Random Thoughts: Good times on Walnut River
The Marion County Record last week showed pictures of some giant fish. I remember when we lived on the Walnut River near El Dorado years ago, such fish were caught. The men folk would set lines at night and come morning they would get in a boat and check to see what they had harvested. Usually there would be some huge catfish.
One time the McCullough family, when I was about seven or eight years old, had a camp-out on the banks of the Walnut. Said river ran through our farm. There must have been 20 or more aunts, uncles, and cousins. I don't remember where the men slept, but the women and children slept on a big, flatbed wagon, padded with hay.
The women cooked over an open fire and the men and boys went fishing.
We went swimming in the river. I still remember my ornery boy cousins throwing frogs at us girls.
My mother even wrote a long poem about "Camp Calamity." I sure wish I could eat a mess of good, fried catfish again.
The state engineers ruined our river when they tore down our wonderful bridge. We can be thankful for our two lakes. A ride around the Marion County Lake is just wonderful
— NORMA HANNAFORD
