voss adventures: January 2013

As usual, when we are on a MMAP project we do some fun exploring. This trip is no exception.

We had such a busy December, we decided we needed a couple of days just to take a deep breath (and do nothing...HA!). So we left, leaving plenty of time to get to Scottsville.

We decided to stay two nights in Hope, Arkansas. There is very little to see there, but the camping at the fairgrounds was very reasonable (actually, cheap!). We did visit the train station that has a display of the Clinton years there, aged birth to 5 years, and of Huckabee, who was there until he was 18 years old.

Wow, talk about a contrast of views from folks growing up in the same place! Clinton’s grandparent’s home, whom he visited often while growing up, is now an historic site; but it was not open.

Paul was struck by the fact that his grandmother had an automobile accident in Hope about 1952. She was taken to the hospital there, where she died. Clinton broke his leg in 1952 and there were pictures of him in the hospital with a cast and pulley...... were they in the hospital at the same time??!! Interesting to ponder!

Once in Scottsville, the exploring started:

Scottsville, which is actually only a post office, claims to have 263 people. We think they are all buried in the cemetery, which is where GPS will take you if you put in Scottsville. It is located next to the camp we are serving.

There is a memorial chapel at the private cemetery

and where Lady Bird Johnson’s mother is buried.

Marshall is the closest town to Scottsville, and where we do the shopping. During December, there is a light festival, and everything is lit up in historic downtown, including this former courthouse.

We were able to take a tour of this fabulous building.

Marshall is also the location of the first telegraph sent in Texas.

Longview is about 30 miles east. We visited the LeTourneau University, which has a museum in honor of its founder, R.G.LeTourneau, located in Longview. It was an eye opener into the life of a unique individual. He built heavy equipment, developing and engineering mechanisms still used today.

He gave the majority of his money away, and for over 30 years spent his weekends preaching.

I was also impressed by the fact that GW Bush, president #41, as a young business owner, approached LeTourneau about developing a portable oil drill. Le Tourneau and Bush took a risk and it was a very profitable venture. This is a model of the second one he developed for Bush.

Shreveport, LA is about 30 miles east of the camp, so we visited it as well. In fact, we went to Shreveport twice!

The first time, we went to the downtown area, and visited the Boardwalk, which was basically a mall on the riverfront.

Then in the evening we attended a gospel sing. Besides a fiddler (whose name I have forgotten) and a local church choir, there were two family groups,

the Needhams,

and the Allens,

as well asa group of delightful ladies who sung their hearts out! They were the Steel Magnolias.

Geraldine and her dummy also made an appearance:

It was a great, funny and entertaining evening.

The second time we visited, we attended the RV show at the LA State Fairgrounds to get some ideas for possible redecorating.

We timed it right, as there was a Mardi Gras parade starting and finishing at the fair grounds as well.

Karnack, the birthplace of Claudia Alta Taylor (who?).... aka, Lady Bird Johnson,

is a very small town! There wasn't much there.......

Also home of the Big Pine Lodge, a great place to eat catfish dinner with all the fixins for which we have acquired a taste.

And would you believe I did not take a picture of the restaurant itself? It was a family run, rustic and homey place

The setting was beautiful, right on the lake. A great sense of humor..... whose coming across the lake?

Jefferson is the bed and breakfast capital of eastern Texas. Also where Lady Bird Johnson went to high school, since there was no high school in Karnack

The town is full of history, and the historic society had a great museum we went through, which included an HO railroad exhibit, and a dress worn by Lady Bird Johnson.

Known for its antique stores, we did not see all of them!

There was a great cafe, "Hamburger Store". The hamburgers were great!

Dollar bills cover the walls to make for a very unique atmosphere. A pastor started the tradition when he heard that this restaurant fed people during the evacuation of Katrina. He posted the first dollar bills, to acknowledge and contribute to their efforts.

Uncertain.....had the most unusual name. The name came from the fact that it was located at the end of the boat trip, and people were “uncertain” if they could get supplies there. It is a small fishing village at the end of a farm road, with nothing but a flea market that is open two weekends a month. Didn’t see the “Inn” listed on the sign!

This is my treasure from there:

I didn’t think about taking a “before picture”, but it had a “dead” styrofoam bird and plastic flowers in it. When I removed them, it looked pretty decent! So now I just need some inspiration and decide how and where to use it!

Jonesville was a place we drove through once, and were told that the store was “sometimes” open on Saturdays. Well, I had forgotten about it until I needed a post office. I thought I knew where the Scottsville PO was, within a mile or so of the camp, so I confidently headed out by myself, only to realize I must have turned the wrong way. When I tried the GPS, it did not show one in Scottsville, but about the time I gave up, I found the one in Jonesville. Besides the post office building and a few houses, this is what is there.....