My Corner Online

Photo Index & Map Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9 Set 10 Set 11 Set 12 Set 13 Set 14 Set 15 Set 16 Set 17 Set 18 Set 19 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 Set 21

Red Oak II

What a delightful surprise when we visited Red Oak II on June 25, 2023. Red Oak II is located at 12275 Kafir Rd, Carthage, Missouri. An artist named Lowell Davis grew up in Red Oak, Missouri which is located about 18 miles northwest of Red Oak II, and in the 1970's he returned home to find it had virtually disappeared. In 1987 he used his artistic restive inspiration to build a tribute to his hometown of birth. He bought homes and business from the original town, and nearby towns, and moved them to recreate a small village. How cool is that! I just love Norman Rockwell and his art and this reminds me of the same. Lowell Davis died in November 2020 at the age of 83. This reconstructed town remains frozen in time. I really wanted to get out and walk around and look inside the buildings, but it was super hot and humid the day we were there, so we drove around slowly, twice, and soaked in all the little details. Quoting Lowell Davis, "The 1930's seemed to be a much simpler time. Neighbors helping neighbors, everyone had a garden and canned their own food. They had a milk cow and they even made their own clothes. By today's standards, they were poor ... they just didn't know it!" Also quoting Lowell Davis, "I don't believe that an artist should be restricted to use only paint or clay. It can be anything including junk, wood, even an old building. To me, Red Oak II is a combination of a painting and a sculpture, and it is just made from things that someone else threw away."

Here is the general store which was run by Lowell’s Dad and where Lowell learned to sculpt and paint.
I could only put some of the images here on a website page, so do watch the above video to see us drive through.

This is the first sign you see on the roads leading to Red Oak that let you know you are turning at the right place. Isn't that a super cool sculpture!

As you continue on the roads to Red Oak II there are signs, literally and metal sculpturally, that you are headed in the right direction.

Across the street from Red Oak II is this place, which was closed, but apparently opens up at times and I was intrigued.

An old diner that is almost like a street car.

An old schoolhouse, Elmira.

This is a 1920's Phillips 66 Station was originally located on Route 66 in Avilla, Missouri

This is the Belle Star house where Lowell lived and I believe he died here. Belle Starr was an American outlaw born in Carthage. There are even movies about her!