Memories from the Homestead: Another eBay rescue! Old Matt's Cabin 1916

     Collectors for years have gathered items and memorabilia related to one of America's most famous novels, "The Shepherd of the Hills." The Branson tourism scene as we know it today saw its beginnings just a few years after Harold Bell Wright wrote and published the novel in 1907.

Old Matt's Cabin in 1916, a real picture postcard that was made available locally to the tourists who were coming to the Garber community to see where "The Shepherd of the Hills" was written   (Photo courtesy of John Fullerton)

As most of you know, I'm one of those collectors of "Shepherd" items too. A number of our employees here at The Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park (where Wright gathered his ideas for the book) all have impressive collections as well.

    Almost daily, I spend a few moments and do a quick eBay check online. I'm most interested in anything pre-1960, but in particular I do focus on gathering anything from the first twenty years the property was open to the public—1912 through 1932. Photos of Old Matt's Cabin from that era do show up for sale as real picture postcards. Around a month ago, a rare one from 1916 showed up on eBay, listed at a low price. I had to grab it!

     Today's vintage view provides a unique glimpse of the famous Cabin. The property had been open only four years at the time of this photo. The place was owned by William Driver, who had purchased the property from the Rosses (Old Matt and Aunt Mollie) on December 24, 1910. He hired a friend of his, Jessie Burt to move in, and it was the Burt's who did a remodel and made improvements so that camping accommodations and meals could be provided for the readers of "The Shepherd of the Hills." Word had spread quickly that all the locations were very real and a number of the book's characters were too.

     The original owners of the 160-acre property were J.K. and Anna Ross. They had sold because of J.K.'s work load; he had a daily commute to the nearby town of Garber (two miles away) where he had been working as postmaster and railroad station agent since April 1907. Fans and followers of "The Shepherd of the Hills" would get to meet their favorite book characters at the Garber townsite and the Rosses would build a new home there in 1911.

     I noticed several things when I saw this photo listed on eBay. Look closely at the roof of the Cabin. It can clearly be seen that Jessie Burt has completed a roof remodel as new shingles are very evident.  Also, the photographer, who is unknown (I really don't think George Hall took this one) is standing in a unique spot. The photographer is outside of the yard fence. You can see the woven wire and fence posts clearly. The photographer is standing on the trail that nobody knows how old.  

     This pathway came up the hill from Mutton Hollow below and crossed the edge of the yard in between the Cabin and the Rosses’ barn, which also is still standing today. The old trail continued down over the north hill below the front of the barn. Today this trail (even though it's been modified) is still used daily. It's the approach to the Outdoor Theatre where "The Shepherd of the Hills" has been performed as a stage reenactment for the past sixty-six years. By the way, the current Highway 76 that goes in front of the Cabin below the yard didn't open until the fall of 1935.

     This 110-year-old real picture postcard when I received it had just one lone question written in ink in the back. "Do you recognize this scene the Shepherd of the Hills?" It was never postally used, not addressed to anyone. That's all that's on the back.

     The image was previously listed for sale at $50 and obviously didn't succeed in finding a new home right away. The eBayer who listed it, a professional postcard dealer that I've purchased from before, started the opening bid at $6.50 and there was no way I could refuse that!!!

     Next week I'll give y'all a look back at what the folks were up to in the Garber community at the time of this photo. J.K. Ross was writing his weekly newspaper columns for the Branson paper, the "White River Leader," and the Forsyth paper, the "Taney County Republican." I'll share another one of those columns as I have shared others in this publication in the past.

     Collecting these unique photos are a lot of fun, and there are hundreds of them out there. One of the search phrases I use on eBay is simply "Old Matt's Cabin." See for yourself, and yes, it's still true that the Cabin is the most photographed home in the State of Missouri. 

What a heritage we have right here in our community. 

     Stop by anytime for a tour of the Cabin and the surrounding property. Currently I host these 90-minute adventures Tuesday through Friday; the times are 10 a.m., 12 noon and 2 p.m. Visit the Shepherd website for more information at theshepherdofthehills.com or call 417-334-4191.