A step back in time...to Alley Spring

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor

The grist mill at Alley Spring is one of the most photographed structures in the state.

It's a spring and a mill, with a one-room schoolhouse nearby with 113 years of history within its walls. Best of all, it's just a short drive away from Stoddard County near Emminence. Alley Spring may be visited year round, but to take advantage of the mill and schoolhouse being open, visits should be planned between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Demonstrations at the mill are presented to the public on weekends at the mill, one of the Ozarks' most famous landmarks.

Alley Spring features a 100-year-old grist mill where the process of converting wheat into flour was lengthy and time-consuming.

The little town of Alley was once a bustling community in Shannon County. The first mill was built in 1868, with the present building constructed in 1893 as a merchant mill. History tells that its turbine (rather than a water wheel) and rollers rather than stone grist stones, was noted as a "high tech" operation for its time.

(Photo)
Noreen Hyslop photos A view looking into Story Creek School shows original McGuffey readers open atop double-seat desks.

The building that houses the mill is one of the most photographed buildings in Missouri. When it served the Alley community by processing the farmers' grain, it was first unpainted wood, but in an updating effort later was painted white with green trim. Today it is barn red and well tended, as is the entire spring area, by the National Park Service.

On the grounds of Alley Spring stands an original one-room school house, Story's Creek School. The schoolhouse was built in 1896 on the Sam Smith farm about four miles northwest of Emminence and was used until 1957 when the local school district was consolidated.

The school was donated to the state by Edna Staples, granddaughter of Sam Smith and was moved to Alley Spring Park in 1971.

(Photo)
Cold, clear waters rise from deep within Alley Spring at an average daily flow of 81 million gallons.

To walk through the doors of Story's Creek School is to walk back in time. McGuffey Readers are still open on the wooden desks, as if the desk's occupants had just left for a brief recess. Cane bottom chairs await the students' return and a woodburning stove stands ready to warm them on harsh winter days.

At the front of the classroom is a wall to wall chalk board and on it are over 100 signatures of visitors over the years. Near their names, the guests have recorded the dates that they attended Story's Creek School. In an effort to preserve that information, there is now a Plexiglas "bubble" attached to the board that protects the history.

The drive to Alley Spring from the Dexter area takes less than two hours and is well worth the short journey. Although donations are accepted, there is no charge for any aspect of the park. Hurry, though. After Labor Day, the doors to the mill and the schoolhouse will close until next spring.

(Photo)
A century-old one-room schoolhouse, Story's Creek School, was moved to the Alley Spring Park to accommodate visitors.

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Now that looks a bit like peace!

-- Posted by shannonhoon on Tue, Aug 25, 2009, at 10:36 AM

Sure does, and I wish I were there to have some.

-- Posted by BarbaraNTexas on Tue, Aug 25, 2009, at 12:31 PM

That is a beautiful part of the country.

-- Posted by turdjerker on Tue, Aug 25, 2009, at 9:23 PM

Just took my kids there a few weeks ago! It's a favorite place of mine, spent many summer trips there as a kid!

-- Posted by military wife on Tue, Aug 25, 2009, at 9:59 PM

Its a lovely place ,so quiet and peaceful.All you hear is the old water wheel turning.You go and you want to stay

-- Posted by MOGAL on Thu, Aug 27, 2009, at 8:38 AM

there were some photographers there when we were over there and they were taking pictures of the old mill to put in a magazine,so when they left,I got in their spot and took the same photo and it was the exact same picture as they had in their magazine.I almost felt like a professional photographer.ha! Beautiful picture tho!!

-- Posted by MOGAL on Thu, Aug 27, 2009, at 8:43 AM