Melvern Town History
Melvern’s story began in the 1860s, when the first settlers arrived in the area. The original townsite stood about a half mile northeast of Melvern’s present location, on a hill overlooking the river, and was known as Junction Hills. By the middle of 1870, residents realized the site was not well suited for growth because of the threat of river flooding. A new townsite was platted that same year, and Melvern was officially incorporated in 1884. The town was named for the Malvern Hills of Scotland, the birthplace of one founder’s parents. When the charter was returned, however, the name had been misspelled—and Melvern’s distinctive name became part of its history.
For many years, Melvern’s future was held back by one missing piece: the railroad. Without it, the town struggled through the 1870s. That changed in 1884, when the Kansas City and Emporia Railroad finally laid tracks through Melvern, opening the door to growth and opportunity. Soon, the area’s rich vein of exceptionally hard stone was being mined and shipped by rail, along with cattle, grain, and even clams gathered from the river. In the early 1900s, railroad crews hand-cut a lower rail bed and built an impressive steel bridge that still stands today over the double track, where more than 80 BNSF Railway trains now pass each day. The railroad also brought hardship: in 1970, a freight train derailed, causing two tanker cars to overturn and explode. Several people were seriously injured, and buildings near the track were destroyed by fire.
Through the decades, Melvern’s business district has reflected the energy and ambition of its people. In the late 1800s, the town supported four doctors, four lawyers, three general stores, four restaurants, three hotels, three drug stores, three livery stables, two hardware stores, a bank, an undertaker, a broom factory, and a newspaper. By the early 1920s, Melvern was also home to a cheese factory and a candy and popcorn factory that produced Jolly Time Popcorn.
Education has deep roots in Melvern. The first school was held in 1868 in a log cabin near the river, just north of the present school. Two years later, the community built a schoolhouse from heavy timbers and stone quarried nearby. More than a place for lessons, it became a gathering place for the town, hosting meetings during the week and church services for several denominations on Sundays. Today, that historic schoolhouse lives on as a private residence.
Community life has long been strengthened by the many organizations that brought neighbors together. Over the years, groups such as Eastern Star, Job’s Daughters, the Grange, Jaycees, Jaycee Jaynes, Lions Club, I.O.O.F., Rebekahs, Woodmen, Royal Neighbors, and Priscilla all played a role in Melvern’s civic and social life. More recently, Tequa Aid and Entre Nous have also disbanded, but their contributions remain part of the town’s story.
Melvern’s landscape changed again in 1974, when the United States Army Corps of Engineers built a mile-long earthen dam four miles west of town, creating Melvern Lake. The lake helped reduce flooding in the river basin below and became one of the area’s most recognizable features. Just a few miles north of the lake, scenes from the Hallmark movie series Sarah, Plain and Tall were filmed, adding another memorable chapter to the area’s history.
Today, Melvern remains rooted in the generations of working-class families who shaped it. Farming, resilience, and Midwestern values continue to define the community. With a strong sense of history and a shared commitment to the future, Melvern looks ahead while honoring the people, places, and traditions that made it what it is today.
