The Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival

[Elspode]

Indeed, Sedalia is quite rife with interesting architectural tidbits, not the least of which being this church, where the extremely interesting and informative symposia about Joplin, ragtime and the sociological period in which they prospered are delivered (the more keen eyed among you will note that the cornerstone to this church was laid in 1880).

[Elspode]

There is the Hotel Bothwell, once a mecca to railroad and lumber barons at the turn of the century, and which now apparently has a good place to get coffee...

[Elspode]

There are other structures contemporaneous with the Methodist church; structures equally ancient, equally unique...and just as abandoned as the storefronts opposite the old Maple Leaf site.

[Elspode]

Indeed, architectural artifacts of interest are everywhere in this small, courthouse square area. In some ways, the search for these was almost as entertaining as the festival itself.

[Elspode]

Aging limestone, in some cases worn beyond restoration, the fading product of the craftsmens' hands, the withering visages of a nearly lost art.

[Elspode]

In the end, though, we were there for the music...chicken-hatted percussionist and all.

The last picture is a brass reproduction of the first printing of The Maple Leaf Rag...the first piece of music composed by an African American for which a publishing contract was signed and royalties paid. When next you watch "The Sting" on late night television, take a moment and thank Marvin Hamlisch for helping to keep the genius of Scott Joplin alive, and the joyous sound of ragtime in the American consciousness.