voss adventures: Missouri

We left Brunswick on Sunday morning and stopped for lunch at the Hollywood Diner on the way to drop Aaron off at the airport.

Having no tow vehicle, it was in the "bus"! Piece of cake! Easier than we thought! Paul just chose the commercial lane, rather than the auto lane. (Just one impatient shuttle bus driver beeped his squeeky horn at us, so Paul returned his honk to show what a real horn sounded like!)

After safely getting back onto Hwy 29S, we didn't get very far! After driving about an hour, we decided we were both exhausted and stopped early. I was able to get laundry done, and Paul took a nap.

We decided to go east on Hwy 36, and then south instead of south and then east, to avoid the interstate and see more of the small town flavor of Missouri. We saw signs to Louisiana and Mexico, but knew we were not close to the states..... they were names of towns in MO.

Ever hear of the following towns?

Hamilton, MO
We stopped in Hamilton, birthplace and childhood home of J.C. Penney. The museum was closed, but we did get a couple of pictures, including his home there.

Marceline, MO
Further East on Hwy 36, we stopped at Marceline, Walt Disney's childhood home. It seems they are just as proud of him as he was of them; and when he addressed children at a Disney movie premiere in the town, he told them "my best memories are the years I spent here in Marceline; you children are lucky to live here." He is said to have claimed that "more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than ever happened since or are likely to in the future." We visited the Disney farm, which Walt bought back, which includes the house, (that has been remodeled and looks nothing like it did when he was there),

Walt's barn, "The Happy Place", where he put on a circus for the neighborhood kids,

and where guests are encouraged to write on the inside beams (we didn't have a pen with us)

He also had a duplicate made at his home for his studio.

We also saw his dreaming tree, where he watched small animals, sketching them, telling his younger sister many stories, all of which became part of the Disney we know and love. He visited the tree in the 50's and was amazed it was still living.

His grandson has planted a new tree (on the right) since the original one (on the left) is now dying.

The Disney Museum, the old railroad depot, was open, so we learned a lot about him and his family there. He was discouraged from doing artwork, as his father felt there was no way to make a living by drawing. He donated artwork for the school gymnasium, as well as flags, playground equipment, miniature cars and track. His desk is on display, complete with his initials. When he returned to Marceline in the 50's, our tour guide's home was chosen for him, his wife, brother Roy and his wife, to stay in, since hers was the only home to have air conditioning at the time. The town came together to loan furnishings to her (she almost said no, since her furnishings were not the best). It was fun to hear the personal story! Her daughter continues to be involved in Disneyland. Walt Disney had plans to have a living farm constructed in Marceline when he died, putting an end to that dream.

About 60-70 trains still pass through town each day, and I can see where a small boy would be enthralled by them! E.P. Ripley, the name of the local park, was the name given to the first steam locomotive at Disneyland. Walt had the 2546 Steam Locomotive in the park painted Santa Fe and Disnelyand Railroad.