Sunset Hills Historical Society Names 'Historian of the Year'

The Sunset Hills Historical Society honored the Historian of the Year—local author Sandie Smith Grassino—with an award Monday. The ceremony was held in the Sunset Hills City Hall chambers and was followed by a cake and soft drink reception.

Smith Grassino grew up on what was known as "Hunkler Hill," named for her great-grandfather’s Hunkler Feed Store. Begun in the 1880s, the feed store was located at Old Gravois Road in Sunset Hills, Mo., and is now owned by Friendship Village. She is the fifth generation still living on the same land as her family.

Smith Grassino was commissioned by Arcadia Publishing to co-author, along with Art Schuermann, Jefferson Barracks. She is currently working on Sunset Hills for the same publisher’s "Images of America" series.

Smith Grassino is a retired teacher from Northwest High School and had stories about growing up on Hunkler Hill and walking next door to buy penny candies.

“Winning this award has been an incredible and pleasant surprise,” said Smith Grassino. “I will appreciate this forever, and it is a highlight in my life.”

Smith Grassino discussed her work on the book, Jefferson Barracks, and her archival research on the upcoming Sunset Hills, coming out in May. 

Her love of history is apparent. She believes that we become who we are from every generation that came before us.

"We can’t know who we are until we know who we were, and therefore, who we will turn out to be,” she said.

“The purpose of the Sunset Hills Historical Society is to save the past for the future,” said Butch Thomas, president of the historical society. “The committee chose Sandie Smith Grassino as Historian of the Year for her historic research and dedication to that cause.” 

Former honorees of the Historian of the Year in Sunset Hills include Joyce Franklin, Ginny Schmitz and Pat Bessinger.

“Some of us were working at Jefferson Barracks (‘J.B.’) after World War II and it was fun. Seeing all those fellows, when they returned from the war … they hadn’t seen women or ice cream in a long time, and they really appreciated both,” Ginny Schmitz said.

The Jefferson Barracks book is available at Barnes and Noble and most local book stores for $21.99.

The next meeting of the Sunset Hills Historical Society will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at the Sunset Hills City Hall and feature a speaker on the history of Powder Valley Nature Center, and include a presentation of handmade quilts to World War II veterans who reside in Sunset Hills.