Town between Rolla and Ft. Leonard Wood? (St. Louis, Fort Leonard Wood: houses, luxury)

[emliss]

Hi,
My husband and I are taking a road trip from OH. to CA. on old Rt 66. When I was a young girl my father was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood. When we first got there (MO) we rented a little summer home in Devils Elbow and soon after moved into a large long rancher somewhere between FLW and Rolla. I think Rolla was about 15 miles from us. We lived directely over Rt 66 on a hill. Down the hill from us was a small "store" carrying some staple items. The owners of the store owned the rancher we rented. If I remember correctly the store was also the Post Office and a gas pump was outside too. About 1/4 mile or down the road (RT 66) or so, we attended a one-room school house with the luxury of separate outhouses for the girls and guys. I also remember nearby, a large swimming pool that we used to pay to go to and I think it was embedded with rocks. There wasn't anything else to do there. My sister and I used to sit, dangling our legs, on top of a cliff like ledge legs and watch (down) at the vehicles traveling Rt 66. A lot of trucks!

Can anyone help me? I would love to see that area again and don't know the name of the place or even anything close to it.
Thank you.

[emliss]

Thought you folks were most likely able to provide some quidance. I recently posted a question (see thread "Town between Rolla and Fort Leonard Wood"). It may not actually be a town I'm looking for but I don't know what else to call it. When you talk about places that are in the woods, without paved roads, etc., that's how this place was. The back of the house was just about 2 ft from the "mountain" behind us.

I wish I could provide more information than I did in the original post but we lived there around 1955 and I can't remember. My dad has passed and my mom has Alzheimer's so I cannot look to them for more info. My dad was originally from St. Mary's and my grandmother owned a bar/grille in St. Louis so we traveled between them while living in MO. As a kid, it seemed to take forever to get to either of those places so I can't even say about how far those destinations were from where we were living.

Does any of this sound like someplace you know/knew?

Thanks for any input.

[OA 5599]

I only lived in Rolla from 2003-07, so I'm not sure about where it may be. However, if you are making a road trip through the area anyway, you could easily drive all of old Route 66 between Rolla and Ft. Wood...or at least what is left of it. I could guess that the area you are talking about is just west of Rolla, where old 66 crosses Bear Creek, but it is a lot closer than 15 miles from town.

[ozarksboy]

Devil's Elbow has a little store and post office.

Probably Arlington had a store and post office back in those days.

Same with Jerome, which is across the river from Arlington.

Perhaps the swimming pool you remember was Stony Dell resort.

[emliss]

Thank you OA, and especially Ozarkboy. It was Arlington! When I read your reply I remembered the name. I never knew the name of the pool and I don't remember the cabins or anything except the pool, but I bet it was Stony Dell. From what I can gather, I think old Rt 66 ends at Arlington, scoots off to be 44 before picking up 66 again. I will continue to follow the MO forum and am sure our road trip will be even more meaningful with this knowledge. Thanks again.

[Darrow]

Well, I don't know Missouri at all - but after reading your description Emliss, I must say you captured a special place with your words! I enjoy how you write.

[emliss]

Thank you Darrow.
The things I experienced in Arlington were memorable and not typical for us. I vividly remember the persimon trees in the yard as clearly as I remember the black snakes sunning themselves on the flagstone patio! We had no TV, no phone, couldn't even get radio reception, so we made our own entertainment. When I told my husband how my sister and I walked accross railroad ties, over a creek (no pedestrian walkway, just wood ties) he laughed. I have a fear of heights.

We have not been to your neck of the woods yet but have talked about making the trip soon. I've always wanted to see Yellowstone and have peers who are from WY.

Maybe I'll see a post from you on the WY site?

[linicx]

There is a lot of interesting stuff in that part of Missiouri. I particularly like Hermann and the St. James Winery.

[emliss]

Thank you linicx. Something else for us to check out (on line and on land). LOL

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by linicx

There is a lot of interesting stuff in that part of Missiouri. I particularly like Hermann and the St. James Winery.

I agree, and not just that but that part of Missouri is a cultural crossroads, between Rolla and Fort Leonard wood. Southern Missouri is a cultural crossroads in general, though it is decidedly Southern in certain areas. Hermann is nowhere near that part of Missouri however. It is along the Missouri River about 100 miles to the north/northeast. Other towns between Rolla and Fort Leonard Wood...let's see..I think St. Robert is between the two...I really can't think of a lot of towns between those two points...between those two areas it is pretty rural. I haven't been past Rolla in a year or two, but from what I recall there really wasn't very much between Rolla and Ft. Leonard Wood.