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Pavement Ends
James Baughn

Roadtrip on the Bloomfield Road, 2010 edition

Posted Thursday, January 21, 2010, at 11:28 AM

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  • Wow, thanks for all the effort and work James! I (and many others hopefully) am appreciative and am going to take this drive.

    When the weather dries up some. I still don't think that looks like an easy drive.

    -- Posted by John in Jackson on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 11:58 AM
  • When I was a kid in Madison County, a deeply grooved trail from our farm back over the ridge into the national forest was known as the "old bloomfield road". Would there have been a stretch of road known as that north of Cape?

    -- Posted by rodgerdodger on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 11:58 AM
  • rodgerdodger: I know there was a road connecting Bloomfield with Greenville in Wayne County, probably following today's Route J in Stoddard Co. and Route D in Wayne Co. I don't know about Madison County, though.

    -- Posted by James Baughn on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 1:04 PM
  • A lot of people wonder, "Why don't they just embrace the convenience of the present & future roadways, and enjoy the easier drive?"

    Good question, but, I have no explanation or answer to it. Other than I guess folks like US prefer to remember the times when it WASN'T so easy & fast, to get from town-to-town. You know, take some time and enjoy your life, slow down just a little. Have yourself a small-slice of "humble-pie", away from the pavement that's got us all spoiled each working day.

    But just remember to respect these old roads, as well. Yes, most of them were designed for a simpler day and time, and can, indeed, be a "harsh-mistress", IF you don't respect their design. And obviously, you don't have to be old to enjoy such. Just look at "little"-James, here! (And, he's apparently NOT afraid to ask directions, either!)

    And, James: Sorry for this long comment, that reads like a "mini-book"---but my fingers felt like they needed a "walk" today...!

    -- Posted by donknome-2 on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 4:08 PM
  • Fairview, where the barn is pictured is worth the drive.

    -- Posted by Old John on Fri, Jan 22, 2010, at 8:12 AM
  • James, just want to tell you again how much I appreciate your amazing collection of work and look forward to your blogs each time they post--keeps me mindful of the "old days" and SE MO and other parts--wish my almost-100 year old dad could walk through history with you (he was born near Dongola but grew up in Marble Hill)!

    -- Posted by Janeann on Fri, Jan 22, 2010, at 8:52 AM
  • Oh, oh, oh!! James, so sorry I didn't see this earlier!!! It is just exactly the information we need for tonight's Stoddard County Historical Society meeting in Bloomfield!!!! Jim Mayo called me this morning to see if I knew the latest information on whether the road is going to be widened.

    I will see if I can copy off this amazing, amazing blog to take with me. We need to invite you back to go over this with us in a slide show!

    How do I reach you?

    -- Posted by goat lady on Mon, Jan 25, 2010, at 11:23 AM
  • Thanks for contacting me, James - I hope we can see you at our next meeting.

    -- Posted by goat lady on Tue, Jan 26, 2010, at 8:43 AM
  • James, A tremendous piece of work!! Thank you, from an old Dexter/Bernie resident..Any ideas on the extent of the road all the way into Arkansas as the Old Chalk (Bluff)Road (Trail)?? I'm going to check out the site(s) you mentioned just for grins, Thanks again for a great piece, Regards, kk

    -- Posted by kkcaver47 on Fri, Jan 29, 2010, at 3:55 PM
  • James, check out Paul Corbin's account of how his mother's family traveled the Bloomfield Road in 1904. On the Daily Statesman site ("Off the Wall"), there is a photo dated 1918, showing M.A.Hart's family in a wagon at Dutchtown.

    Wonderful information!

    Paul's account is on the NSC website, which is an offshoot of the Dexter Daily Statesman.

    http:www.dailystatesman.com/nsc.

    -- Posted by goat lady on Sat, Jan 30, 2010, at 7:52 AM
  • I dd this on the first Sunday in May, and really enjoyed it. I will be posting some of my photos on the Southeast Missourian Photos section. We followed the guide and made it to the end with no problems. Thanks

    -- Posted by Larryb52 on Thu, May 20, 2010, at 11:59 AM