CBM inducted in to Hall of Carthage Heroes.
Caryl MacMorran
Preservationist
Caryl Belle MacMorran, daughter of Robert and Helen McClelland, was born in Chicago, IL on June 24, 1924. Caryl attended DePauw University in Indiana, and later studied art at what is now Missouri Southern State University. She married Robert D. MacMorran in 1944 and moved to Carthage in 1961. Throughout her 57 years in Carthage, Caryl was very involved in the architectural preservation of the “historic wonders around Carthage” as she lovingly called the many historic buildings in the community.
With the support of then Mayor Ray Carter, Caryl was a founding member of Carthage Historic Preservation, Inc. (CHP) in 1979, along with fellow Carthage Hero Bill Haughawout. They traveled to other historic communities to develop preservation plans for Carthage and invited experts to Carthage to share their knowledge. Caryl served as the first Coordinator for CHP, spending countless hours taking pictures and preparing extensive applications to successfully nominate 600+ properties in 3 districts in Carthage – Cassill Place District, Courthouse Square District and South Residential District – for the National Register. In addition to preserving the charm of Carthage, Caryl recognized the importance of historic preservation for the community’s economic development and heritage tourism.
Over the years, Caryl planned luncheons, workshops, educational meetings, programs for youth, house tours, walking tours, teas, calendars, and letter writing campaigns to raise awareness and funding for historic preservation in Carthage. As a board member of CHP, she helped facilitate the 1988 purchase of the Historic Phelps House, one of Carthage’s grandest homes and landmarks. Caryl wrote grants for preservation, helped bring experts to Carthage for preservation surveying, and even got hands on with several restorations of historic buildings in Carthage.
Caryl served on the board of CHP until 2010, and was also a member of Grace Episcopal Church and the Carthage Devotees Music Club. She was a board member of Spiva Center for the Arts and active with the Missouri Southern State University International Piano Competition. Caryl received a Citation of Appreciation from the American Businesswomen’s Association in 1980. In 2003, she was awarded the prestigious McReynolds Award by the Missouri House of Representatives in recognition of two decades of working to preserve Missouri’s heritage and historic treasures.
Caryl had 5 children, 7 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and countless friends who are grateful she made historic Carthage her home. She died on April 2, 2018 and is buried in Park Cemetery.
MacMorran honored for her continuing
dedication to historic preservation
Saturday, April 5, 2003 Posted: 9:53 AM EST (1453 GMT)
Caryl MacMorran holds the McReynolds Award presentee to her for her dedication to preserving Missouri's heritage and historic resources. She has been working at The Historic Phelps House
for over two decades.
BY STACY RECTOR OF THE PRESS STAFF 26 February, 2003. The Capital Rotunda, Jefferson City, Missouri
Caryl MacMorran has spent more than two decades working to preserve the historic William H. Phelps House.It's only fitting that she be honored for her hard work and dedication, as she received the Missouri Preservation McReynolds Award at a special ceremony on Feb. 26 in Jefferson City. State Senator Gary Nodler presented the award. As a founding member Carthage Historic Preservation, she helped to establish three historic districts, restore two buildings on the square, and bring the Mainstreet program to Carthage. Under MacMorran's guidance, the Phelps House, a landmark recognized as the grandest house ever built in Carthage, the historic home now has beautifully landscaped grounds and the interior has been preserved and is open to the ptiblic. Currently, MacMorran and the preservation group are holding a capital fund drive to secure the future maintenance of the Phelps House. The Carthage Historic Preservation Association offers tours of The Phelps House, built in 1890 out of Carthage stone, and makes the house available for a number of community activities.
Honor recognizes outstanding citizenship
Saturday, April 5, 2003 Posted: 9:53 AM EST (1453 GMT)OUR VIEW The Carthage Press
It is wonderful to see Caryl MacMorran finally receiving statewide recognition for the amazing contributions she has made to the preservation of the Carthage heritage and thereby the Missouri heritage. State Sen. Gary Nodler made the presentation of the McReynolds Award for Missouri Preservation at the state capitol in Jefferson City, specifically recognizing her successful leadership in the campaign to restore and preserve Historic Phelps House.
It is fitting that the award itself bears a Carthage name, indicative of the fact Carthage has through several generations been a leading community in statewide preservation work.
While it is true that a considerable number of other Carthage and area citizens were involved enthusiastically in saving Phelps House and preparing it for ongoing use of public significance, it was Caryl who became the recognizable leader of that as well as a lengthy list of other local preservation efforts." She also was a significant leader in efforts that led to reclamation and preservation of several other important historical buildings here, in the adoption of a historic preservation ordinance designed to protect such structures, in development of the Main Street pro-gram, in designation of three historic districts in the city, in the campaign that led to establishment of Battle of Carthage State Park. Much of this was accomplished through the deter-mined efforts of Carthage Historic Preservation Inc. and with the support of a broad cross section of com-munity society.
But in particular it was Caryl who provided the constant attention, the energetic persuasion that drew others to the cause and in many instances did the tedious hands-on labor of seeking and diligently examining old records, tracing fading footprints of the past and making certain that justification for proposed preservation could be provided.
Thanks to all the local and state officials involved for granting her long overdue recognition.
Her example surely will inspire others through the generations to come to deal graciously with the wondrous heritage provided for us by those who built and developed this marvelous Victorian community.
All of us can join her in the effort by making contributions to CHP for continuing maintenance of Phelps House and offering our support for other preservation efforts.