H I S T O R Y  O F  H E R E P a r t 188 By: James F "Jim" Barrett A Moment to Do Something Different~~Again        Well, as my wife would say, "As usual, you're wrong again, Jim." I thought we'd get back to the conclusion of our dissertation on the Shepherd of the Hills Farm and Theater in this article, after "doing" the old Ozark Playground Association map last time. But I failed to get things done so we could do so. By the way, no one has come forward with definitive information regarding that organization. I'd love to know how, when and by whom it became organized. I meant to call the original owners of SoH and interview them for the conclusion of the tale. But the holidays and all that stuff has interfered and I haven't gotten it done. So, maybe in our next chat we'll get around to it.       Did you enjoy that map? There were tons of information on it we didn't discuss. Such as their definition of what to look for in any particular place, such as "apples" or "tomato growing" and so on. Also, they chose lots of spots along the roads where you should stop, get out of the car and take a look at the scenery. Today, you'd get arrested for loitering by one of our "ticket cash" cops, or your car would get plowed or blown off the shoulder by a passing eighteen wheeler. Sigh!       Speaking of growing things, did you know that (once upon a time) the central Ozarks was known nation-wide as a major apple producing place? At one time there were lots and lots of orchards here. And of course, we were also once the tomato growing capital of the nation - a status that lasted up until the Second World War. Then much flatter states took over, such as California and Florida and Texas. But, in the 20's and 30's, this was the place shipping canned and fresh tomatoes to the nation. You'll have to come to our dinner theater sometime when we're redoing our version of "The Grapes of Wrath." We call the show, "The Tomatoes of Wrath."       Well, dear reader friends, much of the same Great Depression situations applied in the Ozarks as applied in the grape growing region of California. Little or no income, tons of people without work, labor intensive crops and people with the means to make the best of the situation. Entire families came here from all over the Ozarks, lived in or beneath their wagons for the entire summer, worked from first light to last seven days a week, to plant, harvest, pick and can tomatoes. They did that in order to save enough money to exist through the coming winter once again. If they made it they could look forward to doing the same thing over and over again each summer. And you think you've got it tough, ha! How about having a clutch of kids, living under a wagon all summer, with no electricity for their Nintendo game or DVD player, wow! Now that would be rugged. vThen, over between Melva and Mincy, you'll note "tobacco." Yep, tobacco was once a valuable cash crop here in the Ozarks. One had to have a special government license to grow it. I know of only one family who has preserved their old original license to grow tobacco, the Hollars, over in Lampe. I believe I recall that they were growing tobacco when Vicki and I first met, nearly twenty-five years ago.       Also, on that interesting map, you'll note a lot of "camps." In those days, seventy or eighty years ago, "camps" were where you stayed if you came to spend some time in the Ozarks. There were no motels, practically no hotels and very few bed and breakfast situations. Motels hadn't been thought up yet, and the only hotels were in established towns. There were one or two in Branson, one in Hollister and one simple wooden two story one in Reeds Spring, by the railroad. It catered mostly to "drummers," traveling salesmen who intended to ply their trade up and down The Wilderness Road, traveling on the ever-passing wagon trains going from northwest Arkansas to and from the freight yards in Springfield.       Many of these camps have most interesting histories. Look at the map (you DID keep your copy of the map, didn't you?) and you'll see Camp Perfecto, Isaac Walton, Thomas, Creller, Taylor, Lea, and Camp Ideal, among many others. These were all "motor" camps where one could park the car or truck, pitch a tent and spend the vacation enjoying the flies, mosquitoes, dust and lack of sanitary facilities. Things in the Ozarks of those days were so undeveloped and primitive that the presence of a general store, outside of a larger town, was specifically noted on the map. You'll see one shown above Rockaway Beach on 76.       Oh, incidentally, the fishing "camps" down along the White River in Hollister were mostly built up on top of ten foot high poles! Yep, believe it or don't! As most of you know, the White flooded frequently and without warning. Any cabin or tent sitting on the ground often became a temporary "ark" drifting away down Lake Taneycomo, with people and pets staring from the windows in smitten awe. People came to regard the tiny pole top cabins as good fun, sort of "tree-house" living, like little kids. Somewhere I've got pictures of people in Hollister going up and down to their tree house cabins. In those days Kirbyville must have been a real jumping town. Look at the map (the one I hope you clipped out of the paper and kept) and you'll see "hotels, resort, fishing, tennis, golf, dancing, mineral waters and a bird haven" noted for the town. Pretty classy in those days. Mineral waters were very big at the turn of the century, very big! It's what founded Eureka Springs and Hot Springs in Arkansas, and Ponce De Leon and other such towns in Missouri. People ardently believed in the healing power of mineral waters and came to the Ozarks in droves to bathe, drink and enjoy the many mineral rich springs flowing from the mountains.       Camp St. Louis has a most interesting history. A group of businessmen from that town actually bought the huge log building which the state of Main put up at the 1903 World's Fair in St. Louis. They had it dismantled and shipped to Lake Taneycomo where it was reassembled and elegantly furnished to suit the tastes and needs of rich business folk. It was the center of a fenced, stocked and well maintained hunting preserve. And, dear reader friends, it was no small log cabin either! If you'd like to see what it looked like, drive over to the College of the Ozarks and look at the new building they are putting up just to the north of the main entry. Talk about your log cabins, wow! It's well worth the drive just to see this edifice, man, is it big and beautiful!       I could go on and on telling you about the details of this old map and what they meant to the traveling public. Just remember - you, the traveling public - had no air conditioning, no radio, no TV, no maid service, no McDonalds (in case you were bored with cooking over an open fire), no Wal-Mart (in case you forgot to bring something). In fact, there was no electricity at most camps, a toilet that was a hole in a board, very few service stations, practically no helpful policemen, and on and on and on. But, still they came, the traveling folk, by the thousands, to see the Ozarks, take the waters, fish the beautiful clear rivers and lie on their cots beneath the amazingly brilliant stars each night.       I wonder what those travelers would think of our Ozarks today? Eight or more million visitors each year, lines of traffic at every intersection, a service station and a quick-stop on nearly every corner, anything you can imagine available within a mile, more theater seats than Broadway, rivers all turned to huge lakes, camps with every sort of amenity including inside toilets that aren't boards, and on and on and on.       Well, dear reader friends, perhaps I'll get a moment to interview the original owners of Shepherd of the Hills before our next chat. I'll sure make an effort to do so. I'd like to tell you how the old Farm became the longest running outdoor theater in the nation and all about the people who made it all happen. It's a great, good fun story. I'll see what I can do. Incidentally, speaking of theaters, our Wilderness Road Historical Dinner Theater will re-open at RT's Family Restaurant, January the 8th, at a new time, 7PM. We felt that eight was too late in the winter for the show. We'll be opening with a musical evening. Hope to see you then - or on a following Thursday night throughout the winter. Joyous holidays and much love and appreciation to you readers, one and all.