A few months ago, I wrote a brief entry about Eldorado Springs in Cedar County, Missouri, and I noted that it was one of many towns throughout the Ozarks that sprang up during the mineral water craze of the later 1800s and early 1900s. In fact, nearly all towns in the region that have the words "springs" on the end of their name were founded as mineral-water spas or resorts.
One of the earliest such resort towns in the Ozarks was Monegaw Springs, located about nine or ten miles west of Osceola in St. Clair County, Missouri. It was established before the Civil War and, like its neighbor to the east, was burned by Jim Lane and his Kansas jayhawkers during the war. It was rebuilt and began to flourish as a resort after the Civil War. It was during this time that it became a hideout for the infamous Younger gang. The Youngers often frequented one of the town's hotels and an adjacent tavern, and they used a secluded cave on the nearby Osage River as a hideout. A bluff above the river near the cave became known locally as Younger Lookout.
Monegaw Springs, like many of the other spring-water towns, declined dramatically after the mineral-water craze passed, and its fate as a near ghost town was sealed when the building of the Baldwin Lakes cut off easy access to the town. Today, the once-thriving little resort town is located in an out-of-the-way spot that few people visit.
25 comments:
the book caves of missouri by harlen bretz the cave over the osage river is the monegaw cave the cave by the little monegaw creek is the cleveland cave both are recored with state of missouri the same way
vic
I think the Monegaw Cave (the one on the Osage) is the one the Youngers supposedly used.
At the entrance of the cave their is a rock with the name GH Dorman chiseled in its face. This was my great great uncle whom associated and traded with the Younger James Gang.
The cave at the bluff on the Osage River is below the Youngers Lookout. The cave on the Little Monegaw Creek, about 1/2 mile northwest of the center of the town is the Monegaw Cave. The land the Monegaw cave is located on was purchased from a Mrs Cleaveland by my father in about 1939 to 1943 and I grew up in the town, went to school there, and played in both caves frequently.
tip coleman
is wrong all the records say the cave on the little monegaw creek is the ceveland cave not the monegaw cave records are right folklore is not right most of the time I KNOW I OWN THE CEVELAND CAVE
vic
Looking for information on my grandmother Leta Coleman, born in or around Monegaw Springs 1883.
I don't know anything about Leta Coleman, but perhaps one of the people who posted followups to my original post, such as Tip Coleman, does.
I explored the Cleveland cave many years ago. It appears to have been used by native peoples for many years as a mine for high quality chert to use to fashion blades and tools. The nodules can still be seen in the upper walls of the cave. R.H. Hawk
do any of you have any knowledge of a Rittermeyer family living there and having a small brick factory in Monegaw and owning land near caves? I would like any info and would like to buy some of the bricks embossed with the name Rittermeyer on them. thank you Paul Arnold paularnold217@centurytel.net
2/12/14 I think the time frame would be 1930s-1940s
Back in the 1950's my dad and (5) others bought some acreage at Monegaw Springs. It included the old abandoned school house, the cave above Monegaw Creek, a man-made lake, and the ruins of clubhouse hill which included the namesake spring which smelled like rotten eggs. We all sampled the water from the spring. I spent many a weekend there...fishing, exploring, going in the cave. Dad had a bass mounted that was caught from the lake. Once, we went in the cave to get some bat guano when we were pelted with bat dropping from the bats fleeing the cave.
A few times us kids would rent a couple of horses from the locals.
Years later a friend and I went back to Monegaw with metal detectors. Our destination was clubhouse hill. All I found was a 1904 dime. Ahh...many fond memories.
I was wrong. Previously I stated that my dad once owned the land the Monegaw Cave was on, and Anonymous said the proper name of the cave is "Cleveland Cave". That is correct, I was wrong - thanks for correcting me.
Mike McMillin said...
Looking for information on my grandmother Leta Coleman, born in or around Monegaw Springs 1883.
December 26, 2012 at 4:01 AM
My dad's sister was named Leta Coleman, but she was born around 1908. She was born about 10 miles northwest of Monegaw. Perhaps the Leta you are looking for may have been an aunt of my dad's and of the Leta that I knew.
Tip Coleman , I have read your wonderful stories from Monegaw. I love seeing people share history like that for others to be able to reminisce! I recognized one of pictures as maybe my great grandfather, Robert Hawkins. I was curious if you happened to have any other pictures of Monegaw around 1940's? My grandpa will be 75 this year and would love to surprise him with something!!!
I can assure you that both caves are the same cave. years ago the caves used to join and go all the way through before they collapsed in. I know I used to play in them all the time and it would take you all the way from the creek to the river underground.
The cave used to be known as the Younger cave. Look at this photo taken in 1910 https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0826266452, way before the cave was called the cleveland cave..
I've been in the cave above little Monegaw a long time ago. Would like to take my kids for a tour if you don't mind.
Went in this cave wiyh my 2 brothers and stepdad in 1982. I remember having to step or jump across big cracks that was in the walk path and not being able to see the bottom with our flashlights. Wonderland cave in bella vista Arkansas is my newest cave i have explored and it is very diffrent from the cave in monegaw. Nick Kendus
Monegaw Springs is my go to place to gather my thoughts.My grandparents had a cabin there from the 1950s thru ,i suppose the late 60s.Ive heard stories about my grandpa, Tim Martin, camping there in probably the late20s early 30s.Ive heard about a postcard of him telling grandma he didnt know when he would be back to KC, as he had to come up with 5$ for a new motorcycle tire.I often ride my motorcycle there,often with friends,that have never been there.They all say words dont express what a cool place it is.
I. Live. A. Half a mile from. The monegawsprings. Cave. And was. Married. At. Youngers lookout on September. 3rd 2017 we lived up here for 7 years on nw 50 Rd
I. Live a half a mile. From. The monegawsprings cave I got married on September 3rd 2017. At. Youngers lookout. We lived here for 7 years ago at me 50 Rd
I have been in both caves the cave that is not on the river I lost my billfold in I rember using a lighter to see that night that's why I couldn't find it. I remember a bigger room in it and if you low crawled to the right you would come out in what me and my friend called the hallway a pool of water was at the end of it.
Are there any records of African-American individuals living in Monegaw Springs? Were there any known African-Americans associated with the Younger Brothers?
No African-Americans associated with the Youngers that I know about, but someone else might be able to answer that questions better than I can.
I'm a first cousin four times removed from Cole Younger. Suze was a freed slave who was a nannie to the Younger's.her sister married a McFerrin who was an African American that was associated with the Younger family. They called her Auntie. They lived not very far from the location of the shootout with the Detective's. John Younger's body was moved to the McFerrin home before being buried under a tree in their orchard.
Merrill Drake Jr
Yes, I'm familiar with Auntie McFerrin. As you say, she lived very close to where the shootout took place.
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