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The History of Branson West A City At The Crossroads At the junctions of Highways 76 and 13, the city of Branson West is rapidly developing as the economic center of Stone County. Careful planning and improvements to the infrastructure of the city have created opportunity for growth and expansion allowing the tourism industry as well as service and other industries to prosper. However the city has always been at an important crossroads and instrumental in the economic growth of the region. The earliest records of European settlers in the area report that near the intersection described above, brothers named Yocum had settled. These brothers gave birth to a legend, that of the lost Silver Mine, and the now famous Yocum Silver Dollar. Some historians disagree and maintain that the Indians actually told the Yocums of a cave that contained a horde of silver left behind by Spanish Conquistadors a century or two previously. This Spanish silver the brothers reportedly melted down and used for their coins. Still yet other researchers maintain that in all probability there are no natural occurring veins of silver due to the geology of the region. Also the theory that Spanish explorers were in the region and left behind a buried treasure of silver is a remote possibility at best. And therefore they maintain that the most realistic explanation of the source for the silver the brothers used, was from coin paid by the government to Delaware Indians in return for title to lands the Indians relinquished in the East. The Delaware at the time maintained an extensive village near the point where modern day Highway 14 crosses the James River in neighboring Christian County. These historians speculate that the Yocums were trading potent Peach brandy to the Indians for their silver, which was an illegal practice. In an effort to hide this illegal activity from the authorities, the Yocums concocted the story of the mine as a source for the silver they were using to mint their trade dollars. Regardless of which version you want to believe, the exact truth behind the Yocum silver dollar is lost to antiquity. But the legend itself has come to be an important part of the history of Branson West and the economic development of the city over the years. Many fruitless attempts have been made during the last century to locate the mine. Mr. Ayres and members of his family, as well as others have searched the hills for the source of the Yocum's silver. Maps to the mine and stories have circulated, but even the most detailed instructions have yet to reveal any lost treasure. The only "Lost Treasure" that has materialized have been the businesses and attractions that capitalized on the legend. These ventures have been instrumental in drawing tourism and other investments to the city. One such venture was the construction of an outdoor amphitheater by Mr. Ayres and the production of a drama based on the legend of the Lost Silver Mine. The drama was said to have been well produced and although short lived, the play received rave reviews.
Realizing the potential of the crossroads, Howard Claybough, a business man from Reeds Spring, purchased the property and constructed a shopping center on the North side of Highway 76, naming the community "Lakeview." Years later he constructed a Mall on the opposite side of the now famous 76 strip. His family has operated businesses in the area for years and the Claybough Plaza remains today a cornerstone in the local economic infrastructure. Following the natural divide in the watersheds of the region, the Wilderness Road began as a trail or trace first used by herds of Buffalo and Elk migrating From the lush prairie land of the Springfield plateau north of Branson West to the winter pastures of Arkansas to the South. This long ridge, beginning just south of modern day Hilandville, continued all the way to the banks of the White River which is now Table Rock Lake. Near the location of the present day intersection of Highways 13 and 76 the trail divided offering an alternate route to the White, past the location of Silver Dollar City and down to Indian Point. After Springfield was settled, farmers along the White River valley and North Central Arkansas used the road to transport animals and produce to market at Springfield. Two local settlers and entrepreneurs realized that an improved toll road connecting Harrison and Berryville in Arkansas to Springfield could become a very profitable venture. Joe Philibert and W.W. Kimberling embarked upon constructing what would become and still remains to this day, one of the most important roads to the development of the entire area, The Wilderness Road of the Ozarks. Branson West was not only situated at an important crossroad as it is yet today, but it became the favorite campground for wagon masters and drovers that hauled freight and herded livestock to market in Springfield. The White River, before the dams were built that tamed it, was wild and frequently escaped its banks effectively putting the ferries that carried the wagons from bank to bank out of business. When the river was up, Branson West, or Linchpin as it was known in those days would become the stopping point for southbound traffic until the ferries could be repaired. The clearing around the small Linchpin tavern so named after the pin that connects the tongue of a wagon, was a natural place to camp, or for area residents to await wagons of freight for an order that was being shipped in. The war between the North and South postponed the plans of Philibert and Kimberling. Both armies passed through the crossroads along with raiders and brigands that roamed the area during those terrible times. After the war Philibert and Kimberling continued the process of improving the road. Reports have been passed down through the ages say that even while the construction was underway as many as one hundred wagons a day would pass through the crossroads. In 1884 the Marble Cave Mining and Manufacturing Company was formed to exploit the resources of the cave just east of Branson West. Although no precious ores or lost silver or gold was ever discovered in the cavern, the mining company did excavate untold amounts of Bat guano or droppings that was prized as fertilizer and in the production of gunpowder. No doubt this commodity, reported to bring as much as $700 a ton in the 1880s passed through the crossroads at Branson West on the way to the railroad at Springfield. Years later the cavern was renamed Marvel Cave and after the mining operations ceased it later became the major tourist attraction we now know as Silver Dollar City. Again the crossroads at Branson West became important to the region, as it is one of the only two routes to and from the ever-expanding tourist attraction. With the completion of the railroad through the nearby city of Reeds Spring, Branson West continued to be an important focal point with all sorts of agricultural and other products passing through the crossroads to and from the railroad. Then after the publication of the book "The Shepherd of the Hills" by Harold Bell Wright, in 1906, tourists passed through the crossroads to visit "The Shepherd of the Hills Farm" which was the location that the fictional drama was said to have been based upon, as well as Marvel Cave Park. The city of Branson West continued to be at an important crossroads with the development of resorts and retirement communities that sprung up after Table Rock Lake was completed in the late 1950s. The Swiss Villa Amphitheater at Lampe brought renowned musicians into the area to perform before sold out audiences. This was an important development to the area as some of the musicians fell in love with the region and returned to open their own theaters in Branson. Once again, due to the geographic location of Branson West many of the guests attending these attractions were required to pass through the city. Once known simply as "Linchpin," then after the impoundment of Table Rock, as "Lakeview" the city was renamed Branson West in 1992. Although this name change was controversial at the time, the foresight and vision of city leaders proved to be timely with the tremendous influx of tourists into the region during the "boom years" of Branson during the mid 1990s. This name change also alleviated confusion, as there is another city in the State of Missouri also known as Lakeview. Their toll road never materialized. But what Philibert and Kimberling created from an animal trace and widened to allow wagons to pass, has been undergoing constant improvement ever since. And as it has for more than 150 years the city of Branson West continues to lie at an important crossroad, both in the figurative and speculative sense. A recently opened bypass around Reed's Spring, along with plans to relocate Highway 13 around Branson West and extend 76 to intersect 13 just west of the present location, will further alleviate traffic congestion through the city and offer tourists and shoppers alike a safer and less hectic environment to do business in the city. General retail and service businesses, along with restaurants, motels, and tourist attractions offer the visitor and resident more than ample opportunity and variety. These businesses along with a recently opened Wal-mart Super Center make Branson West the most important economic "hub" in the entire county. So perhaps the Yocums silver mine was never really lost, the "Silver Mine" is now as it has been for over one hundred years, the city of Branson West, the city at the crossroads.
A Copy of the Program from the Play." THE LOST SILVER MINE " by Ron Boutwell from the "LOST SILVER MINE"
 A scene from the drama Radford Massey portraying the character of Lem Collins at the wheel of a Model "T"
from the "LOST SILVER MINE"
A log cabin as used as part of the set in the "Lost Silver Mine" Dama. from the "LOST SILVER MINE"
The characters James & Winonah Yocum as portrayed by Glen Braden and Nina
Cook.
.
The present day location
of the Branson West Photo #1
Aerial View of the intersection showing Claybough Motors in center top of photo. Branson West Photo #2 |
Although
various local historians differ on the exact origins of the
legend, the stories have become a major part of the history
of the region. In his book Traces of Silver, the native
historian and long time businessman Artie Ayres, describes
how the Yocum Brothers traded with Native Americans for
information on the whereabouts of a Silver Mine. After
gaining this information the Yocums set about mining the ore
and minting their own silver dollars. At the time this was a
common practice on the frontier as United States currency
was extremely scarce. Mr. Ayres goes on to tell of how while
mining the ore the mine collapsed trapping two of the Yocum
family and the survivors fearing the worst left their
relatives entombed in the collapsed mine, and soon later
leaving the region for the newly discovered gold fields of
California. The legend goes on to tell that before leaving,
the Yocums, hid the entrance to the mine so well that to
this day, the exact location remains a mystery.
For years the crossroad
was known as "Aker's Corner" due to the small market and Ice
cream/hamburger stand operated by the Akers family.
