Virginia Hall never considered herself an activist.

After working for several years at a manufacturing plant, a bank and as a substitute teacher, Hall decided to retire from the working world. She wanted to spend more time at her home near Powell in eastern McDonald County.

But Hall soon learned that being a housewife can often be a bit more exciting and interesting than she anticipated. And, because she has the time to devote to it, Hall is now the leading activist for a movement that is shaking the hills and hollows of the county.

It all began when her husband told her the county was going to tear down the old iron bridge near their home.

“When I heard that it almost broke my heart,” Hall said. “I just told myself they can’t tear it down.”

Because she lives near the bridge, it is a part of her everyday life, and she was convinced there were others who would be just as affected by the loss of the bridge as she.

So Hall went around the neighborhood and spoke to her neighbors. She found everyone was in complete agreement with her.

But just because they didn’t want to lose this near-100-year-old bridge, didn’t mean they wouldn’t lose it.

“I had never done anything like this before,” Hall said, “but I decided to write a letter to the editor. One of my neighbors had a picture of his grandchildren all out on that bridge with an American flag. He said I could use the picture if I wanted to.”

So, housewife-turned-activist Hall wrote her letter and took it and the picture to the local newspaper. When the letter and picture were published, the response was incredible.

People all over the county, and even people outside the state, began to rally around the bridge, and around its most prominent spokesperson—Virginia Hall.

Soon people in the Powell area got together and talked about the bridge. They decided to form a group to save the bridge. The result was the formation of the Powell Historic Preservation Society, and Virginia Hall was the natural choice for president. Everyone
in the group got to work, and Hall continued her efforts.

“I called everyone,” she said. “I called the county commission. I called Gov. Matt Blunt. I called the Missouri Department of Transportation. I call the state historic preservation office. I looked everywhere I could for help.”

All the while, petitions were passed around, seeking support for the bridge. Hundreds and hundreds of names were collected and delivered to the county commission.

The Preservation Society has now taken it upon themselves to raise money to maintain this historic bridge, pay for liability insurance, and, in general, be keepers of the bridge, which is one of the last iron bridges in the state.

“We have also promised that we will have it inspected annually to be sure it remains safe to use as a pedestrian bridge,” Hall said.

Other members of the group are working to have the bridge listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This job has fallen primarily on the shoulders of Beverly Prentice, a woman Hall calls her “co-partner” in this project. Prentice and Powell businessman Bob Brumley are working very closely with Hall.

“We have a really good group working on this,” Hall said. “I am so pleased with how the community has come together on this. The people of Powell are especially happy to work on this.”

Virginia Hall and every member of the Powell Historic Preservation Society are strongly supportive of this project. In what little spare time she does have, Hall is already dreaming about other related projects her group can accomplish once they have possession of the bridge and raise the money needed to take care of it.

The group has already received its non-profit status which will allow for tax deductible donations.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” Hall laughs, “but I’m loving it. And I think we can do it!”

This “can do” attitude certainly qualifies Virginia Hall for the title of Today’s Woman.