New playground equipment dedicated at Ann Dorsey Hodgdon Park in Hannibal

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Ann Dorsey Hodgdon Park, long a part of the neighborhood at Rock and Section Streets, unveiled new playground equipment at the park on Monday with the help of Girl Scout Troop 9012.

After seeking more playgrounds in Hannibal since flooding had closed Kiwanis Park playground in 2019, the Girl Scouts were given the chance to help choose the equipment and color scheme for an existing park. The chosen colors of blue and gray were seen in the slides, climbing wall, dome climber, spinning seats and fish-shaped tunnel.

At the opening of the park, Joel Booth, vice president at Farmers and Merchants Bank and Trust, shared the historic contributions made by Ann Dorsey Hodgdon.

Hodgdon was born in Hannibal and graduated from Hannibal High School in 1927 before females were allowed to take part in sports. While attending Belmont College in Nashville, Tenn., she developed a love for physical activity through intramural sports. She petitioned the student council requesting that all students receive regular physical education as a balanced curriculum. She requested proper facilities be made available to every student.

Upon graduation from Ward-Belmont with her bachelors of arts degree, she attended Washington
University in St. Louis, Mo., earning a master’s degree specializing in personnel work. She began work at the unemployment compensation commission in Jefferson City and in Hannibal during the height of the Great Depression. She was promoted to a junior claims deputy in St. Louis and named as one of only two women among the first 10 persons appointed as junior claims deputies following merit examinations.

She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corp in 1942. She was among its first members and passed the necessary academic and physical testing with flying colors. Hodgdon began her formal employment in 1949 at Farmer and Merchants Bank (now F&M Bank and Trust Co.) and worked in many different roles until her retirement in 1962. She became a director of the bank, making her only the second woman to serve on the board of directors at the bank. Hodgdon served on the board until her death in 1974.

Upon her death, sizeable gifts in her name were given to Levering Hospital, Hannibal Public Library and Trinity Episcopal Church. She also donated $60,000 to the city of Hannibal for the development of four neighborhood parks or play lots, one in each quadrant of the city.

“I think we can all agree she was a remarkable woman who deserves to be remembered,” Booth said in a press release.