When the Corps of Engineers decided to build Bull Shoals Dam down there in AR in the early 1950s, they had to move the city of Forsyth from its location of more than 120 years at the mouth of Swan Creek and the White River. This is the reason Taney County doesn't have the traditional "courthouse" square that the majority of counties in the White River Valley have...we lost our courthouse square to Bull Shoals Lake and construction of present-day Hwy 160. This land today is called Shadow Rock Park. In flood years, I have seen the entire park under water; Hwy 160 bisects the park, with the Fairgrounds on what the lake/river side, and the parkgrounds between the Hwy and Swan Creek. Compared to many fairgrounds and accompanying parks, it is a small area. You can view this by going to http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.asp?S=10&T=1&X=2454&Y=20299&Z=15&W=2 That is Shadow Rock Park. The bridge carrying what we call Hwy 76 East (cuz it's east of Branson, rather big-headed, ain't it?) crosses Bull Shoals Lake/White River. When this picture was taken in 1996, it wasn't near as dry as it is now. Turn left at the intersection, and the big steel bridge will carry you up to the townsite of Forsyth, although the city limits now include Shadow Rock. The old cement bridge below it still carries traffic across, and I believe that is the site of the old ford that folks coming from Walnut Shade took to get to the town. Swan Creek is below the latter 2 bridges. The Osage used to camp here in the early 1800s. The Fairgrounds are on the bottom part of the picture, on the south. (I used to think I got all turned around here--this proves that I really wasn't, for I knew 160 went north through this area of Taney county. Now I got to get turned back around...for here it's going east-west.) The big steel bridge crossing Swan Creek doesn't come anywhere near the crest of the Shadow Rock Bluff. It is a good 200 feet at least above the creek, and yes, there are houses built right on the edge...I would be too nervous to live there, but looking up at it, you can see the Osage scouts, watching for game, for the view must be spectacular. Turn right at the bridge crossing Bull Shoals, and then immediately turn back north, into the entrance of the park. Shadow Rock Lodge is the big building setting back off 160 a little distance. The Old Jail is the building with the black roof, directly behind the Lodge, and next to the Forsyth-Taneyville Road, heading NE. This jail was built in 1913, at a cost of about $4,200. Jo Stacey Albers, the president of the Historical Society, has told me the exact figures and who built it, but I've forgotten. It is all cement--floors, walls, and ceilings/roof. The first floor was the actual jail, with the second floor being the sheriff's quarters. 'Tisn't a very big building at all--basically the size of a 2 car garage, maybe a bit smaller, in circumference (is that the correct thing to call a square shape? LOL) The Corps of Engineers owns the building, but leased it to the city of Forsyth on a 99-year lease. After some neglect and vandalism over the years, the city donated the use of it to the White River Valley Historical Society in 1995. Bob Miley, who I've mentioned before as needing to have a bronze statue cast of him for all he's done for Taney County history, not just for the Society, and Jerry Gideon, a former elected Taney Co. official several times, spent a great deal of time on the building in the first 2 years. There were once apartments in it, and sheet rock had been put over the concrete walls. Bob, after doing some research/careful inspection, discovered the jail walls (first floor) were covered with graffitti from former prisoners. You'll find about any Taney County name there, if they were in the county after 1913; I'm not kidding. It's great, and I'd like to make a book out of some of that stuff. Bob's carefully torn off the sheetrock, exposing most of the graffitti (whoever thought it'd be historical, I wonder?) The walkway around the south and east sides of the building is below ground level with retaining walls that are crumbling. Bob and Jerry spent days literally shoveling out the garbage/refuse that had accumulated. Inside, the Society has replaced 4 of the windows on the top floor, which has restrooms and a kitchenette. The rest of the windows also need to be replaced, but they have to be custom-built by someone who knows what they are doing. The Society has been rather undecided in the years since over what use to make of the building. The back issues of the quarterlies, and the archives, are stored in the top floor, on tables and in boxes. The Board does meet monthly in the building, but other than Law Day, there's no other time it has been opened. We are going to change that. While there is a need for a historical museum, the jail isn't really suitable for storing artifacts on a permanent basis. Too much moisture. I would like to see the Society get a good research and archives location going, and being right there in the Taney County seat makes the jail almost ideal for that. The old steps leading to the 2nd floor from the right (east) side of the building are cement, narrow and unsafe. We may take them out entirely, installing a ramp and safer stairs to make the building much easier for folks who need wheelchair and walker access. The City of Forsyth takes care of the water and light bills; we pay the propane. These are from Jo's notes concerning the jail. Restoration: replace remaining windows; repair upper porch, replace if necessary; stucco repair and paint; entrance ramp; retaining wall and sidewalk; landscaping. Upstairs: blinds, bookcases, display cases, file cabinets Downstairs: retain original (graffitti) walls; acquire any fixtures which will "restore" original purpose of building (at least in one room) [vks note--there are 3 rooms downstairs, the upstairs is open]; provide storage To Do: Finish demolition; Get quotes on major repairs; arrange upstairs as 1) meeting place for Society 2) revolving display of historical items 3) research facilities; prepare downstairs for tours and possible storage Quite a project. There's a little more, but it'll keep. I've managed to arrange a meeting at the Jail on Wed with a fellow from the local cement company for a bid and overall estimate of the concrete work needing to be done. Also to be present is another fellow I've mentioned before, Barry Johnson, the bronze sculptor who seems to be able to anything he sets his mind to (I've seen his remodeling/construction work, but he says he's not an expert on actual concrete work); plus, Barry is really excited about working on the Jail, and excitement is what we need right now. Jo and Jerry Gideon will also be there, and anyone else I can rustle up on short notice. The rush is rather necessary, for as my friend at the cement company told me today, the weather has to be just right for it to set, and we need it done by the end of March. Bob and Jerry have done so much, and gotten so little appreciation except by mentions; they are getting physically unable to do much more of the heavy stuff, so we've accepted that what we can't get by donations of materials and labor, we'll have to pay for. And I'm going to see about a bronze plaque or two, if I can't get a statue. So I'm out lighting fires, so to speak. BTW, forgot to mention--they named me Event Co-ordinator for Law Day 2001: Outlaw Roundup. That's what I get for being the squeaky wheel, so to speak. <VBG> I'm honored; better yet, maybe it'll get me a job doing this kind of stuff (wouldn't that be great? lol) All because there aren't enough events for me to wear my tear dress to. There's much more to come in the following months. If y'all have been involved in this kind of project, I could use some advice, either with Law Day or the Jail. It's late--I've gotta get some sleep. Any questions, you can e me direct, or to the list--I'd like to see some discussion of this... Vonda ListMom for MOTANEY and MO-AR-WRV at Rootsweb http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~moarwrv mailto:[email protected]