Missouri Star Retreat and Girls Trip - Year Three Day 2

 Good Morning from Eureka Springs!  Once we are all ready to leave the house, a stop at Magnetic Spring takes place.  

Any metal object placed in the spring water was widely claimed to become magnetized.  It was also claimed that exclusive use of the water from Magnetic Spring would cure physical debility and aid in overcoming drug addiction.  Drug addiction was prevalent in the late Victorian Era due to widespread use of patent medicines containing alcohol and narcotics.  A large wooden pavilion was built over the original spring site, and was widely used by visitors.  The Tourist Social Hour Club, a group concerned with the entertainment of tourists met regularly at Magnetic Spring from 1885 to 1935.  Magnetic Spring was originally owned by General Powell Clayton and the Eureka Springs Improvement Company.  General Clayton deeded the property to the City of Eureka Springs in 1911.  At that time, workmen were hand-excavating 38 feet into the side of the mountain to open the main stream of water.  The picnic pavilion was left in place, and a new wood and stone shelter was built over the spring. 

Yes, I'm here.  Also, as I said yesterday, I have been in the area before (not to THIS spring) and this LINK will show you a ton more of Eureka Springs.  Take a minute to peek at it.

Into town for a some food and a quick peek.  We stopped in a cafe on Main Street and it turns out it was the same one I highlighted in the linking post the last time I was here.  I recognized it the minute I walked in --- doors on the ceiling.

Basin Spring Park is next and the above mentioned link has a lot of information to share about this.  However, I did find a few new tidbits.

Eureka Springs claims an estimated 56 miles of stone walls.  Skilled stonemasons constructed most of the walls between 1885 and 1910.  The limestone used was sometimes quarried on site, but the majority was transported to the town site by horse drawn wagons or railroad flatcars from the quarry near Beaver, six miles away and the railroad junction, 2 miles north of Eureka Springs.  In the first census of Eureka Springs in 1880, 30 men gave "stonemason" as their occupation.  They were drawn to the new town where construction of dwellings and commercial buildings went on all day and far into the night to keep up with demand.  Stonemasons built mainly foundations and retaining walls for the early wood structures.  Major fires in 1883 and 1888 brought about a change to stone and brick construction to safeguard against future issues.  

In 1890, a project to improve and wide the town's main streets and beautify its public places resulted in building many  miles of stone walls.  This was a massive project as stonemasons constructed walls s much as 20 feet high along Spring, Howell, and Main, The Boulevard and other streets.  Walls were build on either side oof the stream flowing down Main street and connected by arched stone bridges.  

The walls and levels of Eureka Springs is one of the things I love best about it.  One last new item to me - The Basin Park Fire Bell.  In the late 19th Century, the city of Eureka Springs suffered through 18 fires, including four conflagrations that devasted the large portions of the town.  This fire bell played a significant role withing the city's emergency response system.  Without it, the loss of life and property would have been far greater.  

Check out this bench!  So cool.

As the city moves and changes levels, buildings like this appear on the curves.

Here is a better point of view.

Stairs leading up and down to the various streets can be found all along the way.  

Time to start our second day of travel.  A couple of years ago, Sam, Gwen, Jen and I stopped at Top of the Rock on our way to Missouri Star, but since we have three new people with us, we are going to do a repeat adventure.  I LOVE their speed limit signs.  So, as it is a repeat, you may want to reference this POST as I took WAAY more pictures.

Our golf cart has been obtained and we are off.

Wild turkey, but the little turkey (human form) in the car before us decided to shout and scare it away before I could get more pictures.

THIS was so annoying.  They just stopped and held up traffic while they took pictures of all combinations of people.  Okay, got that out of my system and now I can just share the beauty and fun.

Into the cave - no stop at the bar.  Ya really need to check out the link.  PLEASE - there are soooo many pictures there.

Lovely bridge and view from it.

Everyone has to do it once.  It is rite of passage.

Life finds a way.

Yum?

Top of the Rock - we made it.

Fabulous views.

Heading back in - 

Since it is Monday, we are searching for a quilt shop to stop at.  We found this one.

But it was a bust.  Only thing that happened here is we walked to the gas station to use the restroom.

Stopping in Bolivar, MO, it's lunch time.

Hmmmm - Big Boy?

Inside is pretty cool.

With full bellies, we are on the last leg of our journey.  Hamilton, MO is next, but as we get within just a few miles, we are detoured onto a country gravel road.  Okaaay.    New scenery, right?

Our rooms are at the downtown retreat center, so after checking in at the event hotel, off we go to unload the car and settle down a bit.

Nice Christmas in July seating area by the windows on Main Street.

A little town walking. It's always fun when it is almost empty and stores are closed.

JC Penney boyhood home.

The old library.  Psst - I "think" this is where Jenny's Tuesday Newsdays are filmed.

The Theatre - 

Art in the Park

Peeking through the window of one of the new stores - Christmas Store.  LOVE some items and am hoping they are available.  That's it - dinner at Subway (mighty fancy, I know) and then to bed.  Breakfast at 7:30 and Scavenger Hunts starts at 9 when the stores open.  Let the fun begin.