Harrison, Arkansas

I've been fascinated by spiderwebs of late.  It is simply amazing to me that these small, air-breathing arthropods can create such beautiful works of art using a single strand of thread...

the water droplets look like beads...

love the morning dew...

have never seen a web quite like this...

was a misty, foggy morning when I took these pictures

Sunday, July 27

It's hot and humid again today.  Not to mention dry.  The temperature rose to 100 yesterday, it won't be quite that hot today.  We haven't had any rain to speak of since June.  The trees are stressed and losing their leaves.  Yesterday Andrew, one of the rangers here at the visitors center, placed water bags around some of the trees...

We decided to take a ride to Harrison, Arkansas.  Harrison is about 35 mile due south of Branson, in northwest Arkansas in the Ozarks.  Harrison is the county seat of Boone County.  They've been fortunate in that they have received quite a bit of rain.

Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the area, the first being the "Bluff Dweller", who lived in caves in the bluffs along the rivers.  In later times, the Osage, a branch of the Sioux, was the main tribe in the Ozarks.  The Shawnees, Quapaws and the Caddo Indians were also familiar to the area.

Boone County was created in 1869.  Shortly afterward, General M. LaRue Harrison, a surveyor, was asked to lay out a town along Crooked Creek at Stiffler Springs.  The town was named in his honor.

We spent our day in the historic downtown square...

The Hotel Seville opened on October 5, 1929.  The Spanish design is built of brick and steel making it virtually fire proof.  The Seville has served as Harrison's finest social and civic meeting place.  Recently it has undergone a complete restorations...

The Hotel Seville

known for the Saracenic Arches that mark the front entries

The Old Federal Building was completed in 1903.  It served as the Post Office from 1906-1965.  It was constructed at an original cost of $878,00 with a total floor space in excess of 20,00 feet.  Cow traces are still present in the west sidewalk...

The Old Federal Building

The Boone County Courthouse, located in the center of the town square's courtyard was built in 1909 after the original courthouse burned on July 4, 1908.  The fire was blamed on a fireworks display that was conducted from the roof of that building.  Some residents believed that it was caused by a new-fangled device that was being used to display pictures onto a screen on the side of the building.  However, there was a report that the fire was set by someone trying to destroy evidence in a court case.

The Boone County Courthouse

on the grounds of the courthouse

love this big tree. grateful for the shade it provides. it's also located on the grounds
of the courthouse

would love to sit in the crook of this tree and read a book...

The flowers located around the square were just beautiful...

I've never seen red cone flowers...beautiful

Ron & Coop waiting while I take pictures of the flowers

The Lyric Theater was home to the first talking movie shown in Harrison on November 7, 1929.  It remained in operation as a movie theater until 1977.  The front entry has the original brick terra cotta design.  Recently the Lyric has been completely refurbished and currently hosts plays, concerts, movies and community events.

love the detail at the roof line

The railroad came to Harrison in 1901 and in 1912 the Missouri & North Arkansas (M & NA) decided to relocate their offices.  The City of Harrison raised $25,000 for the construction of railroad offices which were located above Coffman Bros Drugs store.  Plagued by misfortune, the railroad was abandoned in 1960.

M & NA offices were located above the green awning

Every city and town has it's share of fun murals, and Harrison is no exception...

The West Rush Historic Mural depicts historic events and known characters from Harrison's past...

a sampling of the mural...

This is not a historical building, just thought it was cool...

The Montgomery Ward Building was built in 1929 and occupied by that firm for 50 years.  The building is currently occupied by Fraley's Quality Furniture store.

The Old Boone County Jail was built in 1914.  It served as a jail and sheriff's residence until 1976.  Prior to the construction of the jail this site was the location of the last legal hanging in Harrison, in 1913.

view from the street

notice the bars on the window.  love the tile roof

entrance into the jail. notice bars above door and on windows

close-up of the door.  notice the observation door...

While in Harrison, we had a great lunch at Papa Gene's; a family restaurant.  We had a fun (& hot as well as humid) day exploring the historic district.  As we headed north to Branson, it began to rain.  Once we hit the state line, it stopped.  Dang!  We were really hoping for rain...

Til next time,

Dawn, Ron & Cooper

An Afternoon with Jonah

Thursday, July 17

this advertising display is found at the Branson
Landing

back of the display

Jonah is playing at Sight and Sound Theatre this season as well as next season.  Sight and Sound Theatres is the nation's largest professional Christian theatrical company and one of the highest attended live theatres on the East Coast (Lancaster, PA) and in the Midwest (Branson).  Shows are first aired in Lancaster for two years, then they come to Branson for two years (seasons).

The majestic theatres seat 2,000 and includes a 300 foot stage that wraps around three sides of the audience, elaborate sets up to 40 feet high and an amazing variety of live animals.

This is the fourth show we have seen, ("In the Beginning" in Lancaster, "Joseph", and the "Miracle of Christmas" both in Branson last year, and now "Jonah).  Out of all four shows, we enjoyed Jonah the most.  Just about every performance is sold out...

heading into the theatre...

still a ways to go

getting closer...

awesome theatre...

We finally made it!!

people line up to have their photo taken in front of  the
lion and the lamb

one of the angels in the lobby of the theatre

selfie while waiting for the show to begin...

the theatre is beginning to fill up...

This was a fabulous performance, extremely well-done and funny!!!  At one point, Jonah was sprayed by a skunk; because, well, sin stinks!!  Jonah was a more technically-advanced show than any of the other productions.  (Each production takes over three years to produce).  A fleet of boats, a giant storm-tossed ship, and of course, an enormous whale were all key ingredients of this show.  The ship that sails across the stage weighs more than 30,000 pounds. 

As I said this was a fabulous, as well as amazing, production.  When Jonah was in the belly of the whale under the water, the stage looked as if he was under water.  We all felt that we were under water with him...We thoroughly enjoyed the performance.  So much so, that we're considering seeing it again prior to leaving Branson.

Moses is currently being performed this and next season in Lancaster...I think a road trip to Lancaster is in order!!!

Til next time,

Dawn, Ron & Coop

Bull Shoals, Arkansas

Wednesday July 2

We're just loving the flowers and birds that surround us...

blazing star

near the Dewey Short Visitors Center.  there's actually three
birds in the nest...mom was off gathering food...

We have been wanting to go to Bull Shoals Dam, in Bull Shoals Arkansas.  Today was the day.  It was a great day for a road trip.

Prior to visiting the dam, we decided to go to Peel Ferry and take the ferry across Bull Shoals Lake.  Peel is an unincorporated community located in Marion County, Arkansas (it does have its own post office).  Sam Peel was a storekeeper who received permission to operate a post office back in the late 1860's.  At the time the town was named Needmore, but Sam named the post office after himself.  The town changed its name to match that of the post office.

The Peel Ferry was developed when the White River was dammed to make Bull Shoals Lake.  The lake now covers Arkansas Highway 125 leading into Missouri.  To compensate for the road loss, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department created the ferry to transport vehicles across the lake.  This is the last public ferryboat operating in the state. There is no charge for the ride.

lined up and waiting for the ferry

ferry dock

here comes the ferry

docking

our turn, heading onto the ferry

all loaded and ready to go...

closing the gate behind us

wheelhouse

coop enjoying the ride

beautiful day...

our captains in the wheelhouse

enjoying the ride

Bull Shoals is a beautiful lake.  the dock is in sight...

and just that quick, we're back in Missouri!!

We then continued around the lake back into Arkansas to the town of Bull Shoals.  Bull Shoals is primarily a retirement and vacation center.  It is bordered on three directions by the clear, deep

man-made Bull Shoals Lake.  Bull Shoals Dam is the entrance way to the town.  The town was created by two real estate developers and officially established in 1954. 

We drove across the dam to the James A. Gaston Visitor Center.  The visitors center sits atop a park overlook (overlooking Bull Shoals Dam) in the Bull Shoals-White River State Park. 

beautiful grounds surrounding the visitors center

beautiful building as well

Some of the exhibits inside the center...

mock-up of the conveyor belt that was used to haul rock down from the
mountain

We then walked outside to the observation deck...

The main purposes of Bull Shoals Dam is hydroelectricity production and flood control.  Construction began in July, 1947 and was completed in July, 1951.  It was dedicated by President Harry S. Truman in 1952.  At it's inception, Bull Shoals Dam was the fifth largest dam in the world.  The dam was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in response to severe flooding between 1915 and 1927.  President Franklin Delano Roosevelt authorized the construction of the dam, as well as six others on the White River and it tributaries in the Flood Control Act of 1938.  From it's completion until 2009, it is estimated that the dam has prevented $225. 5 million in flood damages.

Bull Shoals Dam.  Bull Shoals Lake on the left, the White River on the right

the White River

view of the dam and power house on the White River

We then left the visitors center and drove to the base of the overlook in order to get another view of the dam...

the dam and Bull Shoals Lake

another view of the powerhouse on the White River.  Notice the churning
water???  Normally caused by power generation

We had a blast today!! And learned something in the process as well!!!

Til next time,

Dawn, Ron & Coop