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Huntsville, Missouri: Large Ball of String

Prize possession of the Huntsville Historical Society, a ball of string maybe six feet across sits in a back room of its downtown museum.

Address:
107 N. Main St., Huntsville, MO
Directions:
Huntsville Historical Museum. Downtown, one block north of the courthouse, fourth building on the left (west) side of N. Main St.
Hours:
May-Oct. Sa-Su 2-4. Closed M-F. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
660-651-6915
Admission:
Free
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
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Visitor Tips and News About Large Ball of String

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Large Ball of String

Only open 2-4pm on Saturday and Sunday. [John Constant, 06/20/2022]
Large Ball of String

As a kid I delivered newspapers for Terrill Mayo, which came from Moberly bundled in twine. I was there when Terrill began his ball of string by wrapping it around, I think, a marble. As it got larger and larger, he finally built a frame and a wrapping machine: the ball of string sat on some rollers that were turned by a foot-peddle-operated electric motor. Terrill would tie each piece of string to the end and start the rollers, guiding the ball so the string wrapped evenly. This was at Terrill's office at his garage on N. Main Street, just north of Tom Patton's home and the Methodist Church.

[Bill Sears, 07/05/2016]

String ball.

Large Ball of String

Here's a photo of a huge ball of string/twine at the Huntsville Historical Museum.

[Craig Tate, 10/24/2013]

We've known about this big ball for years, but its origins remains elusive (Tipsters: any info?). It looks almost as big as the giant string ball in Weston, also in Missouri.

Large Ball of String

At the Huntsville Historical Society, like the one in Weston, Missouri, a huge string ball, not quite as big, but an impressive 7 or 8 ft round. The ball of string is in the back room of a really neat local collection of city archives, which includes a uniform from the War of 1812. Right next door is quaint little tea room with collectibles and antiques for sale and display. The Museum is only open on weekends for a few hours.

This is only about 120 miles from Weston -- maybe something in the water up there.

[Craig Tate, 08/05/2010]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Gator Chasing GrasshoppersGator Chasing Grasshoppers, Salisbury, MO - 14 mi.
Budweiser Clydesdales RanchBudweiser Clydesdales Ranch, Boonville, MO - 34 mi.
Former World's Largest PecanFormer World's Largest Pecan, Brunswick, MO - 31 mi.
In the region:
Nicholas Beazley Aviation Museum, Marshall, MO - 42 mi.

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