History of Ryland House
Ryland House, a jewel of Neoclassic Revival design, was built in late 1911 by Dr. Caius Tacitus (“CT”) Ryland (1874-1958), one of Lexington’s most beloved family doctors, and his wife, Betty Belle (1875-1963). The Rylands spent many happy years in their house, as evidenced by Betty’s handwritten notes that were found on the door of a kitchen cabinet.
In the early 1960’s, the house became the property of Helen and Marjorie Groves, retired school teachers. The Groves sisters were active in the Methodist church, the DAR, and in preservation projects around town. The house owes its pristine condition to the care the sisters lavished on it; perhaps also to the fact that neither set of owners had children!
In 1980, the Historic Neighborhoods section of Lexington, which includes Ryland House, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “Groves House”, a Neoclassic Revival home with a gabled roof and pedimented entry portico.
In 1999, Ryland house was purchased by the Hicklins; renovations were completed in 2001. Many Lexington residents carry the name Ryland in recognition of the doctor who brought them into this world. This includes the owner’s father, whose middle name was “Ryland” and was delivered by Dr. Ryland.
The house underwent renovation from 1999-2001. The home has two full bathrooms, both completely renovated, as well as four lovely guest rooms decorated in the delightful colors of Scandinavia. Guests may relax in front of the fireplace with a snack, or enjoy music on the side porch in mild weather.
History of Hicklin School - Early Schools
Very early in Missouri history, certain government owned lands were set aside for the exclusive use of rural primary schools. Early settlers rented these lands until land sales began in 1822. It was specified by law that at least one school should be started in each township as soon as practical and necessary. Rural schools built on these lands were “subscription schools”, the teacher being paid $1 per month for each student, and would receive his or her room and board among their families. It was purely a private enterprise, the teacher taking the risk of getting enough to pay for his time and the community at large providing a school house, which was also used for Sunday preaching and other public meetings of the neighborhood. Classes consisted of a few disciplines – reading, spelling, arithmetic – and writing was accomplished with a goose quill pen, with pokeberry juice for ink.
In 1876, a site for a Lafayette County rural school east of Lexington was purchased from Young Ewing Hicklin (b.1842 d.1912). Young was the son of James Hicklin (b. 1795 d. 1875), one of Lexington’s first settlers; James bought the land on which the Hicklin School stands in 1825. In 1877, a new one-room school building was finished at a cost of $379. The rural community that was served by School District No. 1 (later No. 11) named the building the Hicklin School. This was a one room building, with four windows on each side and a door in the south end. Double desks and seats were on either side of the classroom, with painted blackboards and a place for wraps. The windows were painted in order to keep the students focused on their studies.
In 1914, a “modern” Hicklin school, using a plan developed by the Felt architectural firm, was erected on the site of the original Hicklin School at a cost of $1,600. This was the second school to be erected on the present site. Continued...
Ryland House
1809 Main St.
Lexington, MO 64067
660-259-6955, Ryland House
678-637-3700, Reservations
Ryland Family History
Lexington’s Ryland family history as laid out in a book in our possession by Xenophon Ryland.
Copies of this book are available for $.10 per page.