July in Southeast Missouri
We had quite an adventure in the middle of summer in SE MO. First, we picked up my Dad and took him to the area where he grew up. We made a stop at the Bollinger Mill State Historic site.
We then traveled on to Marble Hill and visited the land where he spent his childhood. The house is no longer there. It was located on Possum Hollow Road and he was born (as were all his siblings) in the house that once stood there. It was in old Lutesville, a town that has now merged with Marble Hill. We also drove by the house, which is still standing, where he moved his junior year in HS. It was in Marble Hill. After that, we went to lunch at the Will Mayfield home. Our friend just opened a new restaurant there.
Right next door is the Bollinger County Natural history museum that stores some of the dinosaur bones found in the area. They also have a replica of the dinosaur.
We finished our day at the Artesian Well which is open to the public. Great tasting water!!
The following day, we were off to see the Big Oak Tree State Park. We walked a trail that was actually a metal pathway up off the ground. That was good because it was swampy in general and with the recent rains, was even wetter and buggier. There are some state champion trees at this park.
Next up was a trip to Cairo Illinois to visit a friend. We had a chance to see the river there through the gap in their flood wall.
By then, we were ready for dinner and we gorged ourselves at Lamberts, the home of the Throwed Roll.
The next day, we were off to New Madrid. They have a great river walkway on top of the levee. The town was not at all flooded and has not been for years. The other challenge for the town can be earthquakes. The town museum had a nice display from the 1811-12 earthquake.
From there, we were off to another SHS, the Hunter-Dawson House. We got a great tour of an house built in 1860. It was quite impressive.
Next up, we took a quick detour to see Morris State Park. While there, we found a peach orchid and bought some nice local peaches.
We finished our journey by stopping at the Bloomfield Military cemetery where my mom is buried.
Dinner that night was at an amazing placed named Jeremiah's.
We then traveled on to Marble Hill and visited the land where he spent his childhood. The house is no longer there. It was located on Possum Hollow Road and he was born (as were all his siblings) in the house that once stood there. It was in old Lutesville, a town that has now merged with Marble Hill. We also drove by the house, which is still standing, where he moved his junior year in HS. It was in Marble Hill. After that, we went to lunch at the Will Mayfield home. Our friend just opened a new restaurant there.
Right next door is the Bollinger County Natural history museum that stores some of the dinosaur bones found in the area. They also have a replica of the dinosaur.
The following day, we were off to see the Big Oak Tree State Park. We walked a trail that was actually a metal pathway up off the ground. That was good because it was swampy in general and with the recent rains, was even wetter and buggier. There are some state champion trees at this park.
From there, we went to see the Towashagy State Historic site. We later found it that it had been somewhat destroyed from the 2011 flood so the interpretative portion was gone. This was a Mississippian Mound site.
The next day, we were off to New Madrid. They have a great river walkway on top of the levee. The town was not at all flooded and has not been for years. The other challenge for the town can be earthquakes. The town museum had a nice display from the 1811-12 earthquake.
We finished our journey by stopping at the Bloomfield Military cemetery where my mom is buried.
Dinner that night was at an amazing placed named Jeremiah's.
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