May 3, 2026: TIMES PAST compiled by Sue Ann Jones
Dawt mill and cotton gin This photo of the old Dawt mill and cotton gin is from the collection of Greg Moss, great-grandson of Sam Moss, who operated a blacksmith shop at Dawt in the early 1900s. Greg, who directed the restoration of the old mill several years ago, said his great-grandfather Sam was well known for his gigs that maintained their sharpness and seldom broke on the river bottoms. He said the cotton gin, which no longer stands, was powered by the mill's turbines that spun in the current created by a mill dam and mill race in the North Fork of the White River, producing about 90 horsepower. Moss said a shaft connected to the mill's turbines extended across the road to power the cotton gin, as well as a sawmill and the general store / post office. In a history of Dawt published by Times owner Ruby Robins in the Jan. 2, 1992, edition said a homesteader, Ruhama J. Isom, had operated a mill on the site "as early as 1866." Several others owned the property before Alva L. Hodgson (builder/owner of Hodgson Mill) bought the Dawt property in 1901 and built the three-story mill and cotton gin shown here, as well as the blacksmith shop, store, sawmill and family dwelling. The site is now a popular tourist attraction; since 1995, it has been owned by Dr. Ed Henegar, who commissioned the mill's restoration and expanded the resort facilities.
Ozark County News
May 2, 1889
One day last week John C. Caldwell discovered that his mill and gin, on Big North Fork [at Dawt], had been burned. Mr. Caldwell had been absent from the mill some days on account of the sickness of his relative, W. C. Price, and therefore knows that the burning was the work of an incendiary. The value of the property burned was probably $1000. A man named Harkins and a young man named Carrol have been arrested, charged with committing the offense, and the preliminary trial is now going on before Esq. Wattonbarger.
The Republican
May 2, 1906
The farmers are very busy now putting in their crops, and as a consequence the merchants are standing around with their hands in their pockets.
The combined Campbell & Bell Cinematograph Entertainment at the Methodist church last night was well attended and is without doubt the best exhibition of the sort which ever visited this place. The large and appreciative audience was entertained for nearly two hours by both laughable and instructive moving pictures and views. Edison’s invention of the Vitascope or Cinematograph, the moving picture machine, is a wonderful improvement over the old magic lantern.
Ozark County Times
May 7, 1926
Lee Roberts came over from Longrun Sunday to look after some business in the probate court but on Monday he went to Dr. White for treatment for a breaking out on his face and neck. The doctor pronounced the breaking out smallpox and ordered him to return to his home at once and placed him under quarantine regulations.
Radio fans please note that the night of May 12th will be West Plains and Gainesville night on Station W.O.S. Jefferson City, Mo. Gainesville people will take part in the program that night.
May 5, 1966
Hunters in Ozark county bagged 15 gobblers during the turkey hunting season, which started last Tuesday morning and continued through Saturday noon.
Barbara Rackley has been named as the valedictorian and Carol Huse as the salutatorian for the 1966 graduating class of the Gainesville High School. Miss Rackley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Rackley of Gainesville, and Miss Huse is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Huse of Hardenville.
The Bakersfield school district is going to construct an addition to the school building there to house the kindergarten classes. . . . The new building is to be ready by fall and is estimated to cost $13,859, and the district has received a grant for the construction under the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965, Title 1. There are now 28 pupils in the kindergarten, and 22 are expected for next year.
May 1, 1996
Gainesville Elementary School principal Eugene McBride has turned in his resignation as elementary principal after three years of service. . . . The principal’s position left open at the Gainesville Elementary School has been offered to Karla Eslinger of Wasola. Eslinger has accepted a one-year (ten and one-half month) contract.
May 3, 2006
Chris Estes, vice president of H&E Petroleum, and Mike Hyde, president of the company, were on hand along with former owners Mike and Connie Roberts Monday as Lick Creek Convenience changed hands. The Roberts retained ownership of the Lick Creek Subway restaurant; only the gas and convenience store were purchase by H&E, which owns and operates the Go Convenience stores located in the Ozarks.