The meteor crater deposits in the Decaturville area were once the center of attention for many Camden County residents.

The village of Decaturville, situated south of Camdenton on Route 5, was founded in 1854 when James (John) Farmer opened his general store and residence in a log building.

Eventually, there would be a blacksmith shop, drug store, barber, a grist mill and a doctor.

Decaturville's post office was opened in 1860. It closed in 1960. A Methodist (now Baptist) church was built in 1895 and the Woodman Hall was built nearby in 1899 by local Decaturville men.

The meteor crater deposits in the Decaturville area were once the center of attention for many Camden County residents.

Several years ago, tucked away in a far corner of the Camden County Museum, the original narrative of the 1961 radio broadcast by native Camden County citizen, H.B. Hart was discovered.

What follows here is the promotional flyer advertising the broadcast. 'HEAR IT, HEAR IT, December 31, 1961, K.R.M.S., Sunday, December 31st, 12:30 P.M., Dial 1150. The secret of a great discovery to be revealed for the first time over K.R.M.S. A New Year's gift to our Ozarks, millions may be spent, several plants to go up.

'It took seven years hard work and over $300,000 spent before this discovery was made. A discovery which may prove the one important factor to our nation's survival against the Communists. Businessmen, teachers, ministers, all professions, certainly should hear this message.

'You will be amazed. Something new to think about, read about, part of which will not be found in any of our libraries. Camden and Laclede counties have made new history for our North American continent.

The radio show was quite lengthy and included song recordings throughout the narrative. The narrative in its entirety is available at the Camden County Museum.

The following is a part of the narrative from the 1961 radio show by Mr. Hart:

'I personally entered into this search in January 1926.

'From outer space there came a great nickel-iron meteor traveling at least 40 miles per second from the northeast to southwest at an angle of near 45 degrees. This large meteor with its terrific speed and tremendous impact struck what was formerly known as the Wheeler property.

'We estimate the size of the meteor at possibly 400 feet in diameter and its weight at more than 5 million tons. It struck with such force that the impact was driven into the earth probably 6,000 to 7,000 feet deep and then a terrific explosion resulted. The surface of the earth at the time of the impact must have been 1,500 feet higher than it is today.

'The force produced by this explosion was many times greater than that of our atomic bombs today. The earth was first driven down several thousand feet and then blown out.

'A crater was formed, the rim 2,000 feet in diameter, and a hole was left inside 1,000 feet deep or more the rock layers even in the granite were lifted up and curled back as though they were small pieces of tin.

The diameter of the outer shock wave rim is 8,520 feet. The diameter of the brecciaed powdered core inside is about 1,000 feet.

'The diameter of the disturbed broken area is 20,460 feet in an almost perfect circle. Approximately, 3 1/2 miles across. Some of the scientists seemed to think this mass may go to 6,000 feet depth.

'The terrific impact, the extreme heat, and explosion of the Decaturville meteor may have formed and made other high pressure minerals. We have found a quantity of large sheets of silica glass and some sponge glass. We have here at Decaturville one mineral that requires 3,500 degrees centigrade to boil and it takes 1,710 degrees centigrade to melt. This is the highest melting point of any mineral found to date.

'The discovery of the meteor crater at Decaturville should bring to central Missouri a tremendous lot of business. This is my closing statement. I want it definitely understood regardless of how much wealth me and my family may realize from this great find at least 75 percent of this wealth will be immediately put into use for my many hundreds of friends and my people. It will go for churches, services, to educate children, the orphanages, hospitals, and to aid the sick and inform.'

The mineral deposits were not plentiful enough to make the business venture worthwhile.

The crater rim is still visible. Even though the historical evidence has almost vanished from the village of Decaturville, the importance of its heritage lives on.