To this situation, I found a simple answer for this weekend; it is called the “Pioneer Descendants Gathering,” hosted by Dale & Betty Thomas. Simply put, this is one of the best kept secrets of the Ozarks. This couple has provided this venue, free of charge, for the past ten years on their farm on Bryant Creek. That’s right; exhibitors and participants have been coming here the first weekend in October, at no charge, for the last 10 years because of Dale & Betty’s love of what they treasure from our Ozark’s past. This gatherings not thrown together haphazardly. All exhibits, demonstrations, and animals must be approved by the Dale & Betty; everything has a purpose in teaching & retaining past Ozark customs & traditions. This event is also promoted by many of the descendants of Tom Brown and John Burden.
On my trip from Arkansas, I drove down one of
the many scenic highways in Ozark & Douglas Counties. One such highway is 95. This road snakes through
a beautiful hardwood & pine forest, passing nearby old Rockbridge, Missouri.
Then, I took Highway 14 and headed west after I made it to Gentryville. There
is no way to arrive at the Pioneer Descendants Gathering there by accident; it
must be found on purpose. In looking back at its’ placement in the wilderness,
I believe this is just one element in keeping the genuine uniqueness of this
event.
Double Click on Pictures to Enlarge.
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| Highway 95. |
If one is traveling from Ava, Missouri, it is
18 miles East on Hwy. 14 to County Road 341, and then follow the signs. If traveling
from Mountain Grove, Missouri, take Hwy. 95 South to Gentryville, Missouri,
turn right on Hwy 14, drive West 4 miles to County Road 341, and follow the
signs to the “Edge of the World.”
At the beginning of County Road 34, there are 2 signs:"Pioneer Descendants Gathering" &"Yates Cemetery 3.7 Miles."
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| County Road 341. |
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The Hill Before the Great Descent.
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| “Check Brakes…End of the World.” |
Near the bottom of the hill is the Yates Cemetery
before passing by Dale & Betty’s House. After arriving at the bottom of the world and
parking, everybody has a chance to contribute in helping Dale & Betty to
continue this annual event. There is no pressure in compelling people to
give. But after seeing & meeting
people and connecting with our past, why wouldn’t someone give to an endeavor
like this?
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| Donations. |
I have been to town square celebrations and
amusement parks that had portions of this venue, but there is no comparison to
what can be experienced at this event. Additionally, these re-enactors have
connections to the Ozarks which fall into the following categories: American
Indian, Mountain Men, Territorial, Civil War, Ozark Pioneer, Spanish American
War, and World War I. Before anyone asks why Spanish American War and World War
I re-enactors are at the Pioneer Descendants Gathering, we had young men from
the Ozarks who fought and died in these wars. I have a total of 3 great uncles
& 4 great, great uncles, respectively, who lived through these wars and
came back to the Ozarks. It is all these eras and events that make the tapestry
of the Ozarks.
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| WWI |
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| Re-enactors and vendors camp overnight modeling their respective time era with their accoutrements in tow. |
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| Ozark Cooking. |
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A Partial View of One Side of the Camp.
|
As I walked into the encampment, I was greeted
by Betty Thomas selling raffle tickets for a quilt. She was stationed at the
entrance and greeted everybody with genuineness, care, and hospitality. After
speaking with her, I came across a young girl with her goat in harness pulling
a split oak rail.
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| Girl & Goat in Tow. |
Though I will only cover a few Ozark Craftsmen,
it will only be a portion due to the concentration of these men & women in
one place. So remember, there are many more at the gathering than space will
allow me to mention.
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| Old Engines & Tractors. |
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| Old Engine Used To Cut Ozark Red Cedar. |
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| Pumping Water. |
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| Pumping Water. |
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| Ozark Wagon Rides. |
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| Gathering Under the Pavilion to Hear Local Bands. |
Wheel
Wright & Wagon Maker
Dale Thomas is an Ozark craftsman is every
sense of the word. Dale is an accomplished Wheel Wright and can build the
complete wagon of our former Ozark pioneers. Dale also has two men that work
with him as Apprentice Wheel Wrights, Ed Miller in his 3rd year and
Charles Witter in his 2nd year.
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The Wagon
Maker
Bryant
Creek Wagon Works
Rebuilt By
Dale Thomas
Rt. 5 Ava
417-683-2482
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Ozark Relic Comes to Life.
|
The work, time, and expertise that goes into
producing each wheel is amazing. Each wheel takes about the total of 80 hours.
The wood for each spoke must be cured for 4 years. It takes anywhere from 45
minutes to carve one spoke; there’s 14 spokes to a wheel. If a spoke happens to
have a knot or crack, it must be discarded, and a new one must be made to
replace it. The steel rims are cut from ¼ inch steel, roll/crimped into shape,
and ends are connected.
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| Apprentice Wheel Wright, Ed Miller, shows the device use to bend 1/4 inch steel into a wheel rim. |
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| Wheel Wright Shop. |
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| The rim it is heated in a fire pit for at least 3 hours in order for it to expand. |
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| The Team of 3 Work Together. |
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| The rim is then pulled out of the coals and quickly brushed/cleaned off. |
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| The hot rim is place rapidly placed on the wooden wheel. |
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| Snapping the Rim into Place. |
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| Pitchers of cold water are poured over the rim, causing the hot steel to cool & contract around the wooden rim. |
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| Finished Product...1 Wheel = 80 Hours. |
Soap
& Shingles
Terry & Cathy Wyatt from Eminence, Missouri,
were also a popular exhibitors & re-enactors. Cathy makes homemade lye soap, cooked in an old
kettle. She warmly welcomes every passerby and walks through the process of
making soap. She also sells her soap for a nominal fee, but the history lesson
in 3 minutes is far more priceless.
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| Cathy Cooking Lye Soap. |
Terry splits red oak wood into familiar shingles
that once was a mainstay & adorned the roofs of every log cabin in the
Ozarks for years.
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| Finished Product. |
Ozark
Rock Candy
This candy was use for diluting the harsh taste
when hard cider or whiskey was use for "Medicinal Purposes." The candy was dropped
into the glass, and sizzled in order for the sugar
& flavoring to do its’ magic. The term came to be known as “Rock &
Whiskey.”
My favorite flavor…cherry. A bag of homemade rock candy was only $1.00. I should’ve bought more. Most of it was gone by 1:00 pm.
My favorite flavor…cherry. A bag of homemade rock candy was only $1.00. I should’ve bought more. Most of it was gone by 1:00 pm.
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| Bag of Rock Candy…$1.00. |
Stilling
Molasses
Tony& Linda Stillings, with their grandson
Caleb, are a family that puts to practice of passing on their tradition of
pressing & cooking molasses to the 4th generation. They usually
plant from ½ to an acre of cane each season. Tony& Linda also have a
gathering at their farm to make molasses on the 3rd Saturday every
September.
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| Molasses Exhibit. |
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| Cooking & Skimming the Molasses. |
While there, their grandson, Caleb Stillings,
was also demonstrating grinding corn for chicken feed, grits, and corn meal.
While watching him, I was reminiscing about the time, as a child, grinding corn
in the same manner. Granny Anderson would fill her apron and I to would fill my
shirt with cracked corn; then we would call & feed the chickens.
Broom
Making
The Andersland Family from Nottinghill, in
Ozark County, Missouri, makes handcrafted brooms the old fashion way. Deb and
her daughter, Emily, apprenticed at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View,
Arkansas, and are accomplished in their art. Their website can be found at www.nottinghillcraftworks.
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| Making Brooms. |
Old Weapons / Spinning
Cotton & Wool
Butch
& Dawn Stone are a couple that shows their heart for Ozark Customs. Butch
is a well-known Ozark trapper, bowyer, and hunter. He is known for making beautiful, handmade
primitive bows and knapped arrows, flintlock, and percussion guns. He is a
craftsman of turkey calls and primitive archery equipment.
Dawn
has an excellent reputation for dying wool and is the shepherdess. Working with the wool includes: shearing,
washing, carding or combing, spinning, knitting, felting or weaving. Depending upon the project, the wool is
sometimes dyed, usually with natural or vegetal dyes. Being a botany major in college, Dawn prefers
to collect and use plant materials from the local area. Osage orange wood shavings from Butch's bow
making also yields an excellent dye.
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Dawn Spinning Cotton. Cotton Plant in the
Foreground.
|
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Ozark
Delights
P.
O. Box 154
Ava,
MO 65608
(417)
683-2060
|
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Rope Making.
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| Rope Making. |
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| Rope Making. |
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Some of My Souvenirs: Soap $1.00 & Beeswax Candles $1.25
Each.
|
In looking back over the day, I had not only
learned about my family’s customs & traditions, I experienced them once
again. It drew my heart in admiration and respect for these who came and
pioneered this rugged wilderness; they made it their home. They didn't endure it only
for themselves, but for future generations. I believe this is one of the unique
qualities of the people who live in these Ozark hills.
I ask you, Dear Reader. Do you know where you’ve come from. Do you know where home is at? Even of it seems you too are in a rugged wilderness, I believe we all have a longing for a sense for home. In meeting many of these people for the first time, there was a sense of belonging…a sense of an Ozark hospitality & home. If you too would like to experience this for yourself, I invite you to make your plans for next year, the 1st weekend in October, to the 11th Annual Pioneer Descendants Gathering. Together, we can make it a part of our ongoing Ozarks’ History.
I ask you, Dear Reader. Do you know where you’ve come from. Do you know where home is at? Even of it seems you too are in a rugged wilderness, I believe we all have a longing for a sense for home. In meeting many of these people for the first time, there was a sense of belonging…a sense of an Ozark hospitality & home. If you too would like to experience this for yourself, I invite you to make your plans for next year, the 1st weekend in October, to the 11th Annual Pioneer Descendants Gathering. Together, we can make it a part of our ongoing Ozarks’ History.
