Comments on: Tell Us Your Meramec Stories http://into-nature.com/2008/05/01/tell-us-your-meramec-stories/ Don Corrigan - Environmental Journalist and Nature Writer Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:17:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: WE http://into-nature.com/2008/05/01/tell-us-your-meramec-stories/#comment-321 WE Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:55:30 +0000 http://doncorrigan.wordpress.com/?p=30#comment-321 In 1977, I bought 5+ acres with an old log cabin on it on Highway O between Cuba and Steelville (375' frontage on the river), and spent many a day and nite and weekends enjoying wade fishing, having a few with the locals (mostly loose ends in Cuba), enjoying a Steak Sandwitch at Noels, and listening to the incredable nite sounds (including beaver tail slaps and big bass jumping). The Meramec river is a soulfull place. The Hawks, the bugs, the watercrests and the rodan sized Blue Herons, the topless canoers, the worms on my island and my dog (Sid the wonder dog) who loved the river as much as I do. The gals from Rolla, and fuzzy the Crawford County Heavyweight Arm Wrestling champ who hurt me. The river farting, and the Big Mud Turtle I caught by the foot who tried to take my finger in return. The Nite time Gig fishermen and the drunks on the weekends messing up themselves and the river, and the times the river comes up so fast. Those are some of my memories. Bill In 1977, I bought 5+ acres with an old log cabin on it on Highway O between Cuba and Steelville (375′ frontage on the river), and spent many a day and nite and weekends enjoying wade fishing, having a few with the locals (mostly loose ends in Cuba), enjoying a Steak Sandwitch at Noels, and listening to the incredable nite sounds (including beaver tail slaps and big bass jumping). The Meramec river is a soulfull place. The Hawks, the bugs, the watercrests and the rodan sized Blue Herons, the topless canoers, the worms on my island and my dog (Sid the wonder dog) who loved the river as much as I do. The gals from Rolla, and fuzzy the Crawford County Heavyweight Arm Wrestling champ who hurt me. The river farting, and the Big Mud Turtle I caught by the foot who tried to take my finger in return. The Nite time Gig fishermen and the drunks on the weekends messing up themselves and the river, and the times the river comes up so fast. Those are some of my memories. Bill

]]> By: bob sargent http://into-nature.com/2008/05/01/tell-us-your-meramec-stories/#comment-302 bob sargent Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:19:03 +0000 http://doncorrigan.wordpress.com/?p=30#comment-302 Hey Dickie, I hope this finds you doing well. We did the Huzzah several years from the Brown's rental after you loaned us Treehouse's recording by Shipley. Drop me a note if wish. Sarge Hey Dickie,
I hope this finds you doing well. We did the Huzzah several years from the Brown’s rental after you loaned us Treehouse’s recording by Shipley. Drop me a note if wish.
Sarge

]]> By: Susan Stumpf Kloepper http://into-nature.com/2008/05/01/tell-us-your-meramec-stories/#comment-25 Susan Stumpf Kloepper Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:32:11 +0000 http://doncorrigan.wordpress.com/?p=30#comment-25 Dear Don, Even tho I left comments on your mail site and Times site I wanted to tell you that last year I donated 2 of my canoeing trophies from 1966 and 1967 to the Route 66 Museum at Times Beach This year I donated the matching trophy from 1966 won by Ron Kloepper who I was dating at that time. He also had me donate his National Poling Championship 1966 plaque to the museum. I truly hope that the people there have decided to display them after the race weekend held there in May. I was there and at the dinner - but did not participate in the competition . Thanks for all of the update. Susan Stumpf Kloepper - Dallas, Texas Dear Don,
Even tho I left comments on your mail site and Times site I wanted to tell you that last year I donated 2 of my canoeing trophies from 1966 and 1967 to the Route 66 Museum at Times Beach This year I donated the matching trophy from 1966 won by Ron Kloepper who I was dating at that time. He also had me donate his National Poling Championship 1966 plaque to the museum. I truly hope that the people there have decided to display them after the race weekend held there in May. I was there and at the dinner – but did not participate in the competition .
Thanks for all of the update.

Susan Stumpf Kloepper – Dallas, Texas

]]> By: Steve Hoffman http://into-nature.com/2008/05/01/tell-us-your-meramec-stories/#comment-24 Steve Hoffman Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:52:47 +0000 http://doncorrigan.wordpress.com/?p=30#comment-24 In my high school days, my buddies and I had access to a clubhouse on the Meramec River located near Lemay Ferry Road, formerly the meeting place of the Top Hats Club. We spent many a weekend night partying and fishing at our river getaway. An older man who owned the next clubhouse over used to come to the river every weekend in the summer, and we'd go out with him in his boat in the middle of the night to run trout lines. Sometimes it would be foggy out on the river, affording us an adventurous experience. Often we'd pull up large catfish, and occasionally a snapping turtle. In the early morning hours we'd return from our fishing run and try to get to sleep before the sun came up. In the flood of 1982 a friend's home on Meramec Bottom Road was flooded. He and his family were able to get to higher ground before the water inundated his house. I called and asked if I could do anything to help him out during that trying time. He asked if I'd survey the damage and give him a report on it, so a friend and I rowed out to the house, which was still surrounded by floodwaters, and tied our boat off on the front porch. We could hardly believe the bizarre scene when we opened the front door. The living room floor was completely carpeted with pecan nuts, and the walls were plastered three feet up with chicken feathers. Later we found out that he had recently bought two bushels of pecans and had them sitting in the room. His wife had been collecting chicken feathers from a flock of birds that she raised to make feather pillows for her grand children. She had several grocery bags filled with these feathers sitting in the room, and the flood had rearranged these items. I've spent much of my life boating, camping, swimming, and fishing on the Meramec River. Twice, I floated the entire river from Highway 8 to Telegraph Road, one time alone and once in the dead of winter. The lower river is a great recreational resource that is really quite under-utilized, considering its close proximity to the St. Louis area. In the summer of 2007, my son Ben and I started a canoe rental operation on the lower Meramec River, renting canoes, kayaks and rubber rafts: Forest 44 Canoe Rental. We service a 36 mile stretch, from Robertsville State Park down to Valley Park, offering several float trips, ranging from 5 miles to 11 miles in length. We also offer evening floats on Fridays and Sundays. With the current price of gasoline near $4 a gallon, people will be able to enjoy the surprising beauty, seclusion, tranquility and wildness of our local Meramec River without spending a fortune on gas and a good deal of time getting there. Folks can enjoy a high quality outdoor experience with friends and family virtually in their own back yard. Steve M. Hoffmann In my high school days, my buddies and I had access to a clubhouse on the Meramec River located near Lemay Ferry Road, formerly the meeting place of the Top Hats Club. We spent many a weekend night partying and fishing at our river getaway. An older man who owned the next clubhouse over used to come to the river every weekend in the summer, and we’d go out with him in his boat in the middle of the night to run trout lines. Sometimes it would be foggy out on the river, affording us an adventurous experience. Often we’d pull up large catfish, and occasionally a snapping turtle. In the early morning hours we’d return from our fishing run and try to get to sleep before the sun came up.

In the flood of 1982 a friend’s home on Meramec Bottom Road was flooded. He and his family were able to get to higher ground before the water inundated his house. I called and asked if I could do anything to help him out during that trying time. He asked if I’d survey the damage and give him a report on it, so a friend and I rowed out to the house, which was still surrounded by floodwaters, and tied our boat off on the front porch. We could hardly believe the bizarre scene when we opened the front door. The living room floor was completely carpeted with pecan nuts, and the walls were plastered three feet up with chicken feathers. Later we found out that he had recently bought two bushels of pecans and had them sitting in the room. His wife had been collecting chicken feathers from a flock of birds that she raised to make feather pillows for her grand children. She had several grocery bags filled with these feathers sitting in the room, and the flood had rearranged these items.

I’ve spent much of my life boating, camping, swimming, and fishing on the Meramec River. Twice, I floated the entire river from Highway 8 to Telegraph Road, one time alone and once in the dead of winter. The lower river is a great recreational resource that is really quite under-utilized, considering its close proximity to the St. Louis area. In the summer of 2007, my son Ben and I started a canoe rental operation on the lower Meramec River, renting canoes, kayaks and rubber rafts: Forest 44 Canoe Rental. We service a 36 mile stretch, from Robertsville State Park down to Valley Park, offering several float trips, ranging from 5 miles to 11 miles in length. We also offer evening floats on Fridays and Sundays. With the current price of gasoline near $4 a gallon, people will be able to enjoy the surprising beauty, seclusion, tranquility and wildness of our local Meramec River without spending a fortune on gas and a good deal of time getting there. Folks can enjoy a high quality outdoor experience with friends and family virtually in their own back yard.

Steve M. Hoffmann

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