>> THEY CALL IT MOUNTAIN MAN OR WOMAN ROND VIEW, PRE1865 HISTORICAL REENACTMENT.

I CALL IT PURE FRONTIER AMERICAN FUN.

>> THIS IS BLACK EYED PEA SOUP.

IT'S GOOD.

>> I AM WITH THE OARK JOURNALISM AND WRITERS' GUILD AND WE CAME TO TALK ABOUT AND EXPLAIN WHAT SOME OF THE STUFF WAS AND THE HISTORY OF IT AND HELP EXPLAIN IT TO THE OTHER GROUPS SO THAT THE GENERATION CAN CONTINUE DOWN OF PEOPLE KNOWING WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO USE IT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING LIKE THIS LIVING HISTORY OUT HERE?

>> IT'S REALLY FUN.

YOU GET TO LEARN THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A TOMAHAWK WAS OR ANYTHING.

I HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH DUTCH COOKING SO IT'S REALLY COOL TO LET OTHER PEOPLE AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THIS IS HOW PEOPLE ATE BACK IN THE DAY AND WATCH PEOPLE BLACKSMITH AND JUST COME OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT BUT I THINK I WILL GET THE HANG OF IT.

AND I THINK IT'S GOOD EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I'M NOT AFRAID TO TRY NEW THINGS.

IT'S GOOD TO BE OUT HERE SHOOTING BOW AND ARROWS, THROWING HATCHETS AND HISTORY STUFF, AND WORLD HISTORY.

>> I'M DOING DUTCH OVEN COOKING OVER THE CAMP FIRE AND DOING BLACK EYED PEA SOUP AND IT'S FUN TO BE AROUND EVERYONE FINDING OUT ALL THE NEW THINGS THEY HAVEN'T SEEN FROM THAT TIME PERIOD.

>> THIS IDEA WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING CONNECTED WITH ARKANSAS HISTORY AND THE IDEA OF DOING AUTHENTIC STUFF THAT DEALT WITH THE CULTURE IN THE VALLEY AND MADE US THINK OF THE ROND VIEW AND WE GOT STARTED AND IT'S BEEN A FUN TIME.

THE KIDS ENJOY TTHEY'RE MORE INVOLVED THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE DOING ALL A LOT OF THE THINGS AND NOT OBSERVING.

COLTON IS WORKING WITH THE BLACKSMITH AND CLORY ARE DOING THE DUTCH OVEN COOKING AND THE KIDS ARE INVOLVED SO I THINK IT'S BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR HAT.

>> IT'S A FOX HAT AND I ACTUALLY JUST FOUND THAT IN A FLEA MARKET OF ALL THINGS.

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO GET A KICK OUT OF IT.

I HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH IT.

>> THEY'RE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

THEY'RE LIKE THE CIVIL WAR ENACTMENTS THE SAME WAY.

THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND WE ALL LIKE IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD TIME AND WE TEACH PEOPLE THE HISTORY, KEEP HISTORY ALIVE.

>> WE JUST -- YOU KNOW, WE COME OUT AND DO THIS KIND OF STUFF AND FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS REALLY.

ONE THE BIGGIE IS LIKE TODAY WE HAD THE SCHOOL KIDS COMING THROUGH AND WE WANT TO PASS ON AND EDUCATE FOLKS AS TO THE WAY THAT WE GOT HERE, HOW DID OUR ANCESTORS DO HERE IN ARKANSAS WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ROADS AND BRIDGES AND STORES, AND THEN THERE'S THE HISTORY STUDY ASPECT, AND THEN JUST THE BEING OUT.

>> IT'S VERY -- I DON'T KNOW FREEING IS THE CORRECT TERM TO USE, BUT IT'S VERY -- IT'S A VERY GOOD LIFESTYLE.

I ENJOYED IT A LOT.

WE GET TO SEE A LOT OF PLACES AND MEET PEOPLE.

WE KIDS DECIDED TO DO THE NORMAL LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AND GET REGULAR JOBS AND THAT STUFF.

THAT LAST BODY FIVE YEARS.

AFTER THAT WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO WORK FOR YOURSELF AND BE ABLE TO GO AND PRETTY MUCH DO WHAT YOU WANT AND TAKE INCOME FROM THAT WHICH WAS A CHOICE.

WE DIDN'T TAKE BUT WE CHOOSE TO GO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE YOU CERTAINLY REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE LOSING AND IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO COMTO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE HATE HAVING A REGULAR JOB.

WHEN WE QUIT THE BUSINESS WAS PRIMARILY DAD ABOUT ALL THE WORK AND EVERYTHING YOU SEE DAD BUILT AND WE WERE KIDS AND DID OUR THING BUT WHEN WE CAME BACK IT BECAME A FAMILY BUSINESS.

WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT EVERYBODY JUMPED IN WITH BOTH FEET AND WE HAVE -- NOT TO TOOT OUR OWN HORN WE HAVE A VERY GOOD FUNCTIONING BUSINESS.

I MEAN WE MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT WE DO.

WE DON'T GET RICH BUT WE HAVE A GOOD TIME AND WE DO IT AS A FAMILY.

EVERYWHERE WE GO EVERYTHING IS AS A FAMILY.

WE HIKE, FISH, CAMP AND SWIM.

WE GET TO GO TO STATE PARKS AND FORTS.

ONE TIME WE WERE OUT IN HIDE HOE AND THEY WANTED TO HAVE A HISTORICAL RE ENACTMENT AT A AMUSEMENT PARK SO IN ESSENCE WE GOT PAID TO GO TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK.

>> THIS IS ON PENNSYLVANIA LONG RIFLE DESIGN.

IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED A BLUE RIDGE IS WHAT IT'S CALLED BUT THERE WERE THREE COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE 1700'S THAT BUILT THESE THINGS AND TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY LATER ON ADOPTED THEM AND PUT THEIR NAME ON IT AND THEY STARTED MAKING THEIR OWN RIFLES BUT IT'S A 50 CALIBER.

IT'S FLINT LOCK.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THE FLINT SPARKS -- ONCE IT'S LOADED AND YOU PRIMER YOUR PEN THIS IS CALLED A PRISM.

SOME CALL IT A HAMMER.

WHEN THE SPARK -- WHEN THE FLINT -- WHEN YOU PULL THE TRIGGER IT SPARKS -- IT MAKES SPARKS.

IT'S BEEN SHOOTING AND FIRING ALL DAY.

IT WILL SHARK AND SET THE CHARGE OFF IN THE BARREL.

IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

PRETTY SIMPLE DESIGN, BUT YOUR FATHER -- IF YOU LIVED BACK IN THE DAY YOUR GRANDFATHER WOULD HAVE PASSED TO THE FATHER AND PASSED TO YOU AND YOU WOULD HAVE PASSED DOWN TO YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS BECAUSE THEY COULD ONLY AFFORD ONE RIFLE AND THEY WERE HANDMADE.

IT'S NOT LIKE NOW BUY ONE GUN, BUY A FEW MORE.

THEY PRETTY MUCH HAD ONE PER FAMILY AND FED THE FAMILY, PROTECTED THE FAMILY AND IT WENT TO WAR SO EVEN IN THE CIVIL WAR THEY WERE CARRYING THESE THINGS.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE PISTOL AND THE BUOY KNIFE.

>> THE PISTOL IS CALLED A CROCKET PISTOL.

IT -- THIS IS A REPLICA OF WHAT DAVID CROCKET CARRIED AT THE ALAMO.

IN FACT IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE ALAMO.

IT HAS 1836 ENGRAVED AND THE TEXAS STAR IS ENGRAVED IN THERE, AND THIS IS WHAT CROCKET WOULD HAVE USED AT THE ALAMO, 45 CALIBER.

SOME SAY HE USED A 36 OR A 45 AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH BEAUTIFULLY DONE THE WAY THEY DID IT.

THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THE OLD GUNS THEY PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THEM AND A LOT OF ART WORK.

>> ?

PEOPLE SAY I'M A SUTLER AND NOT A SETTLER BUT A SUTLER AND OLD TIME FOR TRADER.

I TRADE MOSTLY IN CLOTHES.

SHOOTING FROK, DROP FRONT PANTS AND I HAVE ALL OF THAT AS WELL AS SOME LADY'S STUFF TOO, AND I LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE DRESSED THE WAY THEY SHOULD WHEN THEY COME TO THESE THINGS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I DO THIS.

MY STUFF IS HISTORICALLY CORRECT.

THIS PIECE HERE HAND SPUN, HAND SWOFFEN WOOL.

IT'S NOT DYED.

THE BROWN IS THE COLOR OF THE SHEEP, THE CREAM COLOR OF THE SHEEP AND HAND SEWN AND CAN'T GET MORE PERIOD CORRECT THAN THIS.

>> IF YOU CAN NAME A HISTORIC SITE IN THE MIDWEST OR THE WEST THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE 1800'S I CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE WE HAVE BEEN THERE AND WE GOT PAID TO GO.

I AM NOT GOING TO SAY IT'S PERFECT ALL THE TIME.

SOMETIMES IT'S RAINING.

WE HAVE DONE SHOWS IN THE SNOW BUT AS A WHOLE IT'S A GREAT LIFE.

WE ENJOY IT AND I WOULDN'T GIVE IT UP FOR NOTHING IN THE WORLD.

I REALLY WOULDN'T .

>> NOW YOU KNOW WE COULDN'T LEAVE HERE WIT -- WITHOUT TASTING THIS SOUP.

THAT'S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.

YEAH BUDDY.

>> QUITE A FEW FOLKS COME HERE TO THE MULBERRY RIVER IN THE OZARK NATIONAL FOREST IN THE SPRINGTIME TO FLOAT IT BUT THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SIDE TO THE RIVER COME FALL WHEN ALL THE BRILLIANT COLORS OUT IT'S THE MAJESTIC MULBERRY.

HERE'S A LITTLE SAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> WELL, THE FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO EXPERIENCE THE RIVER.

I WENT FOR MY FIRST TIME LAST YEAR AND SAW JUST A MES RISING AND THE COLORS REFLECTING ACROSS THE RIVER AND EVERYTHING.

>> OUR OBSERVATIONS OF AUTUMN ALONG THE MULBERRY RIVER WERE PRIMARILY ALONG HIGHWAY 215 AND CASS AND OARK AND THE OZARK INITIAL FOROF THE AND THE LATEST TO BE DESIGNATED A SCENIC BYWAY AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

>> WHEN I WAS A KID WHEN I WAS 13 I EXPERIENCED THE MULBERRY RIVER FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IT WAS A BIG ADVENTURE AND CANOEING AND ROPE SWINGS AND I KNEW I WANTED TO MOVE HERE SOME DAY AND 20 YEARS AGO I DID, AND WE SEE ALL SIDES OF THE RIN.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY SUBTLE CHANGES DURING THE YEAR AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIVER WILL DO.

IT COULD BE LOW RON DAY AND FLOODING ONE DAY AND OF COURSE THE COLORS ARE BEAUTIFUL IN THE FALL.

LAST YEAR FALL HIT AT ONCE AND PEAKED.

THERE WAS ONE DAY IT HIT AND THIS YEAR IT'S COMING OUT MORE SLOWLY.

SEEMS LIKE EACH WEEK WE SEE DIFFERENT THINGS AND SOME THINGS ARE GOING AWAY AND SOME THINGS ARE COMING OUT SO IT'S A DIFFERENT YEAR THIS YEAR, A LITTLE LATER THIS YEAR AS WELL.

>> ENJOYING SOME OF THE RAPIDS AND GIVES A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WHEN YOU'RE STANDING THERE AND TAKING IT ALL IN VERSUS GOING DOWN IN A CANOE OR KAYAK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS A CABIN THERE AND BUILT IN THE 50'S AS A FISHING CABIN AND IT'S BEEN FLOODED SO MANY TIMES AND NO LONGER USEFUL BUT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STOT TO SIT BY THE RIVER AND THINK -- I THINK A GREAT PLACE TO WRITE OR TAKE PHOTOS.

>> AND OF COURSE AFTER A DAY OF TAKING PICTURES HERE ONE CAN GO IN THAT ESTABLISHMENT OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND HAVE A STEAK DINNER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY WIFE PAM AND BARBARA HAVE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT THIS RESTAURANT FOR 30 YEARS AT LEAST RIGHT AT THAT LOCATION AND WE WERE BLESSED TO FINALLY BUILD IT THIS YEAR.

>> I'M ACTUALLY A STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE TRAINER FROM FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS AND I LIKE TO COME TO THE MULBERRY TO GET AWAY WITH MY DOG AND WE LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AND OUT DOORS AND THESE THINGS ARE FREE TO ALL OF US.

SPENDING TIME WITH SAMMY WHO IS A GREAT LISTENER AND I TALK A LOT AND HE WILL GO ANYWHERE AND WE GET LOST IN NATURE AND WHERE I DEAL WITH DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I AM GO THROUGH AT HOME OR IF I HAVE SOMETHING ON MY MIND AND I USUALLY FIND A SOLUTION TO WHATEVER PROBLEM I HAVE.

>> SO ESCAPE AND EXPLORE FOR YOURSELF ALONG THE MULBERRY RIVER IN THE OZARK NATIONAL FOREST.

AS STEPHEN TURNER PUT IT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN LIFE ARE THE SIMPLE THINGS.

>> WELL, IT SEEMS I GOT MYSELF IN A LITTLE PREDICAMENT HERE.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE SEEN THESE?

A JAIL WAGON.

IT'S ONE THAT BELONGS TO WAGON RESTORER TOM ELLIOTT OF NEARBY BO TKINBURG.

>> CHECK, THIS IS A BOX FOR A 1902 SPRING WAGON THAT WAS MADE IN PONT AC MICHIGAN AND NOW WE'RE WORKING ON THE BOX AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT SOMETHING LOOKED LIKE.

YOU CAN'T FIND ANYTHING TO TELL YOU SO I MADE AN EXECUTIVE DECISION.

YOU JUST FOLLOWING WHAT IS BEST AND YOU DO IT SO IF YOU HOLD DOWN ON THAT TIGHT THERE IS THIS FOOT BOARD I NEED TO DRILL A HOLE IN IT.

ALL RIGHT READY?

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE WAGON DAYS ARE LONG GONE BUT TOM ELLIOTT IS DOING ALL HE CAN TO KEEP THOSE DAYS ALIVE.

>> WELL, THE GRANDKIDS DON'T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT GRANDPA'S WAGON AND IT'S KIND OF SAD YOU KNOW.

LIKE YOU SAID THEY SIT IN THE FIELD AND THEY ROT AND THERE'S A HISTORY TO WAGONS.

WE GOT INTERESTED IN WAGONS -- WELL, I HAVE BEEN A HISTORY BUFF WITH THE OLD WEST AND HAD IT OUR WHOLE LIVES AND NOW WE HAVE MULES.

I'M A MULE MAN.

WHENEVER SOMEBODY WATCHES A WESTERN THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE CHARACTERS.

I AM LOOKING AT THE WAGON AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF WAGON IT IS.

I.

>> ALL OF THIS BEGAN AS A HOBBY FOR TOM.

>> SEVERAL YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A JOHN DEER WAGON AND THE FLOOR WAS ROTED IN IT SO I TORE IT APART AND PUT A NEW FLOOR IN IT AND PAINTED AND STRIPED IT AND I TRACED THE NAME SO I COULD PUT IT BACK THE WAY IT WAS AND THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.

YOU DO IT ONCE AND IF IT'S YOUR THING YOU DO IT AGAIN AND WE REALLY ENJOY IT.

>> SOME OF THE NAMES -- I NEVER KNEW JOHN DEER MADE WAGONS.

AND ALWAYS TRACTORS.

>> THEY DIDN'T MAKE THEM LONG LIKE THE OTHER COMPANIES.

THEY MADE THEM AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

THEY MADE THEM FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND FINALLY DID IT AND PUT THEIR NAME ON IT AND THEY DIDN'T DO IT FOR A LONG TIME AND THE OTHER THING IF YOU MENTION WAGONS THEY THINK OF STIEWBEN FIELD OR JOHN DEER AND MANY DIDN'T HEAR OF A WEBER AND SOME OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE WORLD BUT THEY WERE UP NORTH AND DIDN'T SEE THEIR WAGONS DOWN HERE.

>> THE SPRINGFIELD WAGON COMPANY WHICH ORIGINATED IN SPRINGFIELD MISSOURI IN 1872 WAS WHAT YOU SAY THE LAST OF THE MOHICAN GOING OUT OF BUSINESS WAY BACK THEN AND TOM ELLIOTT IS A ONE MAN COMPANY.

>> WELL, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NEAT TO REVIVE THE NAME.

THEY WERE A BIG WAGON COMPANY, MADE LOTS OF WAGONS, SO I TALKED TO MY ATTORNEY ABOUT IT AND THEY DID SOME RESEARCH AND ABLE TO OBTAIN THE RIGHTS TO THE NAME AND THE TRADEMARK SO I'M A ONE MAN OPERATION BUT WE BROUGHT THE NAME SPRINGFIELD BACK.

>> AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IN RESTORING OLD WAGONS THERE ARE QUITE A FEW HURDLES TO OVERCOME.

>> I GUESS THAT'S PROBABLY ENOUGH.

IN A WAGON YOU HAVE TO HAVE -- [INAUDIBLE].

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SQUARE HEAD UNPLATED BOLTS AND CARRIAGE BOLTS AND SCREW DRIVES FOR THE AND DIDN'T HAVE SCREWS AND HAS TO BE AUTHENTICATED AND DIFFICULT TO FIND THOSE AND WE GOT SOURCES AFTER MONTHS AND WE HAVE THEM ON THE WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM FOR RESTORATION.

IN THE OLD DAYS EVERYTHING WAS 7/8 INCH THICK.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> I ASSUME BECAUSE IT'S THICKER AND THEY WORKED WITH AND 7/ EIGHT IS STRONGER THAN A HALF INCH AND WE HAVE TO GET IT AT THE SAUL MILL AND DRILL IT DOWN AND YOU CAN'T JUST GET THAT ANYWHERE.

>> WHEN CATTLE ROAMED THE RANGE THE NEED FOR A CHUCK WAGON CAME TO BE.

>> AN EARLY RANCHER CHARLES GOODNIGHT GOT THE IDEA OF BUILDING A PANTRY ON THE BACK OF THE WAGON AND A LIMBO IT AND USE IT AS [INAUDIBLE] AND THE IDEA CAUGHT ON AND EVERYBODY STARTED MAKING CHUCK BOXES AND THERE WERE SOME OF THE RANCHERS IT WAS HARD TO SWITCH OVER AND KEPT HAULING WITH THE MULES AND THE SACKS AND THE COW BOYS CALLED THEM OUT GREASY SACK OUTFITS AND THE CHUCK WAGON -- WE BELONG TO THE AMERICAN CHUCK WAGON ASSOCIATION AND YOU DON'T NEED A WAGON TO BELONG AND THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT ALIVE.

>> NOW THIS ONE YOU USED YOUR ARTISTIC LIBERTY.

>> I HAVE PICTURES OF JAIL WAGONS AND THE SIDES WENT UP AND COULDN'T SEE OUT OF THE TOP AND NO SEATS AND HAD TO GO ON THE FLOOR AND LINED WITH METAL TO KEEP THEM FROM BREAKING OUT AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A WAGON PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE PRISONERS AND BROUGHT THE BARS DOWN AND SEAT TO MAKE IT COMFORTABLE AND [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE BLACK AND WHITE STRIPS WHICH WE HAD YOU IN JAIL, DIDN'T WE?

WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THEY LIKE THE JAIL WAGON.

WE TOOK IT TO TEXAS THREE YEARS AGO AND GOSH EVERYWHERE WE STOPPED AND PEOPLE CAME RUNNING OVER "CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE?"

SO IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

PEOPLE ENJOY THAT.

>> BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS -- >> NOT MANY PEOPLE WANT A WAGON.

WHAT YOU FIND IS PEOPLE WANT -- WHAT I CALL A YARD WAGON.

THEY'RE NOT PULLING IT WITH A T. THEY WANT ONE TO PARK IN THE YARD AND LOOKS GOOD AND WE OCCASIONALLY SELL A YARD WAGON BUT IF YOU WANT A GOOD WAGON -- PEOPLE CALL ME ABOUT REST STORING IT AND I SAY RESTORATION IS EXPENSIVE AND OKAY I WANT YOU TO DO IT.

WELL, WHEN THEY FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT COSTS THEY DON'T WANT ME TO DO IT ANYMORE.

>> SO IF YOU'RE IN NEED OF SOME WAGON RESTORATION NOW YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL ON, OLD TOM ELLIOTT AND FOR MORE ON THIS DESTINATION PLUS MANY OF OUR OTHERS OR A COPY OF AN EPISODE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT AETN.ORG/EXPLORINGARKANSAS AND DON'T FORGET TO LIKE US ON OUR FACEBOOK WALL AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE OF