Athens in Clark County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Benning House

Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 10, 2020

1. The Benning House Marker

Inscription. Arthur Thome, an immigrant from Kentucky, built this house in 1853. Joseph Benning acquired it in 1858.

A cannonball fired from the artillery of the pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard hit the house during the Aug. 5, 1861 Battle of Athens.

J.M. Hiller, local merchant and soldier in the Union Home Guard, commented on the marksmanship of the artillerymen: "…they had a fine chance at us but owing to the unskillfulness of the gunners or some other cause their cannons failed to kill or cripple a single man."

The hole beside the kitchen door is where a cannonball hit this house, went through the kitchen and out the other wall - harming no one.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is August 5, 1861.

Location. 40° 35.161′ N, 91° 41.76′ W. Marker is in Athens, Missouri, in Clark County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of County Road CC and County Road 81. Marker is on the grounds of Battle of Athens State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12212 County Rd 81, Revere MO 63465, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Northeast Missouri Home Guard Defends the Union (within shouting distance of this marker); Athens Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); Aftermath of the Battle

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(within shouting distance of this marker); The Athens General Store (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Businesses in Athens, circa 1853-1860 (about 400 feet away); Athens and Missouri - a Town and State Divided by Civil War (about 400 feet away); Missouri State Guard Defends Southern Rights (about 500 feet away); Battle of Athens (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Also see . . . Thome-Benning House. From the Missouri State Parks website, this gives information on tours at the Benning House, also known as the Cannonball house (Submitted on May 11, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 10, 2020

2. The Benning House Marker

Next to the Benning House

Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 343 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 11, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.