Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace
Apr 1997
This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the
stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction
families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the
Homeplace.” Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding
valley, in April of 1997.
Source:http://www.freeimages.com/photo/1162290
User smithwil
Oak Creek Outfitters, Inc., providing canoe and kayaking adventures
on Oak Creek, announced plans to expand their service through a joint venture
with Big Thunder Lodge and the Oak Creek Mill and Mill Market, in cooperation
with the National Forest and State Natural Resources Department. Jonathon
Offutt, General Manager of Oak Creek Outfitters, said that services comparable
to the 1976 season would begin on Monday, April 7, of 1977, from the “bend of
the creek” south of the Mill Pond, down Oak Creek, to the Oak Creek Outfitter
facilities at the township line. Under a new agreement with Big Thunder Lodge
and the Oak Creek Mill and Mill Market, Oak Creek will be available to float
from Big Thunder Lodge, in Dent County, south to just north of the Oak Creek Mill.
Portage will be provided, if desired, off the ridge to restart at the “bend of
the creek” to continue down the Creek.
Big Thunder Lodge announced that the lake that had previously been
built near the lodge on Oak Creek had been drained, gradually, over about 60
days, and that a new, floatable stream bed was being dredged from the north
edge of their property to the south edge so as to return the creek, as near as
possible, to its original path. Stream bed maintenance consultants are now
supervising placement of rock along the creek to make the best float experience
possible through the lodge property. Float options on the Big Thunder Lodge
property, only, will be available, as well as continuing south down Oak Creek.
Oak Creek Outfitters is the concessionaire for the entire float experience on
Oak Creek. The float experience on these two new, upper stretches of Oak Creek
will be available later in the year, as facilities work is completed.
In cooperation with the National Forest, and the Bevins Trust,
floaters will be able to continue south on Oak Creek to just north of the Oak
Creek Mill where a portage will be required off of the ridge. Floaters will
have the option of stopping at that point (and returning to the lodge) or
continuing from the “bend of the creek” below the Mill Pond.
Locals:
The Oak Springs Enterprise announced that they would sponsor
publication of the “lost manuscript” of the Founding of Oak Springs originally
prepared in the 1870s for the American Centennial in the community. Details of
pre-ordering copies would be announced at a later date. Dick Nixon, Editor and
Publisher, stated that is was very critical that this “historical treasure” be
made available to a wide audience both locally and to interested people
everywhere. Penny Nixon, Associate Editor, who is credited with discovering the
manuscript, said she was very pleased that the Oak Springs Historical and
Genealogical Society had set in motion the activity throughout the community
that brought about this discovery. She challenged others in the community to
continue to look for similar historical documents and artifacts.
Julie Barnes, Activities Director at the Big Thunder Lodge, invited
interested members of the Oak Springs Community to take advantage of a Spring
Weekend promotion being run at the Lodge to encourage people to get to know the
Lodge better as a “getaway” from everyday life. Special room rates were
available for the weekends of April 5-6, 12-13, and 18-19, along with discount
coupons available for use at either restaurant on site. She added that Big
Thunder Lodge was encouraging visits by the general public this year whereas in
past years they were primarily noted for catering to Sportsmen Only. New
management encouraged area residents to take advantage of a “getaway” weekend
at the Lodge.
Social Notes:
Senior Prom for the Oak Springs High School was announced for Friday
night, May 9 this year. A committee of students, teachers, and parents was
responsible for planning the event for the benefit of the students approaching
graduation. A Gala event was expected, committee members said.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” was the last play of the season at the Ozarks
Community College Theater with performances on Thurs, Fri and Sat nights at 7
p.m., April 24-26.
"May
everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."
Dr.
Bill ;-)
