Volume 5, Number 12 - Summer 1976


THE EDITOR SPEAKS
By Jewell Ross Mehus

One finds the youth of our Ozarks preserving history for posterity. A new book, just out, "Ozark Country Sunshine", a history of the Blue Eye School District, does just that. Eighteen high school students and their sponsors prepared the material published by the Larrimore Publishing Company.

It is a booklet of thirty pages. The chapter on The History of Stone County, with pictures which include one of the Mo-Ark Academy, makes that alone worth the price of the book. Bonus chapters include: Recipes, Cures and Remedies, Legends and Folk Tales, and the Establishment of Table Rock Lake.

Mrs. Frank L. Kelly (Mamie) of Liberty, Mo., says, "This manuscript, ‘The Willful Murder,’ is of my grandfather, Sheriff G. E. Branson."

Marvin Tong curator of the Ralph Foster Museum of The School of the Ozarks, spoke at the June Meeting on Little Known Sources of Ozark History." Tong is not a newcomer to the Ozarks. One may recall him as a young newspaper man in Ozark County at Gainesville, some thirty years ago. Where he came from to there I know not, but the spell of the Ozarks got into his blood as it does to most or many of those who enter, so he sort of oozes Ozarkians. Being of good stature, both up and down and then around, he can dominate any situation, so though many smiled and nodded heads, no one spoke until he finished, then the questions came fast as each wanted to hear more. That is the test of a good speaker according to Myking.

Tong told of Indians, other Americans, and foreigners who spent time in this area. Yet many

of the facts of this, yet to be pin-pointed or established by printed or written facts. Many of these facts he pointed out are, perhaps in vaults in America and in Europe.

We look forward to receiving many and good manuscripts concerning the history of Stone County coming from the newly formed Stone County Historical Society. Since Mary Scott Hair has slowed down a bit in her writing of the history of her favorite county of Stone, we have received few articles, stories or history of any kind from that county. As Mr. and Mrs. Kimberling were elderly I ferreted out and wrote bits about them surely a part of the history of Stone County. I thought the family and other interested persons would add more material. Mary Scott Hair did send material adding information about the Kimberlings of Stone County, and Mrs. Lucille Crawford Parks, Mountain Home, Arkansas, took time to send a story.

The next issue of the Quarterly will carry stories of the new officers of the Society.

The next meeting of the Historical Society will be Sept 12, in the Good Memorial and Cafeteria Building, the first building after you come through the big gates of The School of the Ozarks. There are always girls to carry trays for those who desire such assistance.

Mrs. Rebenstorf, secretary-treasurer, tells us that many have not paid their dues for the coming year. The constitution says no longer a member or qualified to receive the Quarterly. Remember you are delinquent after June 1.

Jewell Ross Mehus


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