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Theron Bennett Home


category : Famous Homes
Theron Bennett Home

Theron Bennett, nationally known ragtime composer, lived in Pierce City until returning from college 1902 when he left to begin a career where his unseen future would become the past that we can now recall as his successful contribution to the music world. Satisfied, Pork and Beans, Some Blues, and St. Louis Tickle are but a few of the early rags composed between 1909 and 1916.


Theron's father came to Pierce City in 1874 according to Lawrence County history:



"It is everywhere acknowledged that keen perception, sound judgment and a determined will, supported by continuous effort,
will surely result in success, and the mercantile experience of Mr. Bennett, in Peirce City, fully bears out the truth of this
statement, for he is numbered among the substantial business men and enterprising citizens of the town. It was in 1874 that he
came to Peirce City and engaged in the drug business, and his reputation in his line of business is second to none in Southwest
Missouri.....he is the father of one son, Theron, jazz and rag-time composer and musician."



From "A Reprint of Goodspeed's 1888 History of Lawrence County; Reprint Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed's

Newton, Lawrence, Barry And McDonald Counties History; published by the Goodspeed Publishing Co., in 1888; Reprinted

by Litho Printers Of Cassville, Missouri In 1973." as transcribed by JJR.



Address: Walnut and Washington Streets

Come visit us in Pierce City, Missouri

Attractions and Upcoming Events

1886 Firehouse

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the old City Hall and Firehouse was built in 1886 and houses two vintage fire trucks from overseas. This building is privately owned.

Pierce City, MO Historic Buildings

Military Memorials

For those interested in military machinery, the following memorials can be seen on a short day trip to the following cites around the Pierce City area.

Pierce City, MO - M4 Sherman Tank

Cassville, MO - M60A3 Main Battle Tank

Purdy, MO - A-4 Skyhawk Fighter-bomber

Pierce City, MO Memorials

South Park (aka PC Park or Bluff-side City Park)

Since the 1890s the City Park has been a center for summer band concerts and gala affairs. An island in the lake held a platform for band concerts in the 1890

Pierce City, MO Recreation

St. Patrick's Church

Catholicism in Peirce City is as old as the town itself when in 1870 the Frisco railroad laid the first tracks through here going west to Kansas. Many of the railroaders were Irish Catholics.

Pierce City, MO Historic Churches

1922 Bandstand

The bandstand was damaged in the May 4, 2003, tornado but the base still stands in its original location on Walnut Street. The historic bandstand was rebuilt with a red roof (its original color) and rededicated in May 2004.

Pierce City, MO Historic Downtowns

Things to do Famous Homes near Pierce City, MO