Snapp's Bald Mountain (Ozark, Branson, Oak Grove: crime, school, live in)

[Mattie Jo]

Could anyone tell me where Snapp's Bald Mountain is located. All I know is that it is in Taney County. I would like to visit the area. Thanks

[mamagator54]

I tried to do a Global Earth search but nothing came up under Snapp's bald mountain. Do you know about where it is located and I will do some more research for you.

[NOLA2SGF]

I don't know anything about it, but found this link on a search engine.
Apparently it is a hill located south of Forsyth, Missouri.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/MO-Baldknobber.html

Fascinating account of the violence and chaos in Missouri in the wake of the Civil War.

[Mattie Jo]

thanks mamagator. That would be nice. Nola has the right one that I am looking for. I hope it is still known by those near Forsyth. It was suppose to have been near the Oak Grove school, wherever that was.

I read the book Bald Knobber when I was a teen. Why? Because I was interested in everything about the Ozarks and still am. I just bought a newer book and still find the subject fascinating. But didn't remember it as being so violent. As a Now I live in the Ozark foothills and Missouri is close by.

Now is to narrow down the location even further.

[Ozarks21]

I think it's near Branson. You might check with the Shepard of the Hills folks about the history of the Baldknobbers. There are several "balds" in the area. From a quick google search it appears that it is on T hwy which is east of Branson on Hwy 76. It goes north to Lake Taneycomo. Snapp's Bald is about 2 miles north I think. There is mention of a fire station on one website.

Hope this helps.

[Mattie Jo]

Thanks. I copied that for later. I found other information saying it was 5 miles southwest of Forsyth. Even found that they wanted to change the name, but I don't know if they did.

So Forsyth must be close to Branson. I don't have my maps available at this moment to even look.

[garth]

jessaka-

Forsyth is the county seat of Taney County. It's the county where Branson is located.

Forsyth is something like 10-12 miles or so from Branson. You can get there from the Branson area by heading out 76E, or going out Hwy 160 from Hwy 65. There may be other ways to get there, but those are the two I know.

I've had reason to drive there to get some property information. It took me about 30 minutes, not because of distance, but because I don't drive twisty two lane roads like the Autobahn.

[firebll31]

According to my Missouri Atlas and Gazetteer, there is a peak called "Snap Balds" about 1 1/2 miles south and east of Hwy T, just off Hwy 76 and almost opposite the Holiday Hills Golf Course. If this is the same place, it is closer to Kirbyville than Forsyth.

[garth]

I didn't know I was so close the other day. I drove right by there, both on 76E and T Hwy. After reading the article listed above, it's kinda' spooky thinking about what was happening in those valleys and on those hills not that long ago.

[Mattie Jo]

Thanks for all the help.

You know garth, I read the book when I was around 12. I got it at the library and had been reading every book on the Ozarks that I could find in that library back in California, even Shepherd of the Hills. So the book was a 1940s or so book and was probably titled Bald Knobbers.The only thing that I thought about it back then was that it was neat that this group of people took care of crime. Now because that book came to mind again, I got the newest book on the subject, and while the idea to clean up crime in Taney Co. was a good idea, I can really see how it got out of hand. I guess you can say that I wanted to read it out of nostalgia, and I must have forgotten much of that book to have still considered it a good idea for citizens to take over, but then I am still up in the air about it. So yes, it is rather spooky. It seems to say to me that no matter how good people's intentions are, things can change.

I live in Tahlequah, OK now, and the Ozarks still entice me as they had when I was a child. I don't know how far I am from Branson? Can't figure out maps on Net, and my others are packed since we are doing a remodel.