Kellogg Lake Park, Highway MO 96, northeast of Carthage MO

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Kellogg Lake and Park (formerly known as Kel-Lake Park) is nestled along the original alignment of U. S. Highway 66 that follows Spring River on the east and the 1950s realignment of U. S. 66 (now Missouri Highway 96) on the west, The park is home to a Carthage history marker placed by the State Historical Society of Missouri and a Blue Star Memorial Highway marker courtesy the Missouri State Highway Department and local garden clubs. Both markers are found off Esterly Drive which is the park's main entrance. NOTE: Text on historical society marker is no longer current on some lcoations. For example Ancient Carthage artifacts are no longer displayed at the Carthage Library (see Clio entry for same) but at City Hall on the eastside of the Carthage Courthouse Square. Also, some text is incorrect. Anna "Annie" White Baxter was not first the female elected to public office but the first female County Clerk elected to that position. Also Our Lady of the Ozarks is no longer in operation at 1900 South Grand (see Clio entry for that address for current occupant and more history of that site).

Images

Kellogg Lake postcard/exhibit mount, c 1955, display in "Carthage Collects" temporary exhibit that was also part of the 175th Anniversary of Carthage exhibit in 2017 at the Powers Museum.

1927 Carthaginian yearbook image showing Spring River and US 66 route through what is now Kellogg Lake Park.

Kellogg Lake fountain, 2017.

Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker, 2017.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

After World War II, the Carthage Sportsmen’s Protective League (CSPL), a local wildlife and conservation organization organized in 1918, had been seeking a suitable site upon which to construct a lake for fishing and other recreational purposes. It was during the construction of a new, straighter roadway for U. S. Highway 66 (also known as Route 66) in 1953, that 28 acres formerly part of the Kellogg Farm were excavated for fill to elevate the new road. After negotiations with E. L. “Uke” Haughawout, Mary Kellogg and brother Charles Kellogg deeded the land to the League. A finance committee was formed and raised $7,000.00 for the construction of the dam, dikes and holding areas. It was hoped that the lake would fill from natural sources, but a severe drought in 1953-1954 caused the League to purchase and install a pump to fill he lake from nearby Spring River. After stocking it with fish, the lake was opened to the public in 1954.

The Sportsmen’s League, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Highway Department, local garden clubs and other volunteers continued to make improvements to the area. A roadside park and history markers were dedicated in 1956 and in 1963 the lake and additional acreage were added to the City of Carthage park system. A fountain in the lake was added in 1969, donated by Dr. Emil Oexman. A larger replacement fountain was donated in 1986 by Robert Esterly and dedicated to Haughawout and the Kelloggs. In 2002, a lake-side pavilion was added and funded by the Helen Boylan Foundation, the Kent and Mary Steadley Trust, and Infinity Lighting.

Kellogg Lake Park continues to be a draw for local families and travelers to relax and enjoy the facilities of the park including its annual June event, Kids Free Fishing Day, which draws hundreds of children. In addition, a disc golf course has been added in recent years.

The original route of U.S. Highway 66 into Carthage runs along Spring River within the park. A bridge has been removed that permitted travelers to continue down River Street to Central Avenue where U. S. 66 turned west on to Central Avenue. Traveling south on River would lead to the Carthage Tourist Park (see Clio entry for Carter Park). The intersection of River and Central was bypassed in the 1930s with a new Carthage limestone and concrete bridge which has recently been replaced with a new all-concrete bridge used today as MO 96 enters the city limits. just beyond Kellogg Lake Park.

Entry created in honor of Carthage's 175th Anniversary Celebration exhibit featuring selected artifacts and archival pieces on display at the Powers Museum during 2017. Funding for Neighborhood History project was made possible by a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities, Spring 2017.

Sources

"Drive for Lake Project is Launched." Carthage Evening Press, October 15, 1953, page 1.

Powers Museum Vertical Files: Kellogg Lake, Carthage Sportsmen's Protective League

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Aerial view of lake from Powers Museum 2017 exhibit.

Image from Powers Museum Library Collection.

Photograph by Michele Hansford.