Fog (now where did this come from?). Or Gimme Shelter (roll them Stones). The old stone shelter at Red Haw State Park: 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010.
This is the second of two consecutive days of gray skies here, but the fog is new --- settling down after church and lunch like the proverbial blanket. What could be seen in other circumstances would be the lake surrounding the bluff upon which this souvenir of the 1930s and the WPA stands.
The little white paper dangling from the door stated that the shelter was reserved today, but no sign of the reservers. Perhaps the weather discouraged them; perhaps they're coming later. Even on a day like today, neither hot nor cold, the shelter is a good place to gather --- especially if there's a roaring fire in that wonderful fireplace in the north wall. Over the years every type of occasion under the sun has been observed here: Family reunions, picnics, business meetings, church services, wiccan gatherings, funerals. You name it, those old stone walls have seen it.
Orbs? Oh come now. I'm not sure what the flash was bouncing off of in the rafters. There are fanciful folks out there who would call them "orbs," souvenirs of a previous life form. Don't buy into that. Sorry. But if you want to, feel free.
3 comments:
My grandfather, Bob Simmons, took a picture in front of the structure with his parents before leaving for the Army in WWII. His parents used to take Sunday drives through Red Haw to admire the scenery. I have many memories of Red Haw from summers in Chariton with my grandparents, watching fireworks and playing on the docks. Red Haw has been such a special place for my family for MANY years! :) We all very much enjoy your blog postings--thank you!!
Another story Bob Simmons tells is of the grand opening of Red Haw. He and a buddy determined to be the very first to enter the park, so the night before it officially opened they snuck in to wait. The police found them and drove them home. Not to be outdone, they walked back to the park, and fell asleep in a ditch outside the entrance. Unfortunately for them both, the next morning when they woke it was to the sound of cars streaming by, entering the park...
Thanks for the great stories, Angela. One of my uncles helped build the place as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Red Haw has brought an awful lot of joy over the years --- and still does!
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