Fundraiser To Restore Notch Post Office This Saturday
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November 1, 2018
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Isaac Estes-Jones
A regional non-profit group is hosting an “Old Country Fair” this Saturday, November 3, raising funds to restore and preserve the Notch Post Office, made famous in the novel “The Shepherd of the Hills.” The event is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Michel Homestead in Branson, 262 Collins Road.
“It’s looking like the weather will hold out for us, but the event is rain or shine,” said Curtis Copeland, president of the Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters. “We will have a big-top tent and there is a barn on the property in case it does rain.
“We are hoping to bring a lot of people out to help us restore ‘Uncle Ike’s’ post office,” he said. There will be games that kids played in the late 1800s and early 1900s, cloggers, and lots of “traditional Ozark music,” Copeland said, including performances by the Crenshaws, the Possum Holler Fiddlers and a special reunion show by Missouri Boatride Bluegrass to close out the evening. Throughout the day, there will be bluegrass and traditional music jams with area musicians. An antique auction is set for just before Boatride takes the stage. Copeland says there will also be storytellers around a campfire all day, plus craftsmen and many other attractions. Food vendors will also be on site. “The vendors are very graciously donating a portion of their proceeds to the Society to preserve and restore the post office,” Copeland said.
The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters is “dedicated, among other things, to the preservation of Ozarks culture,” Copeland said. “The structure, which has been standing in the same place since the 1890s, is important to the region. When Levi Morrill opened the post office, it became the connection to the outside world for the communities in the region. It is a very significant part of the history of Stone County and is worthy of preserving,” he said.
The goal of the fundraising is to structurally restore the building, including a new roof. But, the biggest financial need, Copeland says, is actually the parking and other accesses necessary to make the old post office an educational destination. “We want to maintain as much of the original structure as possible,” he said. “It is made of 100+ year old oak. In some places, that old oak is like iron. But, we want to open it up so the public and hopefully school groups can learn about the history and what life was like back in those days.” Plans include a kiosk, access from Highway 76 and parking.
The building, which is fairly small at approximately 14 feet by 16 feet, sits on land that is still owned by the descendants of Levi “Uncle Ike” Morrill. “The family is going to open the area up to the public in perpetuity when we get this completed,” Copeland said.
The fate of the building has been on many people’s minds for the last year or so, Copeland said. “The Society is very social media minded these days, and we saw in several groups of people asking about the post office and bemoaning the sad state it has gotten to,” Copeland said. “So, we are hoping to meet locals needs while also increasing awareness of this history. We hope schools will bring their kids out so they can learn about the history of the area.”
Public involvement is what will make this project, Copeland said. “Success is participation from local individuals and businesses. I’d like to complement Ayres Signs in Branson West for donating signage for the property and this weekend’s event,” he said.
The Old Country Fair is set for Saturday, November 3, beginning at 10 a.m. at 262 Collins Road, off of T Highway in Branson. “We’d love to see as many folks come out as possible. If you want to get involved or help out in anyway, the Society has a website, http://www.societyofozarkianhillcrofters.com, where you can get in contact with us. Any donations made are tax deductible as well,” Copeland added.
A regional non-profit group is hosting an “Old Country Fair” this Saturday, November 3, raising funds to restore and preserve the Notch Post Office, made famous in the novel “The Shepherd of the Hills.” The event is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Michel Homestead in Branson, 262 Collins Road.
“It’s looking like the weather will hold out for us, but the event is rain or shine,” said Curtis Copeland, president of the Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters. “We will have a big-top tent and there is a barn on the property in case it does rain.
“We are hoping to bring a lot of people out to help us restore ‘Uncle Ike’s’ post office,” he said. There will be games that kids played in the late 1800s and early 1900s, cloggers, and lots of “traditional Ozark music,” Copeland said, including performances by the Crenshaws, the Possum Holler Fiddlers and a special reunion show by Missouri Boatride Bluegrass to close out the evening. Throughout the day, there will be bluegrass and traditional music jams with area musicians. An antique auction is set for just before Boatride takes the stage. Copeland says there will also be storytellers around a campfire all day, plus craftsmen and many other attractions. Food vendors will also be on site. “The vendors are very graciously donating a portion of their proceeds to the Society to preserve and restore the post office,” Copeland said.
The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters is “dedicated, among other things, to the preservation of Ozarks culture,” Copeland said. “The structure, which has been standing in the same place since the 1890s, is important to the region. When Levi Morrill opened the post office, it became the connection to the outside world for the communities in the region. It is a very significant part of the history of Stone County and is worthy of preserving,” he said.
The goal of the fundraising is to structurally restore the building, including a new roof. But, the biggest financial need, Copeland says, is actually the parking and other accesses necessary to make the old post office an educational destination. “We want to maintain as much of the original structure as possible,” he said. “It is made of 100+ year old oak. In some places, that old oak is like iron. But, we want to open it up so the public and hopefully school groups can learn about the history and what life was like back in those days.” Plans include a kiosk, access from Highway 76 and parking.
The building, which is fairly small at approximately 14 feet by 16 feet, sits on land that is still owned by the descendants of Levi “Uncle Ike” Morrill. “The family is going to open the area up to the public in perpetuity when we get this completed,” Copeland said.
The fate of the building has been on many people’s minds for the last year or so, Copeland said. “The Society is very social media minded these days, and we saw in several groups of people asking about the post office and bemoaning the sad state it has gotten to,” Copeland said. “So, we are hoping to meet locals needs while also increasing awareness of this history. We hope schools will bring their kids out so they can learn about the history of the area.”
Public involvement is what will make this project, Copeland said. “Success is participation from local individuals and businesses. I’d like to complement Ayres Signs in Branson West for donating signage for the property and this weekend’s event,” he said.
The Old Country Fair is set for Saturday, November 3, beginning at 10 a.m. at 262 Collins Road, off of T Highway in Branson. “We’d love to see as many folks come out as possible. If you want to get involved or help out in anyway, the Society has a website, http://www.societyofozarkianhillcrofters.com, where you can get in contact with us. Any donations made are tax deductible as well,” Copeland added.