Copperheads & Cottonmouths

Plate 1. Abandoned Ozark barnyard, Taney County, Missouri. Nightfall by Joshua Heston Night falls. The air is warm in the darkness. Overgrown meadows and abandoned farmyards come alive, first with insects, then vermin. Mice. Voles. Shrews. Rats. All hurrying to eat, to store, to prepare for the onrushing winter that — deep within their genetic…

Cottonmouth Water Moccasin

Cottonmouth

Editor’s note: the articles below have been challenged by several readers, calling Dale Grubaugh’s comments “misleading,” and “false.” While StateoftheOzarks respects many differing viewpoints, Grubaugh’s recorded experiences are just that: recorded. An actual experience cannot be labeled “false” if it has occurred — and Grubaugh’s experiences occurred. His writings are presented here objectively. For a…

Old Rugged Cross

Old Rugged Cross

The Old Rugged Cross Sung by Dale Grubaugh. WORDS AND TUNE OLD RUGGED CROSS, GEORGE BERNARD, 1913. FIRST VERSE: On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suff’ring and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. SECOND…