EMINENCE MISSOURII some times wonder why we spend so much money and gas to travel to far away places. Right here in Missouri less than 100 miles from St Louis we have beautiful springs, rivers, and miles of Ozark mountain roads.
The first photo is of the old mill at Alley Springs. Alley Springs is located on the Jack's Fork river about six miles from Eminence MO with a population slightly over 200 people. The population is about the same as when I was ten or else they have not changed the sign.
The next spring is located off of the highway and is called Blue Springs. This spring is the bluest color of any body of water that I personally have seen. In addition the spring is relatively small yet extremely deep. The depth of the water is in excess of one hundred feet and the water is very cold. Tourist have not yet found this spring in any great numbers.The
next photo is located in the town of Van Burma MO. About twenty five miles from Eminence by road but less distance if you are traveling in a canoe on the Current river. Van Buren boasts that Big Springs is the largest spring in the world. The daily water flow is 643,000,000 gallons of water.The last photo is the first spring you would see if you are traveling south on Highway 19 toward Eminence
Round Springs is beautiful but gentle as you really do not see the water flowing up or out. Round Springs probably covers the largest land mass of the four springs. I first saw Eminence and the springs when I was ten and traveled by Traiways bus with my grandparents from St Louis.
I have many memories of that trip and I will list a few for you.
*** I spent over a week living on what I would call an Ozark rolling hills farm with a cabin and family right out of depression movies. They were relatives of my grandparents.
*** I swam in the nude with boys and girls in a creek with all families present and it appeared to be a common event.[no one was older than ten or eleven]
*** I used outdoor toilet for the first time in my life
*** I ate our main meal each day at noon time.
*** Refridgeration was in the on property spring fed creek.
*** I can still taste how very cold the milk was no matter how hot the outdoor temperature.
*** I purchased a pair of above the ankle work boots to wear to school from the local general store.[ in St Louis we called them boondockers at the time] I was the envy of my city school friends.
*** I saw all of the springs except For Big Springs as we had to hire a driver and car as my grandfather did not own a car.
*** I saved the big one for last. The sheriff evacuated us from the farm we were staying as there was a family that was murdered and the killer was still on the loose. I experienced an actual man hunt by the sheriff, deputies, and a sworn in posse like in the movies. On Friday of that week I attended my one and only mass funeral. I believe it was a family of four but It could have been more. My last experience was witnessing men in front of everyone begin to shovel dirt on the caskets. I can still hear the sound of the dirt hitting the metal.
This trip my first ever was in the summer of 1948 and since then I have been back to Eminence many times. Even thought I am a city boy I continually feel the beauty, quietness and my family heritage pulling me back to Eminence.
Eminence is the county seat of Shannon county and my mothers first name was Shannon. Hmmmm
4 comments:
Nancy probably remembers the outhouse at Grandma and Grandpa's on their farm in Bessie. Bessie is located in the Kentucky bend of the Mississippi River. Grandpa lost land each year due to erosion caused by the river. Bill
Loved your pictures Ed! My family used to stay at a place called "Cardinal Acres" for our early vacations which was on the Jacks Fork river above Alley Spring. They had long wooden John Boats there that were used to fish the river. In later years, we camped out on the river just above Eminence at a campground across from "Button Rock". In those years dad had a 17 foot Grumman Aluminum canoe that we used to float the Jacks Fork. When we floated past Alley Spring I remember who the river would divide into 2 thermal currents with the coldest water at the bottom of the river. It would take several miles for the river to mix the two temperate levels together. Sue and I went down to their the year we were married in 1973. I still remember her first experience riding in the front of the canoe as we past Alley Spring and took the first rapids there. I thought she was going to jump out of the canoe! I agree with you that those are wonderful areas to explore.
You have done it now. Alas another place in my long lists to visit.
Don't forget about Thursday. I'll try and give you the ticket tomorrow night.
Ed, I'll give you a call tomorrow morning about the game. Had to work late and am bushed. Sorry I wasn't able to get the ticket to Nancy.
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