“School Moms Building”

Museum/Gallery Building

(Old Seymour Public Library)

Located ½ Block West From The N. W. Corner Of The City Square

Days & Hours Of Operation:

Friday, Noon to 4 p.m.

Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Large Tours Welcome Call For Appointment

History of the ‘School Moms’ Building

The building was constructed in 1926 by John Rupe as a place for women school teachers to live. However, for some unknown reason, if never was used for that purpose. The School Moms Building also was known as the “Rock Castle.” History reveals very little about how the building was used, except that various families lived in the building from 1938 to 1944. In 1946, the newly created Seymour Public Library Board met with the aldermen to see if the “Rock Castle” could be purchased for joint use as Seymour City Hall and the Seymour Public Library. City offices were on the top floor of the building and the lower floor hazed the library.

Seymour City Hall was moved to a new facility, and the library remained at its West Market Street Location until 1998, when it was moved to the current location on Clinton Avenue (Business 60), when a new $325,000 facility was built through a community-wide effort. The building again began to deteriorate until a restoration project between the city and the Greater Seymour Area Foundation was started in 2006. The School Mom’s Building certainly has been a part of Seymour’s history… now it will serve the future.

The first floor of the building is a gallery and historic museum of the Seymour area, a facility for the Seymour Area Arts Council’s annual art and antique shows, as well as various arts-related activities. The second floor now houses offices for the Greater Seymour Area Foundation, the Seymour Area Arts Council and the Greater Seymour Area Chamber of Commerce. A conference room also is located on the second floor. Future plans, as funding becomes available, includes glass display cases for items of significant value, a private enclosed garden court area behind the museum, window shades to protect art and pictures on display, as well as various other facility amenities.

We hope you are pleased with the restoration project and plans for further improvement.

How You Can Help:

The Seymour Area Arts Council is not-for-profit corporation and has received a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt letter from the Internal Revenue Service. Your tax-deductible donation would be appreciated to help complete the project.

Thank You

The City Of Seymour

The Greater Seymour Area Foundation

The Seymour Area Arts Council

P.O. Box 215

Seymour, Mo 65746