March 13, 1946
February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.
Stayed in a small town in southern Missouri that night and drove to Springfield the next day. From there we went to Bagnell Dam and through the Ozarks. It was just starting to be spring there – it was the day before the fishing season opened and the streams really looked inviting. Saw many magnolia trees blooming. Went through Jefferson City and stayed overnight at New London, Mo.
Walt’s Comments
My senior class trip went to Lake of the Ozarks. We played around on jet skis, went karting, rode a seaplane, and saw Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry. It’s also the first place I ever saw Pac Man.
Bagnell Dam
Bagnell Dam impounds the Osage River, creating Lake of the Ozarks. It was built by the Union Electric Company to generate power. The company already operated several hydroelectric stations, including the one in Keokuk, Iowa. Construction started in 1929, and it was completed in 1931. This was the height of the Great Depression, and the project was a very welcome economic boost to the area.
Ninety years later the economic impact continues. Lake of the Ozarks is a popular weekend getaway, and tourism has replaced agriculture as the principal industry of the region.
Digging Deeper
You can view a collection of photos from the construction of Bagnell Dam here.
The Miller County Museum and Historical Society has a detailed account of the construction of the dam.
Ron Nelson
We stopped at lake of the ozarks when Dan was a baby. I was five or six and mom and dad bought me an toy tomahawk ,a stick with a rock strapped to it. After we got to grandmas we went to uncle Leo’s to get some rabbits for a big dinner. I stood in fascination as uncle Leo bludgeoned the rabbits to death with my tomahawk and dressed them out. He broke my toy on the second or third rabbit and ended up finishing with a more conventional means. It was the first time I realized where our food came from.
Walt
Ah, Uncle Leo’s! I remember Mom and Grandma going out to his place to clean house for him one time. It was a little two or three room shack, but cleaning was a two or three day project. I was maybe five or six. I spend the days hanging out outside playing, and Uncle Leo hung out with me much of the time. He had a well that gave cold, sweet water, and there was always a ladle hanging on it so you could get a drink. I have fond memories of Uncle Leo, and his property. He first showed me that it was possible to have an unconventional, but happy life.
He built his garage out of old ammunition cases from the Ordinance plant. I seem to recall that some local writer used that for inspiration for the garage of one of his characters. I think I heard that story from Marty, I’ll have to ask him.