and suspicion. After the 1860 elec-

tions, The Hannibal Daily Evening News, a

southern-sympathizing paper, was formed

and pulled no punches in its editorial policy.

In an age before the secret ballot became law,

the editor published on January 14, 1861:

A List of Republicans, Black Republicans, and Aboli-

tionists (revised and published again by request)

The following is a list of the names of the men who

voted for Lincoln in this city and county at the late

presidential election. We have classified them under

three different heads, so far as we have been able to

learn their true position. All those marked with a *,

we consider respectable and law-abiding citizens,

Far from ordinary and close to home...

The perfect weekend adventure … for the whole family or just mom and dad!

Free daily wine tasting...check us out on Facebook for event listings!

So...come out for fun!Open 9am–6pm, 7 days a week!Highway 79 South • 573-221-1656

Featuring • World Famous Mark Twain Cave • Adventure Cave – Cameron Cave• Mark Twain Live with Jim Waddell• Cave Hollow Gifts and Candles• The Fudge Shoppe featuring

Cameron’s Candies• Sticks, Stones and Bones• Beautiful 99-site campgrounds

and campstore• Cave Hollow Center

Please stop by and see Jamie, Michelle or Vanessa!

and who would

not be guilty of

doing anything

unbecoming

gentlemen and

law-abiding citizens. Those marked with a † we believe

to be one degree less than an Abolitionist, while those

marked with a ‡ are considered Abolitionists in the

true sense of the word. Those not marked, are persons

generally unknown….

An example of an entry from the Daily Evening News list:

…‡ W.E. DOANE, the man who says a N--r is justify-

able [sic] in taking the life of his master to obtain his

freedom! – Left the city this morning.

In addition to calls from both federal and confederacy govern-

ments for volunteer militia, local residents formed their own

groups to defend their interests if attacked, some of which were

initially kept secret in order not to harm the participants’ busi-

nesses. Though a few sites in Missouri experienced full-fledged

battles in the early stages of the Civil War, the state was riddled

more with conflicts considered as skirmishes – 1600 of them dur-

ing the length of the war, according to some historians. In addi-

tion, innumerable incidents occurred where either Union forces,

Confederate soldiers, or confederate-supporting bushwackers

would attack, rob, violate, or humiliate unarmed citizens.

Bushwackers were blamed for early attacks on trains run-

ning along the H&SJ railroad through the spring and summer

of 1861, firing blindly into cars suspected of carrying federal

troops…even when the cars were mainly filled with civilian pas-

sengers. In addition, bushwackers and volunteer confederate

troops were encouraged to sabotage the railways themselves;

tracks were taken apart or railbeds damaged, and base supports

of trestle bridges were cut or burned surreptitiously. In the lat-

ter instance, a train would be driven onto the bridge before an

engineer realized that it had been compromised. On September

3, the sabotage culminated with a westbound train driving off a

collapsing Platte Bridge outside Kansas City, killing 20 and injur-

ing nearly 100 people.

VILLAGE VINEYARD AND WINERY

337 N. Vermont • Camp Point Illinois 62320217-509-wine (9463) • villagevineyardandwinery.comFriday 5–10 PM • Saturday 12–11 PM • Sunday 12–6 PM

LIVE MUSIC AND EVENTSLess than 45 minutes from Hannibal!

Saturday, April 2 • 8–11 PM Timewell Spent—country, Southern rock

Saturday, April 9 • 6–10 PM Relay for Life Trivia NightGet your teams together! ($10/person; teams/tables of up to 8. Reservations required.)

Saturday, April 16 • 8 PM–Midnight Burnt Toast—classic rock, rock, country

Friday, April 22 • 8–11 PM Headless Trio—’80s & ’90s rock, country

Saturday, April 30 • 8–11 PM Cheeks McGee—original music, rock, country

Business and consumer confidence plummeted,

and railroad Superintendent J.T.K. Hayward

(staunch Unionist) sent dispatches to Forbes

detailing his struggles with maintaining train

service and giving warning about Union troops

whose actions risked turning the citizens of

Hannibal against the government. On his

own initiative, Hayward worked with resi-

dents along the main train route in gathering

information about potential attacks; he would

send his own men to shut down any potential

destruction to the railroad. By the end of the year,

federal troops established patrol points along the

entire track. In 1862, Hayward and his railroad work-

ers were absorbed directly into the military as part of the

38th Regiment, though the men were seldom involved in actual

combat. Even as skirmishes along the railroad gradually stabi-

lized, passenger trains would run only in daylight hours during

the war. Although it required refinancing of its bonds to make

interest payments, the only major railroad to avoid receivership

during the war was the H&SJ.

The city of Hannibal mirrored the state of the railroad in

that it maintained an uneasy balance between order and a siege

mentality among the residents. Union forces occupied integral

buildings to ensure that daily business continued apace, and

prominent southern sympathizers were watched

with a close eye. At the same time, runaway slaves

found by federal troops were returned to their

masters…even after the Emancipation Proclama-

tion of 1863 (the border state would not officially

approve emancipation until January 1865). Union

control of the state took precedence over resolving

slavery status until the outcome of the war became

more obvious.

As a final note to the contradictions that enveloped

Hannibal in the Civil War, Union troops would not ini-

tially act as emancipators in Missouri (General Fremont’s 1861

‘proclamation’ notwithstanding) but would recruit freed black

men to fight for the government by mid-1863. Several freed men

registered for the Massachusetts 55th Volunteer Regiment, a

sister regiment to the 54th that sent the first predominantly

African-American troops into battle (commemorated in the

1989 film Glory.) Three of these men were laid to rest at Old

Baptist Cemetery with other veterans of the Civil War; the cem-

etery (begun in the late 1830s but not incorporated until 1844) is

located at the corner of Sumner and Section streets northwest of

downtown Hannibal.

Most women spend much of

their time taking care of

everyone else. Are you guilty?

Housework, homework, chauffeuring,

shopping, cooking—the lists just never

seem to end!

Highlights

9th Annual Ladies

Getaway Weekend

Friday, April 29th

to Sunday, May 1st

Every now and then, girls need to get away from

the men and have a girls-only weekend. It is a time

spent relaxing and catching up on all the new hap-

penings in each other’s lives. Enjoy a night on the

town or a relaxing conversation over dinner. It can

be with girlfriends, schoolmates, sisters, cousins

or just a get-away by yourself. For years Hannibal,

Missouri has hosted an all-girls weekend and you

are invited to join us. A bag of goodies and coupons

is available to the first 400 registrants. You need not

purchase the coveted goody bag to participate in

the numerous events. Join with the other ladies who

have discovered America’s Hometown—shop up

and down the streets as we pamper you with sales,

demos, fun, food, fashion and wine tasting. There

are dozens of shops and numerous restaurants and

pubs to stop at along the way.

Book your lodging early as many ladies book

rooms one year ahead.

Spring Items Have Arrived!

Participating Merchants

2 0 1 1 J u s t G i r l s W e e k e n d

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

INDIAN ARTS & CRAFTS ASSOCATION MEMBER

115 N. MAIN • HANNIBAL, MO • 573-248-3451WWW.NATIVEAMERICANTRADING.COM

AUTHENTIC NATIVE AMERICAN GOODSJOIN US FOR AN EXCITING WORKSHOP WITH NATIVE AMERICAN MUSICAL ARTIST JOHN TWO-HAWKS

AND MEET A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NUWATI HERBALS

Workshop with

JOHN TWO-HAWKSGrammy-nominated Musician

11:00–4:00 pm

Saturday, April 30111115555 NNN MMM11115555 NNN MMMAINAIN • HHH• HHHANANN


Fashion for Your Pet

Just Girls Weekend


agoldworks.coom211 centerer street 5773.221.1928 avajewelers of america certified master bench jeweler

riginal jewelry created right in downtown hannibal

Dining

Accommodations


DINNER FOR FOUR$1795Expires 4/30/2011

Please mention coupon when ordering. Not valid with any other offer. Good at participating Cassano’s only.

Pizza &Subs

221-5442Hwy 61 & MM • Hannibal, MoDine In • Carry Out • Delivery All Day

Open Daily at 10am

yy

Pizza &Subs

PleaNot

DINNER FOR FOUR

OOpOpen DD iailly at 10am

n Saturday, April 16th from 9 AM until 4 PM

and Sunday, April 17th from 10 AM until 3 PM,

Quinsippi Needleworkers’ Chapter of the EGA will

present their 22nd “Stitches in Time” Quilt and Needle-

work Show. The show will be held at Quincy Senior High

School, 3322 Maine Street. Quinsippi Needleworkers

presented their first quilt show in 1981 and since that time

thousands of quilts from the area have been highlighted.

The 22nd show will feature over 150 quilts, as well as

a special patriotic display featuring red, white and blue

quilt and needlework items. A new show feature will be a “bed

turning” of heirloom quilts, to be presented both days. Other

features include quilting and needlework demonstrations; as

well as quilt drawings and drawings for opportunity baskets.

The Merchants Mall will feature fourteen vendors with the

newest trends in quilting and quilt supplies. Area shops partici-

pating in the show include: The Hickory Stick, Hannibal; Times

Square Sewing Center and Simply Sewing , Quincy and Halley

Bone, St. Louis. The Hannibal Piecemakers Quilt Guild and the

Quincy Quilt Guild will also be participants. The show will have

five new vendors from the tri-states, as well as returning shops

from Macomb and Keokuk.

The Quincy High School Girl’s Golf team will sponsor the

lunchroom, where show visitors can treat themselves to a light

lunch or a dessert and help support the team.

Admission is $5.00 and available at the door. For more infor-

mation, www.orgsites.com/il/quincyega.

22nd “Stitches in Time” Quilt and Needlework Show

Hannibal Arts

Join your fellow knitters for a Knit-In

Bring your own project and enjoy the fellow-

ship or Participate in a Surprise

Project (bring your favorite knit-

ting needles)

Hannibal Community Theatre: “Driving Miss Daisy”

Watch www.hannibalcommunity-

theatre.org for up-to-date information.

Hannibal Concert AssociationCahal Dunne “Grand to be Irish Show”

Born in Cork, Ireland, Dunne is a songwriter, masterful pianist, come-

dian and winner of Ireland’s National Song Contest. His vocal style is rich

and deep, and as he takes the audience on a musical tour of his native land,

he accompanies himself on piano, along with full orchestral tracts. Funded

in part by a grant from The Community Foundation of the Quincy Area.

Great River Jazz Preservation SocietyMichael Lacey New Orleans Swing

Hannibal Arts Council Theme Party: Age of Aquarius We’re going a little casual this year… ex-

pect a little Bohemian, a little Flower Power,

a little Hippy, a little Psychedelic, and a whole

lot of Funky. Imagine bell bottoms, fur vests,

tie-dye, beaded headbands, jean jackets,

corduroy blazers, patchwork skirts, beads,

tunics and scarves—hippy, funky and fun!

“Peace, Love and Art” man!

YOUNG MASTERS II: 5th and 8th Grade Exhibit

Exhibit features 175 student works selected from each of Han-

nibal public and parochial schools’ 5th and 8th grade art classes.

YOUNG MASTERS I: Hannibal High School Exhibit

Exhibit features works created by students participating in

Hannibal High School’s Art Classes.

Irish/Celtic piano arrangements by Ned

Behrensmeyer and a selection of piano/vo-

cal songs from the Golden Age of American

Song.

Musical Selections

• Trio for Violin, Trumpet and Piano by Eric Ewason

• Night Song by Richard Peaslee

• Violin Sonata No. 1 by Camille Saint-Saëns

• Amazing Grace with Bach arranged by Sun Ahn

• I love you, Lord/More Love to Thee arranged by the Korean

Soma Trio

Casual Classics – Great music in a relaxed environment

Second Saturday Gallery Night

Art, wine, friends and special events make Hannibal’s downtown galleries the place

to be each second Saturday.

lease join us for a Trivia Night

Fundraiser at the Cave Hollow Cen-

tre! Proceeds will help save the Becky

Thatcher House.

Only one trivia category will feature

Mark Twain. The remaining categories

could be anything!

• 8 players per team/table

• $80 per team entry fee

• 10 Different Category Rounds

• 10 Questions Per Round

• Mulligans available for purchase

The evening includes a silent auction

and raffle, plus a prize to the first-place

table. Each table will include free favors,

compliments of Cameron’s Candies.

Cave Hollow West Winery will

provide a cash bar. (Please, no outside

beverages or coolers.) Participants may

bring snacks.

For more information or to re-

serve a table contact: Ryan Murray at

573.221.9010 ext. 404 or ryan.murray@

marktwainmuseum.org.

Dueling Pianos

on’t miss The Big Bang Dueling Pianos at the Quality Inn and

Suites. Your ticket for the evening includes admission to the

event. Seating will be tables of 10. A cash bar will be available. The

Quality Inn will have a wide variety of appetizers for sale that night.

They are also offering a special room rate of $79.95 for those attend-

ing the event. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets early!

Tickets cost $25 per person and are available at the Hannibal

Area Chamber of Commerce office at 625 Broadway in Hannibal.

Doors open at 6:30 pm. Live entertainment begins at 7:00 pm. Any-

one under 21 must be accompanied by an adult. Call 573-221-1101

for more information.

ecretaries, professionals and administrative assistants,

you are cordially invited to attend the SPA Day luncheon

on Wednesday, April 27 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Qual-

ity Inn & Suites. The cost is $15.00 per person and includes fun, networking,

a delicious lunch, gifts, a fashion show and program.

Bosses, treat your associates to a great luncheon!Seating is limited. RSVP by April 25. Cancellations must be

made by April 25 to receive a refund or avoid billing.Sponsored by SPA Day 2011 and hosted by the Hannibal

Area Chamber of Commerce. Call 573-221-1101 for more information.

Trivia Night Fundraiser

Hannibal Area Chamber of Commerce & SPA Day Luncheon

April Best Bets

Just Girls Weekend

Better Your Health!Stay healthier when you keep our 2nd Annual Regional Medical Services Directory on hand all year to help you choose the best care for your family.

Get fit for a cause

Age of Aquarius Hannibal Arts Council

Theme Party

Groovy!

Congratulations to my friends Barney

and Suzie Osterloh, who are now the proud

owners of St Louis Homes and Lifestyles

Magazine. Barney is a native Hannibalian

and my roommate while attending the

University of South Florida, where he met

Suzie. Good luck!

Join Hannibal Magazine on Facebook!

Christina Zeiger has won a $50.00 gift certificate just

for “friending” Hannibal Magazine on FB. There will

be periodic drawings , so become a fan today!

LOCAL April 2011ONGOING EVENTS

ONGOING EVENTS

REGIONAL April 2011

t’s hard to tell the difference between flying ants and

swarming termites. Swarms of either (and sometimes both)

can occur at this time of year, so it’s important to know if

those gossamer wings glimmering on your windowsill are cause

for further investigation.

All termites have a thick waist where their abdomen is joined

to their middle body region; but all ants have a pinched in waist

at that point. All termites have antennae that look like a string of

beads, ants have a elbowed antennae.

Termite swarmers have two pairs of long narrow wings; both

the front and back pair are equal in size and length. Winged

ants have two pairs of wings; the back pair is much shorter than

the front pair.

If you see flying insects, do not panic! In most cases, signifi-

cant termite damage will not occur in a short period of time.

However, do not delay your decision, damage has already started

and termites will continue to cause damage.

Verify that the firm you select is a licensed and insured Pest

control company.

Compare written proposals, chemical, treatment methods

and experience in treating your home. Seek value; avoid making

decisions based solely on price. A firm should make a careful

survey, and can show you the pest location and extent of dam-

age before they quote a price. Even if the second firm’s price is

lower, you usually get what you pay for. Ask friends and neigh-

bors for recommendations of firms that they have been satisfied

with in the past.

HomeHow to Tell Termites from Winged Ants

was recently chatting with a neighbor who asked, “ We love

our 100 year old home. However, it sure is a drafty old place!

We’re interested in blowing insulation into the walls, what do

you think Bob?”

Let me start by saying, if you live in an old house you are part

of a large group of plaster dust lovers. I have great respect for and

kinship with people choosing to live on tree-lined streets full of

unique old homes with character.

Having said that, it’s time for an old house reality check. If your

goal is to continue loving your old house, make it energy efficient

while keeping your costs down, then you absolutely don’t want to

blow insulation into the sidewalls.

One of the top reasons for exterior paint failure, termites and

structural damage to old houses is insulation blown into the side-

walls. “Hey, wait a minute Bob, if we can’t insulate the sidewalls,

how can we afford to heat our old house?” That’s a valid question

but you need to think of air movement in your house as if the

house were a chimney. Heat loss primarily happens in an upward

movement. So, I want you to insulate your attic space to an R-38

with eave ventilation. You should also friction fit craft-faced

(paper faced) fiberglass batting- insulation or foam board into

the box sills in your basement (the area where the beams or floor

joists rest on top of the foundation). The craft face acts as a vapor

barrier and should face the inside.

Building codes today require that when a new house or ad-

dition is built, it must have a vapor barrier. When a new house is

going up, they frame the sidewalls and install exterior sheathing.

The next step is to go inside and install fiberglass, batting insula-

tion between the 2” x 4” or 6” studs. Before the drywall can be

installed over this wall, 4 mil thick plastic sheeting must be laid

over the insulation on the entire wall. That plastic sheeting acts

as the vapor barrier.

We create warm moist air in our homes by cooking, taking

showers, having plants, breathing etc. That warm, moist vapor is

attracted to the exterior walls. This vapor enters the wall through

hairline wall cracks, outlets, switches and window trim. In new

construction, the plastic vapor barrier under the drywall stops the

wet air from getting to the insulation and condensating.

In old houses with plaster walls, there is no vapor barrier un-

der the plaster so the wet air hits the insulation and condensates.

This wets down the blown-in insulation making it a wet mass at

the bottom of the wall cavity creating an inviting place for ter-

mites and dry rot. Then the moisture enters the exterior sheathing

and wood siding causing permanent exterior paint failure. Since

the homeowner, for some “unexplained” reason, can’t keep paint

on the house anymore, they call the vinyl

siding salesman. This makes the problem even worse as you now

have a vapor barrier on the outside of the wall that stops the free

exchange of air, trapping the moisture.

The other factor that must be examined is payback. Lets say

you spend $4,000 to have your old house walls insulated. In my

experience you would probably save about $200 per year on heat-

ing and air conditioning costs. So, it would take twenty years to re-

coup the money you spent on the insulation. Results and pricing

can vary and this doesn’t take into account the termites, dry rot or

paint failure.

I’ve inspected thousands of old houses with blown-in insula-

tion and over 80% of them have this wet insulation problem.

If your house is drafty then tighten it up. Weather-strip your

windows and doors, keep the house painted/caulked well, insu-

late the attic and box sills. This will stop the air infiltration, make

you more comfortable and really save money on utilities.

For those who have already blown insulation in their old

homes, it can be removed. You’ll need to remove several courses

(rows) of siding and sheathing from the bottom of each side of the

house as well as above the windows and doors. Just pull out the

wet mess, let the wall dry out for a while and re-install the siding

and sheathing.

You can also try to create a vapor barrier with special inte-

rior, vapor barrier grade paints. The effectiveness of the paints is

severely limited and you’d still have to caulk all the window trim,

outlets and switches. If you do this you’ll also want to take the 1”

diameter plastic plugs out of the siding. This is where they drill

those attractive holes in the outside wall to blow-in the insulation.

Replace them with screened and louvered 1” diameter vent plugs.

You can buy these at lu mberyards. This will allow the wall cavity

to dry out once the wet insulation is removed.

Again, the primary issue for energy efficiency is stopping air

infiltration. There is no reasonable payback to blowing insulation

into your sidewalls. This practice has truly been the ruination of

many of our historic central city homes.

For more information go to www.nps.gov and look for Pres-

ervation Briefs on insulation. This is the site of the National Park

Service.

About Your House by Bob Yapp© 2011

Myths & Realities of Old House Insulation

Documents

Hannibal_April_2011