Sedalia, MO: The International Airstream Pre-Rally

Our Toyota/Airstream Rig

We departed from our home in North Texas Airstream Community on June 14 and headed north toward Sedalia, Missouri for the International Airstream Rally. It was cloudy with the threat of rain, so we turned on the CB weather station. Oh NO! The flat, computerized NOAA voice said “Threat of quarter sized hail and winds up to 60 mph between Exits 374 and 396. Take cover immediately.” Great timing! We were already there. At the next exit, we got off and headed back home. By the time we had arrived we could barely see the RV port attached to our house. Jerry backed in anyway in almost total darkness amidst a deluge of rain. Fortunately there was no hail. Our journey would be delayed until the next day.

Rural Missouri-Route 82

After a stormy false start, our trip to Missouri was uneventful. The weather was sunny and mild, and we stayed at a Wal-Mart the first night and on blue highways mostly. The fields were rolling, lush, and green through Oklahoma, a little piece of Kansas, on into Missouri. Myriad cattle seemed content as they waded into cool farm ponds along the way. There were also beautiful horses and an occasional Missouri mule.  Missouri is indeed a beautiful state, and there are many interesting tourist attractions we are planning to visit.

Wildflowers Were In Abundance

As early committee chairmen for the rally, it was Jerry’s task to set up the CB base station, while Gloria prepared to manage the three-day Bridge tournament. The CB Technician for our station was already at the rally site to erect the base station antenna. The faithful First Vice President of the CB Club was also present. We had a great radio signal that covered the entire rally site at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The station opened on June 20 to serve the early workers and especially the other committee chairmen who needed to make announcements. Over 200 early workers were present for the first church service held in an outside pavilion. 

John Homer Bothwell Lodge

We took time during the pre-rally to visit the John Homer Bothwell Lodge. JHB (1848-1928) was a prominent attorney who served in the Missouri State Legislature for many years. He was an avid reader. He also once owned a utility company in St. Louis.  He was one of Sedalia’s leading citizens and founded a big hotel and hospital here among many other achievements. Both the hospital and hotel are operative to this day. His influence helped locate the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia.  His wife died a little over two years into the marriage; he never remarried, nor did they have children. 


The castle-like mansion, located on a 200-foot bluff seven miles from town, served as temporary quarters to many friends and family members. They were expected to take their turns at stoking the furnace on chilly days. The mansion was built in four phases between 1897 and 1928; it would eventually have 30 rooms. It was located over three limestone caves to provide air conditioning. The system did not work particularly well. 

In the end, when Bothwell died in 1928, he left his beloved mansion to a group consisting of family and friends. The Will had specified that when only five of the group were alive, the lodge should be turned over to the State of Missouri. That occurred in 1969. Today, the furnishings are basically as Bothwell left them. The interior is interesting, but it could have profited from a woman's touch. It was difficult to get a good photo of the the elaborate front of the lodge, as it sits on a high bluff. It was late when we visited, and we lacked the enthusiasm to drive down to the main highway to get a telephoto shot.