Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1340134
Longview Longview is situated in the northeastern part of McDonald County, located at the junction of Missouri Highway 76, McDonald County Route CC and Newton County Route D. It was named aer a store called Longview, which according to reports, got its name because of the panoramic view at the time and in part to Jim Long's orchards that laid northeast of the store. Today the store is joined by a feed mill, a cafe and a garage. Longview shares a new rural water district, a rural fire department and a new school complex with Rocky Comfort and parts of Stella. Ginger Blue Village In 1915, a railroad man from Kansas City built a summer lodge for city folk who wanted to get away and fish the Elk River. He built the lodge on the banks of the river and named it Ginger Blue aer a Native American chief who lived near the site in the 1700s. e resort became a success and the owner soon realized the need for a more family-oriented resort. In 1920, visitors from the three-state area thronged to the resort to enjoy nearby caves, the water and the sulphur wells. e tourism part of the area grew and flourished through the 1970s. Unfortunately, the old lodge was lost to fire a few years back. e Ginger Blue Village was incorporated several years ago. Today, the village leaders are working toward improvements and controlled growth. Splitlog Splitlog was named for Indian Chieain Mathias Splitlog, a wealthy entrepreneur from Kansas City who was lured to the northwestern part of McDonald County by reports of gold and silver being mined. Splitlog City was platted and several businesses, including a newspaper and hotel, were quickly built. A railroad was built to the city by the chief. In a few years it was rerouted to Goodman and then south. Later, it was purchased by Arthur Stilwell and incorporated into his own railway known as Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad. It is now known as Kansas City- Southern Railway company. Rocky Comfort Rocky Comfort exists far away from any other community in the northeastern corner of McDonald County. Rocky Comfort was first located on land purchased in 1855 by Felix and Ruth Stamps and was once considered a boomtown of sorts. Several interesting stories are speculated about the naming of this village. One claims the name came from the "comforting" feeling in the valley and the presence of "rocky" terrain. e second story is simpler. One resident was from Rocky Comfort, Ark., and is believed to have named his new home aer his old one. e Rocky Comfort Redevelopment Committee (RCRC) is a very active local group run by citizen volunteers that sponsors several very popular events throughout the year. Village of Stella Stella was once known as Village of Springs, so named because Indian Creek originated from Stella from a group of natural clear-water springs. e town is located in Newton County with part of an old 8,000-acre homestead of the first known settler of the community reaching into McDonald County to the south to what is now Owsley Cemetery and Union Church. Stella Fire Department volunteers. Photo courtesy McDonald County Press Outlying Communities 16 | McDonald county Directory