Williamsburg Villager November 2020
Williamsburg Villager November 2020
Thanksgiving!!!
By David Crane
Sorry about no October issue. It’s been crazy around here and it just didn’t get done.
It seems like 2020 is the longest year but time is still flying. Can’t believe the holidays are upon us. Deer season, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, yikes!!! We have some special hours for this month so look elsewhere in the Villager for more info.
As 2020 finishes up, we all should take time to shake off the national problems and look to what we are thankful for. I’m thankful for a healthy family that, knock on wood, has avoided this pandemic. I’m thankful for a wife that continues to sacrifice her time and sanity to keep the kids and staff in her school safe and focused on learning. It can be a struggle at times and she is trying the best she can. I’m thankful for Mason. He is growing his senior year as he focuses on finishing their best season in soccer and contemplating whether to continue to play in college or look for other opportunities. I’m thankful for Trask as he finishes at Wisconsin and decides if to continue his education in a Master’s program or enter the workforce full time. Oh to be young and to have the future in front of you. I’m thankful for all the staff here at Crane’s Store. They put up with my crazy orders and find a place to put most everything that comes in. They treat our customers with patience and understanding while trying to keep everyone safe. They also put up with my wild ideas for internet advertising. I’m thankful for the staff at Marlene’s. I’m not a restaurant guy and they are keeping things humming and safe down the street. They treat their customers well and it shows in the reviews that they get on Tripadvisor and Yelp. I’m also thankful for the old and new customers that come in everyday to experience retail in real life. It seems as we are travelling quickly down a one way street to online everything, and I appreciate those that still want the real store environment.
So Happy Thanksgiving and look out for the new Christmas Video coming out online!
Marlene’s Thanksgiving and Deer Hunting Special
November 22, the restaurant will be serving turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. The homestyle dinner will be served from noon until they run out. Come early so you don’t miss out.
Deer season is biscuit and gravy time at the restaurant. On Saturday Nov 14 and 21 you can order it all day long. On Sunday Nov 15 and 22 you can get yourself a plate from 8am until 11am.
Scenic Missouri
Alley Spring National Park
By Karl K, Editor/Photographer
Editor’s Note: From time to time I’ll be writing about some of the scenic locations that I visit during the course of my ongoing statewide photographic project.
Just outside of Eminence Missouri is the Alley Spring National Park. To get there just follow Rte. 106 west about 6 miles or so. When you first arrive, you won’t see the Old Red Mill but you will hear the rushing water coming up from the spring. As you follow the path to the mill you’ll see the old white schoolhouse off to your left. You’ll round a corner and cross over a small bridge.
The bright red mill was completed in 1894. Something to note is this mill wasn’t powered by a traditional waterwheel. The Alley Spring mill was powered by a water turbine. The chute for the turbine is located under the back deck. You can’t miss it. A good chunk of the 81,000,000 gallons of water per day coming out of the spring pours out of the chute and that mini waterfall is what you heard when you arrived.
The second visual feast is the spring itself. Walk around the building and take the trail that goes along the edge of the spring. It’s a deep blue hole spring that’s about 155 feet deep with a cavern that stretches at least 3000 feet underground. The water coming up from the spring is a milky turquoise blue. All 81,000,000 gallons a day. That makes it the seventh largest spring in Missouri. As you walk around the spring look up at the edges of the bluff. You’ll see all kinds of caves and caverns everywhere.
Making a trip to Alley Spring just to take in the sheer beauty of this place is reason enough to take a day trip. Other things to do when you’re there includes taking a tour of the mill itself. There’re all kinds of trails to hike throughout the area and when it’s hot out the area around Eminence is the float trip mecca of Missouri.
Bundt Pan Coffee Cake
by Marlene Crane
- 1 box white cake mix
- ½ cup sugar
- ¾ cup oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 eggs
- 3 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup chopped nuts
Mix first five ingredients. Place half of the batter in a well greased and floured bundt pan. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, and nut mixture, then add remaining batter.
Bake in pre heated 350 degree oven for one hour. Ice with powdered sugar and milk glaze.
The Williamsburg Villager is provided by Crane's Museum and Shoppes. Please submit any announcements to David Crane at Crane's Country Store located next door to the museum by the 15th of each month to ensure publication.
Annual subscriptions are available for a $12.00 donation to the museum.
Crane's Museum & Shoppes
10665 Old US Hwy 40
Williamsburg, MO 63388
877-254-3356
Crane's Museum is a Regional History Museum located in Williamsburg MO. We invite visitors of all ages to enjoy a step back in time. Enjoy breakfast or lunch in Marlene's Restaurant, shop for gifts at Town House Treasures, or get ready for any season at Crane's country Store's Clearance and Closeout Shop.