TUESDAY HISTORY - Cabool MO Part 2

I had some pictures I took of the Historical Society in Cabool last year but could never get  hold of anyone to let me inside. So I'm having to rely on everything from the internet so with that caviat, here we go.

Cabool (Missouri), located in Texas County, got it's name from Kabul Afghanistan in 1882. (Wikipedia)  Story goes that a construction engineer worked on the railroad there. He'd also worked on the railroad in Kabul and thought the area looked similar.

Another legend sites the name taken from Chief Kabul (Kay-Bull), who lived in the area. According to legend, Chief Kabul and his sweetheart dove off a cliff into the onyx pool because their parents did not approve of their union (Reminds me of a song) There was even a POEM written by Tug Wilson and Ben Durnell about the romantic legend.

Whatever the background of the name, Cabool is a quiet little town steeped in community.

Cabool Missouri is the only Cabool in the United States.

Here's a video of the song that came to mind.

BARTLETT - A Ghost of a Community

While my address says Birch Tree, MO I am 1/4 mile shy of the Birch Tree/ Winona line. My mail comes from Birch Tree but when we had a land line, we had a Winona extension. You have to wonder who does the platting. LOL

According to Wikipedia, Bartlett is an 'unincorporated' community in Shannon County. A post office was established in 1888 and operated until 1941. 

Information from The State of Missouri Historical Society website tells us Bartlett was a railroad flag station named after W. R. Bartlett, a stock holder/ promoter for the Frisco Railroad

FRISCO ROUTE MAP

If you click on the link above, you can enlarge the map to show where the line begins in Birch Tree but not in Bartlett. Bartlett does not even appear so I'm not sure of the age of the map.  I do know the railroad no longer runs in this area at all.

I live south of 'Old 60'. My county road shows places where there was once concrete  as opposed to the dirt/rock logging road most people think I live on.

I'll be doing more research to find out what I can about Bartlett. Why did the post office shut down in 1941? Did the closing have something to do with the newer Hwy 60? Hopefully, I can do some digging soon.

In the mean time, do you have an 'unincorporated' community where you live? Do you know it's history?  Please share.

~Country Blessings from the Ozarks

WEEKEND TRAVELS - Rymers Ranch

Can you tell Bob has gone back out on the boat? I'm here and have a post to share. I'm hoping to schedule several this week so I won't have lapses when he's home next month. Cross your fingers.

Now, how about a road trip?

A couple of weeks ago I decided I'd check out a place I've not visited since our move here. I've passed the sign for the turn off hundreds of times but never ventured down what seemed a harmless blacktop road. The Department of Conservation said said 6 miles. I have to tell you, that was the LONGEST six miles I've ever traveled... and still not reached my destination.

I don't know how much farther I had to go when I decided I'd had enough of this crazy one-lane logging road with an embankment on one side and a ravine to the other.. depending on which direction you were going. I did get lucky three different times. Once, going down, before I got to the the 'narrows', I met a Jeep Waggoneer coming my way with a canoe on the roof. I had just left the blacktop but the road hadn't become interesting... yet.

Later, after I'd turned around, I met with a smaller jeep but he must have known the road and how far he could hug the drop off. He stopped and motioned for me to pass.  About a mile farther, a woman in a 4-door sedan that didn't appear to have any business on this type of road.. and I use that term loosely, came barreling around a curve and I barely had time to hug the bank to let her pass... she giving me words as she went by. Seriously?

I'm also surprised to find very little information regarding Rymers Ranch on the Dept. of Conservation websites. The closest I came to was THIS article published in 2015.

I also found a bit of information a book, Civil War History of the Ozarks, I found at the Cabool Library.

The book describes Rymers Ranch as being located 'on the butte of Devel's Backbone (as spelled in the book) near the town of Birch Tree'.  Half way up the face of a 100 ft. perpendicular cliff some one made the signs and by nobody knows. The 'hollow' is known is Johnny Hollow, having gotten it's  name from an outlaw robber who was known only in the hills as Johnny. For months he had kept stolen cattle hidden in the canyon.

I can tell you I will NEVER travel this route to Rymers Ranch again. I want to check with the Ozarks Scenic Riverways headquarters in VanBuren MO to find if there is another route to what I'm told is a picturesque spot.

I'll keep you posted.

That book did provide a lot of cool information I'm going to continue to research and bring you here.  Bob and I have also been exploring eateries we find on our wanderings. I hope to add some of those to the blog as well.

HISTORY AND ATTRACTIONS - St. Louis - City Museum

I’ve been wanting to do history posts since this blog began. I just never seem to ‘get there’. As I sat here in the recliner, working on blog posts I decided this is the week to step up and start sharing information about the state I’ve chosen to call home.

This week, I want to take you to St. Louis.

The City of St. Louis was founded on February 15, 1764 when French explorers arrived in the late 17th century but their hold wouldn’t hold for long. Spain took over in 1763. Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau, recognizing the value of their location, started a trading company and established the settlement of St. Louis.

With its connection through the Ohio River to the east, the Mississippi to the south and north, and the Missouri to the west, St. Louis was ideally located to become the main base of inter-regional trade. In the 1840s, the city became a destination for massive immigration by Irish and Germans and the settlement grew exponentially.

While Missouri was a slave state, bordering free states made it the center hub for filing of ‘freedom suits’. Many slaves became free as a result.

Eads Bridge

Recreation and tourism began to grow following the Civil War. Not because of the post war rebuild (though the city only held a small skirmish on the outskirts) but due to pollution of the river as a result of the rebuild and expansion. During the 1870s, Eads Bridge was erected and several parks were established, including Forest Park. Eades Bridge holds the #1 spot on the National Historic Landmarks.

Today, the attractions continue to grow. The Gateway Arch is getting a face-lift and there is talk of renaming the park at its base. Aside from the arch and the zoo, there are a lot of top notch attractions including Forest Park, which hosted the 1904 Worlds Fair. Home of the infamous Clydsdales, you can tour the Budweiser facility or the Botanical Gardens. There are science and art museums and the Missouri History Museum.

But the City Museum ranks high on the list of places to visit.  For some of the best pictures, visit Kristy at Have Kids Will Travel. She is a great photographer and has multiple views of the museum on THIS post. City Museum is created mostly from repurposed materials such as the plane in the photo above. With a maze of tunnels inside and out, places to climb and explore, you could entertain the kids - and yourself - for hours from what I understand.

Until I get over my fear of traffic, I'll never visit this place personally, but if you do I'd love for you to share your experience with us by leaving a comment below. Take us with you when you go!

Plan that summer vacation now and enjoy quality family time exploring St. Louis Missouri

#SafeTravels

WEEKEND TRAVELS - Kansas History

Unlike a lot of people I've talked to, I really enjoy driving across Kansas. There is so much history there and a lot of the rural topography hasn't changed from the days of the Youngers and James gangs rode the hills. 

One of my brothers in law lives in the north central part of OK about 15 miles from the KS/ OK line. So the shortest route there is to cut north out of Joplin MO then west through the southern part of KS, including historic Baxter Springs and Coffeyville.

The pictures below were taken about 45 miles east of Arkansas City if I'm not mistaken. My husband is great about stopping so I can take pictures.

I dubbed this first one a Saloon. Looks like it may have been a store front a hundred years ago. When I'm going through on my own, I hope to do some history research. I love the decorative wood work and painting.

This next one has to date back quite aways as well. Notice the arched windows and the bunting. 

In the next picture I've zoomed in on the west entrance. Notice the arch beneath the porch. and what appears to be a trio of garage doors. The entrance is mirrored on the east end as you see in the above picture.

Architecture and old buildings fascinate me. If those walls could talk, the stories they'd tell.

Do you have any buildings that speak to you? If you can, link me up to where I can see pictures. I'd love to explore.

WEEKEND TRAVEL

I'm still trying to find a balance and get to everything. I'm finally making progress.

A couple weeks ago I took a drive... just to snap pictures. I started out Hwy 99 out of Birch Tree then to Hwy106 headed for West Plains. Just after you take the turn onto Hwy 106 there is a hill and when you look to the North (I think - I tend to get direction-ally challenged when I'm in the WP area.

Anyway. When you look across this guy's pasture, the world seems to go on forever.

I caught the attention of one of the many cattle grazing across the vastness. I love the look of curiosity on this cow's face.

I took the Hwy 17 junction and headed back for home. I was looking for a little country church I later realized is actually located out on Hwy 60 on the way to Poplar Bluff. LOL But I enjoyed the drive.

Along Hwy 17 I came upon an old farm. LOVED this place. The history that house and barn hold is enough to make this author drool with curiosity.

Someday, I want to research this place.

Who knows... someday I might be in your area. I'd love to hear your story.