Volume 32, Number 2 - Winter 1993
Sign of the Times
Flag Route,
Branson, Missouri,
December 15, 1933
Hon. Dewey Short,
Galena, Missouri.
Dear Dewey:
Some of us are objecting to the construction of a highway from Branson up Dewey Bald to old Matt’s cabin and by way of Notch to Highway 13.
We do want the highway to go down Compton Ridge to Table Rock, but at the same time we want to save Dewey Bald from being defaced by a highway which might possibly even destroy Sammy Lane’s lookout.
The best views of Dewey Bald and Mutton Hollow are to be had from Compton Ridge.
We feel that a highway down the side of Dewey Bald would go far towards destroying the charm of the setting of Wright’s story and that the highway would bring old Matt filling stations and Aunt Molly and Sammy Lane hamburger stands, and maybe a Mutton Hollow Mutton Farm, and that before long there would be a Dewey Bald tourist camp on top of Dewey Bald.
I am enclosing copies of letters I am writing to the Federal Highway Department and the Post Office department in Washington, and I am wondering what your feelings are in the matter, and if you might have some suggestions to offer.
Recently Ed Trout of Branson was asked why he was working for the Dewey Bald road so much harder than he was for the more important Table Rock road, and his reply was that they knew that if they got the Dewey Bald road they would get the other too, but that if the other were built first, they would not get the Dewey Bald road at all, which was an admission that the other road is the more important.
Deeds to the Branson-Table Rock right of way were made to the State of Missouri for highway purposes, Section S-B Table Rock road.
Now the highway department is calling the Dewey Bald road Section S-B.
More than two years ago a road was surveyed by A. N. Peters down Compton Ridge by way of Notch and Flag to Table Rock to connect with the Branson-Table Rock road, and in September, 1931, interested persons made two tips to Forsyth to petition the Taney County court to declare the Taney-County portion open, but on objection by citizens of Branson, the court refused to do so, giving as an excuse that if the road were declared open the court would be obligated to keep it in repair, though why they should any more than they would the old road which was to be vacated and which had seen no work for years, was not explained.
I shall highly appreciate any assistance which my see fit to give.
Sincerely,
Thomas Nickel
P.S. Reeds Spring is exceedingly anxious for a road down Compton Ridge to Table Rock, but Almon Gracey says that it looks like they are going to have to knuckle under to Branson, as Whitton of the highway department, Division Engineer here in Springfield, told him that unless they agree to meet the Taney County road at the county line, they will be a long time getting the bridge over James River at Cape Fair. I tell him he may be a long time getting it any way.
This volume: Next Article | Table of Contents | Other Issues
Other Volumes | Keyword Search | White River Valley Quarterly Home | Local History Home
Copyright © White River Valley Historical Quarterly
