Jefferson City Fire Department

Heroes and Heroines of the Missouri State Capitol Fire Many Missourians are aware of the February 5, 1911 fire that destroyed the Missouri State Capitol. Variou...s social media outlets carry images of the building ablaze. Today, however, we honor the heroes and heroines of the story. While the building burned, many peoplefrom prison inmates to the Governorworked tirelessly to save state records and other vital resources. One such person was Mary Lee. Mary Lee was born in Keytesville, Missouri on April 20, 1878. Her father, John A. Lee, was a prominent public servant in Chariton County. He moved to Jefferson City in the mid-1890s and was appointed to serve in several state offices, including supervisor of the state building and loan program. Mr. Lee must have instilled a sense of public service into all of his children, as many served in some capacity in state government in the early 1900s, including daughters Mary and Lydia. Both worked as stenographers for the Attorney General’s office. Lydia went on to read law under Attorney General Edward Crow, and was admitted into the bar in 1906. Mary married August E. Priesmeyer, of Priesmeyer Shoe Company, in 1899. The Priesmeyer and Lee families shared a residence for a few years during the marriage. Priesmeyer died in 1908. During the marriage, Mary continued to work as a stenographer. She’s listed as Mary Priesmeyer, stenographer, in the 1904 Jefferson City directory. After her husband’s death, she took back her maiden name. Mary worked as a stenographer for Attorney General Herbert Hadley and continued that work during Hadley’s term as Governor. While a stenographer for Gov. Hadley, Lee played a key role in saving records from the Governor’s office during the 1911 fire that destroyed the Missouri State Capitol. An article from the Feb. 10, 1911 Shelbina Torchlight newspaper reported that, when the heavy upper part of the tower was falling away in sections, carrying fire clear to the lower floor . . . Miss Lee went into the governor’s office and directed the carrying out of important correspondence. After the fire, while sorting through scorched records and furniture stored in the old Supreme Court building, Lee discovered a needlepoint portrait of George Washington thought to be lost in the fire. The sampler, made by the very talented Clara Bingham (daughter of George Caleb Bingham) was presented to the state in 1859 and hung in the House chambers until 1911. It is now in the collection of the Missouri State Museum. Mary Lee moved to Kansas City in the early 1910s and worked as a stenographer and notary. Sometime after 1920 she married attorney Frank Blake. She may have known Blake from her time at the Attorney General’s office, as he served as attorney in that office and later for the Department of Insurance under Hadley. Mary died in January 1974 at the age of 95. She’s buried in Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence, Missouri. Thank you Mary Lee for your service to Missouri. Also a warm thanks to the Missouri Legislative Library for assistance researching Miss Lee. #ItsYOURHistory #Missouri2021 #MissouriBicentennial #MoBicentennial #MoTimeline #TimelineTuesday #MissouriStateCapitol #mocapitol Images: Illustration of the 1911 Capitol fire from the Missouri Bicentennial timeline in the museum’s history hall, by Dan Zettwoch. George Washington needlework portrait by Clara Bingham. Courtesy Missouri State Museum.

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More great gear from our Museum volunteers!

Today, newly promoted Assistant Chief Holee received his Chief's white fire helmet from Fire Chief Schofield. Congratulations AC Holee!

Members of the both the Jefferson City Police/Fire Jefferson City Fire Department departments as well as members of the MSHP Water Division are currently working at the Noren access recovering a submerged motor vehicle.

A-Shift got the opportunity to get out and enjoy the sunshine today and do a walk through the Phillip 66 Pipeline. This gave the newer guys on the department a chance to see what all is there and also gave the older guys a refresher to help better serve the community.