March 4, 2026: Times Past researched by Sue Ann Jones
While Ozark County is well known for its water-powered grist mills, this mill that operated near Dora was powered by steam. The 1913 photo was published in the July 29, 1970, edition of the West Plains Daily Quill and was credited to Mrs. Clyde Wade of Dora. Owners Willie Mayfield, left, and Mort Reary are shown standing on the porch. Searching the Ozark County Times archives shows that as many as three mills operated in the Dora area around the turn of the 20th century. We don't know when this mill opened, but newspaper reports hint at its year of operation. In the Oct. 5, 1893, the Times' Dora correspondent wrote, "Mr. [Lando] Pleas is the proprietor of the Dora flouring mill, one of the most important enterprises of the county." A 1909 item reported, "The Dora Flouring mill is now grinding new wheat. Wheat is starting at $105 per bushel. This means $3 flour." In 1918, a Dora item said, "The Dora mill has stopped again. Mart [owner] says they are waiting for their license. We didn't know they had to have a license to run shorts and bran into flour." In its Feb. 19, 1964, edition, a headline in the Quill announced, "Old Dora Mill Destroyed by Fire." The news brief continued, "The roller mill, an old landmark built about 100 years ago where farmers had wheat milled until the last few years, was destroyed by fire recently."
Ozark County News
March 15, 1883
West Plains – On the 5th last, Gov. Crittenden issued a commutation in the case of A. J. McGinnis for the murder of his wife on the 22nd of May, 1882. He was tried last August, found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentence to be hung. . . . Governor Crittenden has given him fifteen years in the penitentiary. McGinnis is now about fifty years old and in rather delicate health, and it will be a rare accident if he lives his time out.
The Republican
March 8, 1906
Sheriff Mahan has supplied a long-felt want by having a good, substantial hitch-rack erected around the square.
Ozark County Times
Feb. 14, 1919
Dora items – News was received here Thursday of the death of Mrs. Sylvia Dobbs. She was standing by the stove and her clothing caught fire, burning her so severely that she died in a few hours. She leaves a husband and three small children.
March 5, 1926
Hammond items – Ray Wright made a working on Washington's birthday and several men and boys gathered in and helped him rebuild his barn.
Please tell the farm agent to come to Hammond on his next trip if he wants to see up-to-date farming and a flock of Orphington chickens that are blue ribboners and laying eggs to the tune of eight dozen per day.
March 1, 1951
H. M. Werbitzky of Willow Springs, division 9 Highway Engineer, has revealed that the giant bridge to be built over Bull Shoals Lake at Theodosia will stretch 1,800 feet from one bluff to another and 80 feet above the water. Construction is expected to be started this summer. An $880,000 contract for construction of the bridge, over a valley and town the Bull Shoals lake will cover with water, probably will be let during March.
March 4, 1976
Dora items, Mrs. J. T. Cropper, correspondent – At the Dora Senior Citizens' last club meeting, a birthday party was held for Capitola Dodson and Ina Bird. The women all wore long dresses. After the party, they all took lap quilts they had made to R. H. Williams, Evelyn Morrison, Sigel Amyx at Batchelder's Boarding Home. They are a very busy group and have a lot of fun. . . .
March 7, 1991
From a pork roast dinner at Longrun to a quilting bee at Almartha, from a canoe race at Dora to a barbecue at Tecumseh, from music on the Square in Gainesville to a stage show in Theodosia, Ozark County's Dogwood Spring Fling will show off not only the beauty of the hills decked out for spring but will also offer a look at some of the unique qualities that make up the personality of Ozark County. The Spring Fling is planned for the weekends of April 13-14 and 20-21 during the height of the blooming of Ozark County's dogwood trees. Organizers are attempting to make sure events are planned throughout the county. . . . "This is a special time for visitors to see how special our county is and for all of us here in the county to get out and visit all of its communities," Chamber of Commerce President John Zook said.