Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-05-30
THE ARCADIA VALLEY.
From The Western Fruit Grower.

Iron Mountain Railroad, in Iron Coun-
ty A lovely Valley lying between the
Ozark Mountains, with all the desira-
BILE qualities for a residence home, and
within easy reach of the city of St.
Louis, about IS miles away.
At one end of the Valley is Ironton.
nesting at the foot of Shepherd Noun
tain, whose summit is several hundred
feet above the beautiful Valley.
This busy little town looks like it
was set down in a grove, with its am
pie residence lots, planted with numer-
Gus shade and fruit trees, and its broad
streets lined with fine naples.
At the other end of the Valley lies
the older and more picturesque village
of Arcadia, separated from Ironton
only by beautiful, clear stream of
water, formed by the numerous springs
farther up in the mountains.
North of the Valley are Pilot Knob
anu 1lOA hOddGdIHs GWO VI lAO A1l SOS0
deposits of iron ore in the world-and
not FAR away to the northwest are i'm
mense masses of high quality of
granite.
The residence grounds are most of
them of ample dimensions. with trees
of luxuriant growth, making a lovely
picture of Arcadian life. Through the
kindness of Mrs. Helen O'Brien, who,
by the way, is a most successful real
estate dealer, and a highly cultured
lady, whom it is pleasure to meet,
we were shown the beauties OF the Val
ley and the surrounding country.
Driving up on an elevation (the Val
ley is not level, but undulating), where
the greater part of the country shut
in by the hills lay spread out before
US, there came to our mind Longfel-
lows description of that other Area
dian land, and as we gazed we repeat
ed:
"There, in the midst of its farms,
reposed the Arcadian village-and over
the roofs of the village columns OF
pale blue smoke, like clouds of incense
ascending, rose from a hundred
hearths, the homes of peace and con-
tentment.
A number of farms lie in the Valley,
while the hillsides and plateaus and the
surrounding hills are in every way de-
sirable for general agricultural pur-
poses and especially adapted to the
growing of fruit.
These two towns, Ironton and Ar
cadia have population of about $500,
with Pilot Knob not far away, with
another 1000.
The elevation is $50 feet, with the
surrounding hills two to three hundred
feet higher. This elevation, together
with the fine water, makes it healthy
location. Scores of springs abound,
whose clear cold waters flowing to.
! gether, form streams of considerable
size, and afford ample water facilities.
| These springs are on the mountains
as we'll as in the Valley; the large one
on top of Shepherd mountain being Of
sufficient size to furnish ample water
supply to the whole Valley, If taker
care of.
About half mile away is a narrow
mountain gorge, through which al
the waters of the Valley find their exit
This canon is called s'Shut-In" and ha:
a rugged beauty equal to the famed
canons of Colorado.
Indeed. one might write columns ant
not exhaust the many naturally beau
tiful features of this vicinity. Colum
more on the beautiful building spots
many of which haye been selected anC
now form most desirable homes, com
bIning natural beauty with the artistic
One writer likens the whole Valley t.
.srare cameo, artistically SET"
This is also historic ground. Herr
the battle of Pilot Knob was fought
and many and interesting are the his
toric features that are pointed out t,
the visitor.
This battle was mostly fought Of
Pilot Knob hill, the cavalry charge'
clear down to Arcadia. We are show
where the magazine was located be
tween two hills, and told how the Cor
federates got possession of same, bu
were driven back and large amour
of supplies removed, a fuse being lai
that destroyed the remainder.
Gen. Thos. Ewing was in comman
of the Federal forces, with about /, 10
men. Gen. Price commanded ConfeG
crate forces of II. 900 men. The '.Ol
Arcadia Hotel, :" which was burned la:
November, was used by Gen. Price q
Headquarters. So much of historic il
terest lies clustered around this spo
one can hardly leaye it.
In this Valley Gen. Grant receive
his commission as Brigadier Genera
aud the very oak tree under which b
stood when receiving said commissio