What could be more beautiful than to drive along the two lane Route  66  through  the
rolling Ozark Mountains at the foot of the Missouri Ozark chain of mountains!!!

Driving west from St. Louis, Missouri, to Springfield, Missouri,  along  this  route,
seeing the rolling mountains, driving thru the huge cuts of limestone rock along this
road is breath-taking for its beauty. Viewing all the prairie land with its diversity
of flowers all at the same time, is still a sight to behold.

Suddenly one is on top of one of the rolling mountains and as one descends  one  soon
sees an old bridge in front of them. It is narrow, two lane bridge and it crosses the
Little Piney Creek at Arlington, Missouri. One can look to the left and see where the
Little Piney Creek gradually becomes smaller  and  smaller  as  it  flows  under  the
bridge. There are numerous Missouri Ozark -- sand dunes, drift  wood,  stoney  pebble
bars, shrubs, birds, snakes, insects and flowers as the water becomes  more  shallow.
Just a small amount of water in normal times flows underneath this bridge.

This Little Piney Creek passes under the bridge and now keeps flowing  north  and  to
the right hand side of the bridge  enters  the  mighty  Gasconade  River  at  Jerome,
Missouri, one mile to the north. On a bright and sunny day and with no leaves on  the
trees one can actually see the Little Piney Creek enter the Gasconade River and it is
so pretty to see all at the same time. A once in a life time experience. It has to be
the right type of day to witness all of this.

Do not be deceived by what appears to be a benign stream of water. This area  flooded
completely frequently.

The Route 66 bridge is still pretty high up from the Little Piney Creek and the  flow
of water as one continues their descent west, one then drives into  almost  a  bottom
land setting with it's sand, smaller streams, wet lands, wet land birds  an  so  many
flowers and shrubs. When the sun is shining brightly which it almost always  does  in
this area of the State of Missouri, and one can see almost from  horizon  to  horizon
(East to West), this is a simply a gorgeous, stunning sight to  see.  Especially  for
the first time.

Driving a short distance more and one comes upon Stony Dell. An Oasis in  the  middle
of these mountains. A stop for the weary traveler. A place to eat and  have  fun.  To
swim and to socialize.

Stony Dell, was an entertainment complex built right on the old Route  66.  Even  the
movie star and entertainer, Mae West stopped here once. It was  very  famous  in  its
time.

I remember what a treat it was to go swimming at Stony Dell when I was a kid.

If I remember right there were 3 diving boards at 3 different heights. What a  thrill
it was to dive off the high board.

I grew up close to the Little Piney Creek, so I spent a lot of my time in the  summer
swimming in the old swimming hole, right below the bridge into Newburg, MO.

I can't remember when I didn't know how to swim, but there were no diving  boards  in
the Little Piney Creek. I remember a rope swing that we  could  swing  out  over  the
water and then let go.

Sometimes our youth group from the Church of God church in Newburg, MO. would get  to
go to Stony Dell.

It was always so much fun, There was a restaurant there  and  an  area  where  people
could dance if they wanted to.

There were dressing rooms and an outdoor shower. You were supposed to put your trunks
on, then get under the shower before you got into the pool.

The area and wall around the pool was made out of native stone. Just gorgeous.

Stony Dell's heyday was in the 1930's and 1940's. I can  remember  lots  of  soldiers
from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, being around the pool during the war.

It closed sometime in the 1950s, by then it was getting pretty run down.

It was right on the highway -- Route 66. They moved the highway (now I-44) just south
of where the pool was located.

Interstate 44 (I-44) bypassed so many of these famous places which were  run  by  the
local people that they had to close for the lack of business from the traveler.

One reason for building the new road in this area was to make it  a  four  lane  road
plus eliminate the entire flooding of this land by water from the overflow  of  flood
waters from the Gasconade River and the Little Piney Creek as described  above,  plus
the flooding of Stony Dell and other structures in this area.

One of the worst floodings ever was in June 8, 1945, when the entire region  was  cut
off by massive flooding and there was flood water everywhere by these waters. Traffic
on Route 66 was completely halted as the water covered  most  of  the  lower  highway
section. The water level was within feet of coverning the Bridge  floor  itself.  The
Bridge was considered dangerous plus there was no place to go when one crossed it.

There were many onlookers who drove to this area just to see the unbelievable massive
flooding and the Bridge and others who just dared to cross the  bridge,  turn  around
and came back--just to say they did this. Some onlookers kept watching to see whether
this huge bridge would be stable or would be swept  away  by  the  massive,  flooding
waters.

The huge Gasconade River was overflowing its banks and backing up  the  Little  Piney
Creek. The Flood waters were almost covering the  Bridge  floor  itself.  The  Little
Piney Creek was flooded itself at its origin. The Little Piney Creek flowed thru  the
outskirts of town of Newburg, MO. which also had the  worst  flooding  possible.  One
could not believe the height of this water at this time unless  they  witnessed  this
event themselves.

Another reason for building this four lane road was to provide  a  faster  access  to
Fort Leonard Wood. The two lane road was not sufficient for all the equipment  needed
to operate the Post. Especially dangerous was the  very  heavy  equipment  which  was
wider than normal needing more space to travel.

Stony Dell -- the magificent rock - like pebble complex is no longer there. Not  even
a trace. Not even a trace of anything like the area was before due to  the  new  four
lane highway (I - 44) and the new bridge. I would like to see all again.  It  was  so
pretty and so unique. I am sorry  that  many  people  were  not  able  to  view  this
structure and take part in the activities like I was able to do.

 
                                          Written by Cordell Webb
                     Son of Ferd Weldon and Reba Helen (Deskin) Webb
                                                Newburg, Missouri
                                                        May  2006