The White House is the former home of Veda M. White, lifelong resident of Marceline. Ms. White was born February 1939 to Andrew and Mary Alice (Passig) White.
She lived most of her childhood and early adulthood on her parent’s land, which is now commonly known as the M Hill. Her parents sold property to Marceline School district for the development of the school and stadium.
In 1978, Ms. White, along with her mother, purchased the property on 220 E. Howell and she lived there until her passing in January 2024.
Ms. White never married and never had children. She had twin siblings that died in infancy. Ms. White loved the Marceline community passionately and took great interest in local events and endeavors. She was an avid sports fan of the Marceline Tigers, collegiate, and professional sports.
Murray’s Department Store was established in 1898 by Mr. C. U. Murray. It was highly regarded as one of the leading mercantile establishments on Main Street and provided a large assortment of clothing, shoes, dry goods, hats, fabric, and other essentials for both ladies and gents in the early days of Marceline.
Ms. Veda White began working for Mr. C. U. Murray in 1957. In 1980, Ms. White purchased Murray’s Department Store and was the sole proprietor until her retirement in 2007.
Though the merchandise in Murray’s changed with the times, the integrity and impeccable service provided by a small main street business remained steadfast. Many, many people bought work clothes, quality boots, letterjackets, Tiger apparel, and other items on a regular basis. Ms. White, as did Mr. Murray, treated every customer with respect, kindness, generosity, and service.
The White House has been established to provide historical memorabilia from Murray’s Department Store and the early, yet impactful years of Walt Disney as a young boy in a small town.
The 1955 mid century home has been remodeled to provide modern amenities and conveniences, while maintaining the vintage charm. Many of the furnishings, accent pieces, and decorations reflect the vast history of Murray’s Department Store and the magical inspiration behind Walt Disney and Main Street USA. The home might just feel like you stepped into your Grandma's house, complete with a wooden rocking chair; and that is exactly our goal. To make you feel at home and enjoy life's simple pleasures.
We hope you enjoy your small town stay and take a step back in time when life was simpler and moved at a slower pace.
We believe in the value of small towns and the people who were part of their rich history. Preserving history, building connections, and supporting local community endeavors provides an avenue for new generations. As times change, we are committed to providing the same inherent values offered by Mr. C. U. Murray and Ms. Veda White: integrity, kindness, generosity, and respect. Our goal is to preserve a sense of historical tradition while building a thriving, forward thinking community.