Over the past 120 years, Cotter, Arkansas, has been a pearl laced along the 722-mile-long White River. It's an attraction to 1000's throughout the year. For those who love Cotter and its history, we are please to announce our next plate available, the 1885 survey of the Cotter area.
This stretch of the White River was surveyed by Mr. J. D. McKown in 1885 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Map, or Plate, was published in 1888 under the direction of Capt. Henry Sheldon Taber. Map highlights include:
• Wild Cat Shoals
• Mooney's Ferry (old Talbert's Ferry)
• Hightower Creek
• Denton's Ferry
• Fallen Ash Creek
• McBee Steamboat Landing
• Yellville Steamboat Landing
• Kemp's Place (Cotter)
• Roaring Spring
• Summer Shoal
• Redbud Shoal
• Reddex Ferry
• Newton Ferry
• Gassville Steamboat Landing
We have also transcribed the notations on the map & added them to the original plate, such as:
- Dates of Memorable Steamboat Trips
- Subsequent Field Notes Detailed
- Wing Dams w/ Dates of Construction & Refurbishment
The large gravel bed at the Big Spring Park. Notice the notice the main Cotter Spring is not visible due to the gravel overlaying the spring. On the contrary, the Roaring Spring on the Marion County side is clearly labeled. Years ago, I remember my great Aunt May Wilbanks once talked about the Roaring Spring flowed with refreshing water. Well, it's here.
