by James F. (Jim) Barrett

©1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004

I never dreamed an old article which I wrote years ago would develop into so much fun! Since I brought it back to life, because of the chance meeting with the owner of Garber, it’s generated a lot of exciting, interesting contacts. Now THAT is what writing is all about. Communicating with folks, finding out new things, making connections to other relevant facts, meeting new contacts, etc. etc. etc. This Garber/Ghost Town thing has finally gotten lots of new reader-people stopping by Wal-Mart to meet me, bring me stuff and tell me things. It has caused more comments by the "readers" in the break room than has anything else I’ve left there for them to read. Who would have guessed?

Did I tell you about the two joggers from Stonebridge? Maybe it was they who got me restarted on the Ghost-Town thing, I can’t recall just now. Well, in any event, they dropped off their names at my step-son’s restaurant, the pancake shop at Claybough Plaza. Not their addresses or telephone numbers, just their names. People from the big cities are still very cautious, even when they move down here where people could care less about such things. So, Kathy and Peter, I hope you’re enjoying these articles about the little Ghost Town you "discovered." I intend to drop off a copy of the old July/August -1992 issue of the Branson Traveler at D’s Diner (my kid’s restaurant at Claybough’s). So that you, and others, can see the pictures I took, see Matt and Molly’s fallen down cabin, the old post office, etc. I only ask that you (and others who drop by for a snack and to see the magazine) take excellent care of it, for I only have two precious copies of this old journal left. I’ll be putting the other one out at the Wal-Mart break room for my reader friends there to see.

Well, in that regard, Marilyn Dodd stopped by Wal-Mart to bring me a bunch of copies of documents regarding Garber and a lot of other places. Darn good information! Thanks, Marilyn. Now I have the straight dope on a number of things I’d been wondering about. I really MUST get time to sit down with that wonderful rail-splitter gentleman who owns Garber. I can hardly wait to hear all the things I know he has to tell us!

Pam has scanned the aerials I have in my possession into her hot Mac computer down at the Gazette’s offices. I believe she intends to put some parts of them in to accompany this article. I sincerely hope so. If she puts the one in showing the OLD Kimberling bridge you will be able to see the ghost town of Radical at the north end of the bridge. You will be able to see the old highway winding around below what is now the Kimberling Inn and the Kimberling Arms. You will be able to see the field where Kimberling City now stands. You will see traces of the Old Wilderness Road, and on and on and on.

If she puts in the one showing the juncture of the White and James you will see the bridge I told you of, shadow and all. You’ll also see the extensive river bottom farm and ranch lands that were originally developed by Joe Philibert and his clan. You can also see the old farm buildings. I haven’t had time to dig out the research papers made by someone just before the lake filled, but I have them somewhere. They show, on a crude hand-drawn map, the remaining buildings, the cemetery, the foundations, the location of Joe’s trading post and so on. I’ve GOT to find them now, it’s so DARNED important to compare them with this new information. Gosh, historic research is fun. Especially when I have YOU folks out there to help me get it done, and done right! Thank you, one and all.

Speaking of the aerials, I believe I told you that the White River Historical Society, who owns the thousand pictures, will have copies of them for sale at their Law Day celebration, in Forsyth, Saturday, May 15th, at the Old Jail there. I have arranged for Bob Miley, the forester who saved them from the dumpster, to have his map available.

You will be able to select your area, look at the photo, and order a copy for your personal needs. Won’t that be great? I’ve already got clients, friends, readers and contacts who want at least a dozen different area shots. What a fun way to raise necessary funds for the Historical Society! Just let me know what you need and I’ll see if Bob can come up with it for you.

Come Monday, I’m going up to McCord’s Bend to see a reader, who is about to become a client, possibly. This gentleman has a good deal of acreage up there. On this property he has a number of quite old foundations and tumble down buildings. We’re going to take a look at them and see what we can learn. Then we will begin our research to discover what they were, and to whom they once belonged. With a little luck, Bob Miley will have them on his photos. Wouldn’t that be neat? We could go back 65 years and take a look at them as we flew over in our bi-plane on our photo mission. Well, let’s hope it all turns out okay. Incidentally, do any of you out there have quality metal detectors? Are you well practiced in their use? Are any of you skilled at carefully surveying old building sites? Do any of you have experience in creating video documentaries? Or just good quality video recordings - with clear sound? We could use your talents, should you wish to tender them. We’re beginning to do research and recording of old sites, and we’ll be needing all the help we can get. Not much money, but lots of fun. Well, actually NO money, but what the heck!

In that regard, if any of you folks out there know fun things about Garber, Marmaros, Radical or any other local ghost town, please let me know so that we can share the information with other of our readers. Maybe the current owners would let us begin a careful and skilled survey and recording of their precious sites. For instance, Marmaros moved from what is now Silver Dollar City to somewhere on the Joe Bald Peninsula. Does anyone know WHERE on Joe Bald? Are there any foundations left there? Or, if you know what the buildings up at McCord’s Bend might be, let me know that, too. Maybe they were just an old farm or two. But maybe they were some important old homesteads, an old town - or what? Let’s follow up on this. Isn’t helping me do my research a kick in the head? Who knows, your name, talents and photos could well end up in print. Maybe here in the Gazette, possibly in my book, "The History of Here." And maybe even in one of the major Historical Societies’ journals. It could happen!

I would particularly treasure getting copies of any old photos you might have that shows folks and places many years ago. Pictures that tell us how things used to be "in the good old days." I’m looking for tie-hacking photos, tomato picking/packing photos, log-rafting shots, etc. etc. etc. I’m putting together a book, composed of all my hundred or so past articles for the Gazette and the Branson Business Journal. I would like to illustrate the book with appropriate photos - from YOU FOLKS out there, if possible. So many, many folks have asked me to put together this book about "The History of Here," that I am finally starting to get it done. Help me out if you can, I’ll sure appreciate it.

Well, I guess I better quit for now and leave room for Pam’s photos. See you in our chat, next issue. Stay well, enjoy our great weather, and thanks for reading my column. Spring’s just around the corner, ain’t life in our Ozarks just great!? PS: Lisa Rau helped me discover that Marmaros is (Latin or Greek) for marble. So, that cleared THAT up. I still need to know the origin of Missouri Tigers and The Show Me State. Want to help me find this information?