When the Santa Fe Trail was established it came through the area about one-half mile to the south of the Hazel Hill settlement. The trail first headed south just outside Waverly and then turned west past the Kappleman-Niederjohn and Trent Farms on what is now called the Old Santa Fe Trail Road. Since the Santa Fe Trail was the major road into and out of the area the community decided to move the town south and a second Hazel Hill School was built just off the Santa Fe Trail.  The population of the area covered about 9 square miles reaching from the Missouri River on the north, to Salt Fork Creek on the south, and Rural Road 274 on the east to BB highway on the west. 

During the early settlement era, land sold for $2.00 an acre and people moved to the area in droves.  The first settlers came from the south bringing their slaves. Huge farms and plantations were established in the area with owners and slaves working the land. Hemp was the main crop grown in the area.

After the Civil War, slaveholders lost their land and European immigrants moved to the area. Hundreds of large families lived in the Hazel Hill area on smaller, more manageable farms.  In the late 1880’s, John B. Davies, who was Nina Jane (Kappleman) Niederjohn’s  great grandfather, had 9 children and gave some of his land to each child.  All of these farms were sold over the years except for the land that went to Nina Jane, which has been kept in the family to this day. 

The first school that was built after the  Hazel Hill settlement moved south  burned to the ground.  A second building replaced it, but became too small as the school population grew. It was replaced in 1870 with the third building. The site where this Hazel Hill School building still stands was given to the early school district (one-tenth of an acre) to be used as long as it was needed for a school.  A state regulation required no windows be located on the north or west sides. Later, a dug out basement was added for a coal furnace which was eventually changed to an oil furnace.  Drinking water was carried from the Steele’s or the Kappleman's residence.

Hazel Hill School records exist as far back as 1872 and enrollment was as high as 50-60 student.  The district financed a separate school for black children in Cuba and the enrollment records reflected both the Hazel Hill and Cuba students.

Just prior to the closing of Hazel Hill, a lunch program was started and a small kitchen was added.  Students and others in the community brought food to be cooked for lunches.  The school was eventually closed and kept for a community building. Funds to maintain the building were obtained by door-to-door solicitations. Community gatherings were held every Saturday night that included potluck suppers and dancing to fiddle players.

In 2003, the Hazel Hill School was donated to the Waverly Arts Council with the intent to preserve and restore the building. The plan is to move the school from it's current location to Waverly to function as a historical Welcome Center for the area. The Center will be used to house artifacts retrieved from the archeological digs conducted during the relocation of the Waverly Missouri River Bridge and historical artifacts of the Native American tribes that inhabited the region prior to the westward movement of settlers. In addition,  quilters, folk artist, performers, story tellers and other art forms will be invited to use the center for displays, exhibitions and performances.

 Additional information about Hazel Hill School and the relocation project can be obtained by emailing the Waverly Arts Council at waverlyarts@yahoo.com