The first public viewing of vintage film footage of ‘Old Forsyth’ at the White River Valley Historical Society brought a record number of attendees to the Society’s quarterly presentation on Sunday, March 9. The footage, part of the “Jerry and Opal Gideon Family Collection,” had originally been filmed by members of Carl Moore’s family in the late 1940s and included scenes of the town, as well as stories told by Esther Hall and Garland Wolf. Following the footage, Ann Adams Cleary read “Old Forsyth: In Memoriam,” an original poem of the impact of the town’s move to its’ current location from a child’s viewpoint. Members of the audience also related some of their memories of Old Forsyth and the changes to other towns along the White River (now Bull Shoals Lake) during that time.

During the business meeting prior to the program, Barbara Wehrman announced that the Wehrman-Pendleton book collection will be donated to the Society this year. The collection, begun by Ozarks Mountaineer editor Clay Anderson, and added to by both Wehrman and Ben Pendleton, includes a large number of books of local history and interest, many now out-of-print. Also received during the meeting was an announcement by Beth Wyman that she and husband Rocky are donating two collections pertaining to the late Alice Cardwell Wyman—the Cardwell Family collection, and items pertaining to Alice’s years as a student in the Ironside School and as a teacher in three different one-room schools.

“We’re so excited to be chosen to receive the extensive Wehrman-Pendleton book collection,” enthused WRVHS Managing Director Leslie Wyman. “Our research library is used by many researchers, both local and those visiting the area, and the addition of these books will make their visits even more productive. We’re also honored to receive the items from the Alice Cardwell Wyman collection—many people knew her throughout her years as a teacher and newspaper correspondent, and will be interested to learn more about the schools and her professional life. The Cardwell items will provide additional information on that family line, and be a great complement to the pictures and newspaper clippings we have available that were lent to us last year by Delmis and Helen Cardwell Brown!”

According to Wyman, the Society has already received many requests to see the ‘Old Forsyth’ film footage by those who were unable to attend, and a second viewing will be offered later this spring.

About the White River Valley Historical Society:

The White River Valley Historical Society (417-546-2210) is located at 297 Main Street, Forsyth, across from the Judicial Center, with a museum, research library, and bookstore/gift shop. WRVHS hours are Monday–Friday, 10:00–4:00, weather permitting. The Society’s Branson Centennial Museum (417-239-1912) is located at 101 Veteran’s Blvd (corner of Business 65 and W Hwy 76), and features the Jim D. Morris Gallery, as well as a bookstore/gift shop. Winter hours at the Centennial Museum are Friday–Saturday, 10:00–4:00, weather permitting. There is no admission charge at either location.

As she was processing some of the “Jerry and Opal Gideon Family Collection” items to be housed at the Society, Rebecca Gideon Roberts found a VHS recording of home movie camera footage of Forsyth in the late 1940s, apparently filmed by members of Carl Moore’s family. While the unedited version includes clips of individuals and frequent pauses while the original audience viewing the home movie discusses different identities, the WRVHS production on Sunday will focus on scenes of the various businesses in the town, which was located where current-day Shadow Rock Park is. Interspersed in the presentation will be images of old Forsyth, as well as stories about the town from the Society’s collection of oral history interviews.

The White River Valley Historical Society is located at 297 Main Street, Forsyth, across from the Judicial Center, with a museum, research library, and bookstore/gift shop. WRVHS hours are Monday–Friday, 10:00–4:00, weather permitting. The Society’s Branson Centennial Museum is located at 101 Veteran’s Blvd (corner of Business 65 and W Hwy 76), and features the Jim D. Morris Gallery, as well as a bookstore/gift shop. Winter hours at the Centennial Museum are Friday–Saturday, 10:00–4:00, weather permitting. There is no admission charge at either location.