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[sanddunerider]

Welcome lady drifter!  where abouts do ya live?

[LadyDrifter]

Batesville, AR... Home of Mark Martin... now if only I were a nascar fan.   

[Ozark Outlaw]

Hey there LadyDrifter!

There are several of us Arkansans running around on these boards. 

[MissinTheGreenTrams]

welcome Lady Drifter! it is a pleasure to meet you!

[okiebluegrass]

Hello LadyDrifter, thought by the name that you might like the races.

[Avalanche04]

welcome ladydriffter

[clancomyn]

Since I've already posted a number of messages, I thought I'd better formally introduce myself:





My name is Todd (I'm the one with the pipe!) and the other fella is Champ Herren. He's the bona fide Hillbilly of the two of us. The second photo is of the two of us with the late Mitch Jayne, Ozark folklorist and bass player with the Darlings/Dillards on "The Andy Griffith Show".

I'm a librarian and history instructor at OTC in Springfield. Champ & I present a program, "What's Hidin' in the Haw Bushes?", about local ghost stories and superstitions, to area civic/scout/historical/etc. groups in SW MO and NW AR. We focus mainly on the writings of Vance Randoph.

I first found the forum while looking for photos of Artie Ayers' Lost Silver Mine play -- my mom is a Yocum, so the Yocum Silver Dollar/Breadtray Mountain story is a favorite of mine.

[rubedugans]

Welcome! I have looked personally with my Pa through maps, and info/ lore for what is out there on the Silver Mine/ cache...Again, great to have you and your wealth of knowledge.

[Junior]

Gotta admit, I was in Springfield, MO over the weekend and the town I knew as a college kid has changed so much I did not know my way around. So please, what is OTC? I'm very jealous, my fantasy job would be to finish the academic work and teach Ozarks history at the upper high school or college level. But shucks, gotta pass college alegbra, and THAT ain't happening! Doing some freelance writing on Ozarks topics is probably as close as I'll get, but I am really enjoying that.

[eagle1]

Nice to have you on board Clancomyn! Question, can you clarify the myth/story regarding Devils Pool at Table Rock? My family has a few versions they were told back in the 50's plus what the locals/Big Cedar tells but something tells me there is more to the story or actual fact? I've always been intriged so to speak.

[Junior]

I've got a booklet called "Devil's Pool: A History of Big Cedar Lodge" by Charlie Farmer. He discusses the weird rumors about the location. the spring was initially a watering spot for Osage Indians. They considered it a sacred place. Later, pioneers used it as a watering hole, too, but they called it Devil's Pool because it was a shady, mysterious spot that appeared bottomless. Later, after the Devil's Pool Resort was built, the ex-wife of the resort founder died under mysterious circumstances while in Mexico City, Mexico. Her ashes were sent back to the Ozarks, and at a funeral service, M. Graham Clark (who was a president of College of the Ozarks) spread her ashes off the back patio of her home at the resort. Since then, the house reportedly is haunted. So is another building on the property. Women who work for Big Cedar Lodge say the Worman Home is haunted. From the book, "they feel cold breezes slicing through rooms on hot, muggy days. They hear whispers, murmurs, soft voices, footsteps they wish they never heard." At the Simmons House on the property ghosts are sensed, too. Simmons House serves as Devil's Pool Restaurant now. Shadowy figures have also been seen by the marina and around Devil's Pool. Don't know how much of this stuff is rumor or truth, but it is presented in the booklet as fact.

[Joy]

Junior: OTC is Ozarks Technical College.

Todd: Your presentation thing sounds like it'd be something the MSU Folklore Club might be interested in. I'd be incredibly interested in finding out more and to see if we could have you come present for us.

[Junior]

I have not mentioned it yet, but, HOW COOL IS IT to have your picture taken with a "Darling/Dillard?" I did work across from Dockside Theater at the diving bell in the early '80s when Rodney Dillard first performed at SDC. I did have a nice conversation with him when he first was on park, and the Dugan boys sometimes informally babysat his son, who during that first season Rodney performed, would wander the park on a pretty regular basis. So I'm glad I have that Darling/Dillard experience, too. Mitch was a talented fellow and had an interesting life.

[MissinTheGreenTrams]

how awesome is that!!! I am glad you came across us. You will be a great asset! Welcome aboard and cant wait to see what more you have to offer.....

PS how hard is it to get you to come to my campus and visit with my school???

[Avalanche04]

welcome too SDCFANS!! can not wait too read your post's.