Memories from the Homestead: Table Rock's name comes from a nearby mountain

Even though the construction of Table Rock Dam upstream from Branson didn't begin until 1954, the push in the project's proposal was underway in the years after the completion of Powersite Dam in 1913.

     A devastating White River flood in early 1916 caused major damage to Hollister, Branson and Forsyth. Hollister businessman William H. Johnson, who had created Hollister's "Old English" concept, along with others, were involved in persuading Government officials to go further to get the funding in place.

     So where does the "Table Rock" name come from? Well, go upstream a few miles above Branson and there's a turn in the river, a large bluff that features a rock formation that was recognized as being as flat as a table top. A highway was completed to this area in the mid-1930s, a new road from south of Hollister to Blue Eye, that we would be the original Highway 86. Today this spot is the scenic overlook on historic Highway 165, across from Vintage Paris. This bluff, and the big hill up above it is known as Table Rock Mountain. 

A mid-1930s picture postcard from Table Rock, looking at the valley below. Present day Pointe Royale would be to the right of the river. The dam would be constructed a mile and a half upstream. This is the Highway 165 scenic overlook today.  (Photo courtesy of Marilyn France)

In the 1920s, surveyors were looking for the perfect spot to construct the dam, evidence points to the location at Table Rock bluff, constructing across the valley to the northwest, with that approach connecting in the Flag, Missouri neighborhood, the vicinity of where the Welk Resort property would be, now the Hyatt property north of Highway 165 today. Another devastating White River flood would impact the area in 1927. There were strong indications that construction would be well underway in 1928. The project cost was estimated to be $25 million, with completion set for 1933. It didn't happen. The Great Depression of the early 1930s would sideline all plans.

     By the late 1930s, attempts would fire back up, with artist renderings of the proposed dam being made public. A Flood Control Act went through Congress twice, in 1938 and again in 1941 to take care of the funding. Construction would not begin because of World War II; plans were on hold again, which carried onward into the Korean War in the early ‘50s.

      It was during this time that the construction site would be moved. It was discovered that the bluff along Table Rock Mountain was unstable due to faults. All geological surveys suggested this was not the place for a massive concrete structure.  A new site, a mile and a half upstream was decided on, and plans in 1953 went forward. The new five-mile highway from Highway 76 to the dam's construction site was completed at a cost of $3 million. By late 1954, official construction was underway, with the concrete and earth embankment work finished by the end of 1958.

George Hall, who documented hundreds of Taney and Stone County sites with his camera gets a photo of Table Rock bluff in 1912. The popular Galena to Branson float trips offered numerous majestic views. This was the proposed original Table Rock Dam site. (Photo courtesy of John Fullerton)

So what happened to Mr. Johnson, the guy who pushed so hard to see Table Rock Dam become a reality? William Johnson, born in Virginia in 1866, arrived in Southwest Missouri with his family in 1874 and was Greene County based for the most part. He didn't live to see the completion of Table Rock Dam, but his six children, who were supporters would all be Springfield based and would all contribute to our region's success. William H. Johnson would pass away in Springfield on April 2, 1940, at the age of 73.  

     Stay tuned, and I'll cover more details on Mr. Johnson's work in the development of Hollister and his impact in our area.

Happy trails!