While I respect Terrell Dempsey's work, I do not think that he presents a fair assessment of the state of things in Hannibal--perhaps accurate in regard to the condition of Grant's Drugstore. I am originally from Hannibal The buildings is in bad shape. 

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On Jun 11, 2012, at 6:54 PM, Vicki Dempsey <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I have been contacted privately by many of you for insights into the  
> current state of things in Hannibal, but today's experience draws me  
> out of my self-imposed exile from the Twain world.  I had a visit from  
> a lovely former foreign exchange student from Brazil.  She wanted her  
> husband to see the Hannibal sights.  For the first time in years I  
> went through the museum.  I am shocked to report to you that the  
> foundation and board have allowed the Pilaster House/Grant's Drug  
> Store to decay horribly.  It is even more appalling that the site was  
> on the states Most Endangered Property list in 2009 -- and yet nothing  
> has been done.  For those of you who do not know, the Pilaster House  
> is where the Clemens family was renting rooms after John M. Clemens  
> filed bankruptcy.  It is where he died.  This is the last place Sam  
> lived and enjoyed the free childhood he celebrated in Tom Sawyer.   
> Shortly after he entered the world of work as an apprentice.
>            This building is one of only two real structures related to  
> Sam Clemens that the organization supposedly cares for.  It breaks my  
> heart that while building a faux "Huck Finn" house and dolling up an  
> old pizza parlor and store building as museums they allowed an actual  
> historic structure that is essential to the development of Sam to  
> rot.  I will try to take some photographs on Wednesday to post on my   
> facebook page and give you all my address.  I wish I were  
> exaggerating, but there is no hyperbole here.
>            I don't know what is wrong with Hannibal.  I have been  
> thinking about it for a long time.  I know many of the people on the  
> board.  They are not bad people.  But they assuredly are not  
> historians or preservationists.   It makes me terribly sad.
>    I know they are going to say they don't have money.  The reason is  
> that they spent their money on silly things.
> 
> Terrell Dempsey 
>