Reader’s Corner: Learn some Ozarks history

Area libraries can be a great source of information about local and regional Ozarks history! Whether you’re a native wanting to know more about how your ancestors lived, or new to the area and curious about the origins of local legends, you can often find resources at the library. 

This month, check out some great offerings from our neighbors to the north, the Local History and Genealogy Department of the Springfield/Greene County Library. The “Preserving the Ozarks” series kicked off on May 4 with an evening with Molly Healey, legendary fiddle player for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils; and on May 7, Brooks Blevins shared about “Mythology and the Mythological Ozarks.” 

The series continues on Tuesday, May 12, with “The Bottomless Well of Water Street,” at 7 p.m. in the Library Center Annie Busch Auditorium. Join Local History Associate Brandon Broughton as he shares research sparked by a 1909 newspaper story about John Polk Campbell’s “bottomless well,” exploring archives, maps and the muddy depths of downtown Springfield to uncover the birthplace of the Queen City of the Ozarks. 

Branson area residents may be particularly intrigued by the program to be held Thursday, May 14, in the Library Center Annie Busch Auditorium. Branson can be seen as the political, religious and cultural symbol of an enduring American ideal, but that in itself can inspire some polarizing views of “God’s Country.” Joanna Dee Das, author of “Faith, Family, and Flag: Branson Entertainment and the Idea of America,” will examine the Branson entertainment industry in the context of America’s long-running culture wars, showing how a popular entertainment destination became central to a vision for the nation. 

On Thursday, May 21, enjoy “A Walking Tour of Maple Park Cemetery,” at 6 and 6:30 p.m. at 300 W. Grand St., learning about lives of notable residents who contributed to Springfield’s colorful history. Each tour is limited to 20 participants; registration opens May 7. 

Another interesting walking tour is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, at 6:30 p.m. starting at the partnering sponsor History Museum on the Square, 154 Park Central Square. Explore Jewish history in Springfield on this one-hour tour hosted by Dr. Mara Cohen Ioannides, uncovering stories of Jewish-owned businesses and the families who helped shape the Square. 

Civil War history buffs will want to mark their calendars for “Bloody Bill & the History of Civil War Guerrilla Violence,” Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m. in the Library Center Hatch auditorium. “Hope Never to See It” illustrates two incidents of occupational and guerrilla violence in Missouri during the Civil War: The first, following a Union spy’s murder spree targeting civilians; and the second, pro-Confederate guerrillas’ mutilation of 150 U.S. troops. Author and Middle Tennessee State University professor Andrew Fialka studies the lives of the men involved, including “Bloody Bill” Anderson, and shows how the book’s sequential art presenting the grisly events curbs their glorification while prompting reflection. Registration is required. 

For more information and to register for these informative sessions, visit https://www.thelibrary.org/localhistory/preserving-the-ozarks.