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Willow Springs Historical and Genealogical Society

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Willow Springs, MO
Willow Springs Historical and Genealogical Society

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Open every Thursday from 1–5pm, and by appointment if you cannot make it during regular hours. Do you have historical materials to donate? Please contact us!

Owned and operated by the Willow Springs Community Foundation.

10/31/2026

Hillcrest Court & Service Station, Willow Springs
1956

10/30/2026

Concreting the Viaduct and South Harris Street, Willow Springs
1960's

Museum Legacy Collection Photograph

10/30/2026

Blacksmith Shop, Willow Springs
Circa 1910

Francis "Fatty" Anson on left, Tom Coker on right.

Fatty Anson was a blacksmith in Willow Springs for over 65 years.

This shop pictured here was the original shop in the first location on Front Street.

His latest blacksmith shop was located just north of the "skyscraper" located at Main (Second Street) and Harris Street. Click on the link below to see the exact location of the latest location.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4AV5oUuFVXivjCTy6

10/28/2026

First Braddock Lakes/Hay Holler YCC Reunion Brings Former Campers Together Nearly 50 Years Later

On Saturday, October 24, the Willow Springs Historical & Genealogical Society hosted the first-ever reunion of the Braddock Lakes/Hay Holler Youth Conservation Corps Camp.

The reunion welcomed 30 attendees, including 21 former YCC enrollees and nine spouses. Several traveled from out of state and many came from several hours away to reconnect with friends they had not seen in decades.

The afternoon began with a short presentation on the history of Braddock Lakes, Hay Holler, and the YCC, along with artifacts and historical materials displayed for the occasion. After a delicious potluck meal and plenty of reminiscing, we traveled to the former camp at Braddock Lakes, just over the Douglas County line on the former Walter and Ruby Braddock farm and resort property.

Former campers walked the grounds, examined the remaining foundations of their old camp buildings, and shared memories of how the place looked during the 1970s.

Then came the finale—the opening of the time capsule.

Around 1980, YCC enrollees built a roughly three-foot-by-three-foot mortared stone structure containing materials from the camp. For an hour and a half, former campers and I took turns with a sledgehammer trying to break into it—with absolutely no luck!

As dusk approached, everyone finally admitted defeat and headed home. Shortly before sunset, however, we decided to give it a few more tries. Rather than swinging harder, we began chipping away at the center. Suddenly, it started to cave in.

Beneath the concrete was a wooden lid, and beneath that was a metal container wrapped in layers of plastic.

After nearly 50 years, the Hay Holler time capsule was finally open!

Unfortunately, everything inside was soaked. I loaded the contents into a plastic tote and drove out of Hay Hollow at dusk with nearly 50 years of hidden camp history sitting in my back seat.

Inside were two glass soda bottles, several C-rations, camp photographs, magazines, newspapers, a Missouri driver's guide, a Wildlife Code of Missouri handbook, and approximately 120 pages of camp documents and YCC materials. Among the most exciting discoveries were personally written journal-style accounts describing the day-to-day activities of the camp and its enrollees.

The contents were carefully separated and dried, and I have since successfully digitized the surviving materials. They will next be turned over to the U.S. Forest Service for further curation and preservation.

This was carried out with full support and approval by the US. Forest Service. The Forest has always been supportive of my endeavors, and has always been great to work with through the many years that I have worked on projects with them ranging from cultural resource projects to historic site interpretation.

Perhaps the most common question of the day was, “Are you going to do this again next year?”

The answer is absolutely YES!

After seeing old friends reunited, hearing stories that had not been told in decades, returning to the camp together, and recovering records placed there nearly half a century ago, there is no question that this should continue.

The first Braddock Lakes/Hay Holler YCC Reunion may be over, but it certainly will not be the last. We look forward to bringing everyone together again next year!

— Alex Biehl
Curator | Willow Springs Historical & Genealogical Society

10/27/2026

Willow Springs Boys Basketball
February 1967

Willow Springs News Photograph Collection

10/27/2026

A Good Hand, Willow Springs
1910

Two men enjoy a game of cards while seated on their donkeys near Willow Springs’ original Frisco viaduct, built in 1896. What a way to play!

10/26/2026

You wouldn't see this today!
September 1962

Willow Springs News Photograph Collection

10/26/2026

Frisco Roundhouse, Willow Springs
1940

The tracks pictured on the left led to the turntable, which allowed locomotives to be turned around and directed into the nearby roundhouse. The roundhouse was located near the present-day MFA feed store in Willow Springs and served as an important maintenance facility for the railroad. Inside, locomotives could be inspected, serviced, repaired, and prepared for their next run. The turntable provided access to the individual stalls of the roundhouse, allowing engines to be moved in and out as needed.

John Mathieu Photograph Collection

10/25/2026

Willow Springs High School (Now Middle School), September 1962

Do you recognize anyone in this photo?

Willow Springs News Photograph Collection

10/24/2026

Missouri State Highway Patrol, Willow Springs
Circa 1960's

Do you recognize any of these folks?

Willow Springs News Photograph Collection

Address

211 North Harris
Willow Springs, MO
65793

Opening Hours

1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+14172521750

Website

facebook.com

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