The Ozarks Mountaineer
The Ozarks Mountaineer is the only Ozarks-wide publication. It was begun in 1952, in Forsyth, Missouri, by Roscoe and Velma Stewart. The first issue was a four-page, tabloid format publication. It increased quickly in size to triple the number of pages as well as to a larger tabloid format. Circulation was quite small, as could be expected, and mostly involved the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart. A governing board of directors was formed and was called the Ozarks Commonwealth. These men offered advice to Mr. Stewart as to the content of the publication, frequency of the issues, price of subscriptions, methods of circulation, and, late in the first year of publication, advertising policies.
By 1965, Mr. Stewart was finding it more and more difficult to handle all the matters involved with the publishing and editing business. He advertised for a Managing Editor and Clay Anderson responded to that advertisement. The Anderson family moved to Forsyth from the Chicago area.
All aspects of getting the publication together, with the exception of the printing, were done at the kitchen table of either the Andersons', or Stewarts', homes. Friends and relatives were invited to join in getting circulation records, mailing labels, etc., prepared in order to be efficient with the sending of the magazine.
When Clay Anderson came on board with his younger, more progressive ideas, he persuaded Mr. Stewart to set the publication into a magazine format. Thus, the magazine-type format was issued in February, 1966, and then became a 32-page monthly (except January) publication.
Clay Anderson purchased the magazine in 1967 when Mr. Stewart's health was failing and he wanted to retire. The magazine differed greatly from its early days, in content as well as format. Roscoe Stewart used the publication as something of a soap box for political issues. Clay Anderson wanted little of that and began to do more features on history, folklore, arts, crafts, pioneer skills, folk music, and so forth.
In 1978, postage rates increased exorbitantly. It was seeming more and more as if the magazine could not withstand the great increases. Study and research revealed that the magazine could be twice the number of pages, issued half as often and mailed for very close to the same cost as was being charged. The first bimonthly issue was in the fall of 1978 and it has continued that since then.
The magazine continues to offer history of people and places, folklore, out-of-the-way places to see and visit, arts, crafts, pioneer skills, folk music and much, much more. In addition to articles, there are columns featuring cookery, poetry, humor, events, gardening, then and now, folk music, reviews of recordings and reviews of books.
Clay Anderson passed away in 1993, just after the business had become incorporated. Following his death, Barbara Wehrman became the major owner. She is also publisher of the magazine.
In addition to the magazine, the business has two retail book shops--one at the location of the business in Kirbyville, Missouri, and the other in The Engler Block in Branson. Books available are those in keeping with the content of the magazine. Book ads in the magazine make for a mail order business and the Mountaineer Book Shop is also online at <http://www.runningriver.com.>.
A Board of Directors consists of Barbara Wehrman, Ellen Gray Massey, Kathleen Van Buskirk, Gerald Dupy, Mary Kathryn Markwalter, Julie Anderson, Amy Anderson, Donna Roper, Doris Brewer and Larry Price.
In addition to Barbara Wehrman as Publisher, other employees are Dr. Fred Pfister, Editor; Carol Johnson, Circulation Manager; Doris Brewer and Yvonne Kaempfer, Retail Sales; and Connie Waybill, Marketing.
Writers may request guidelines and are encouraged to submit articles for speculation. Most of the content of the magazine is done by free-lance writers.
Those having a book to be considered for sale in the Mountaineer Book Shop, or for review in the magazine, should send a copy for consideration.
The magazine is circulated by subscription to all 50 states and some foreign countries and is also on some newsstands in the Ozarks. Subscription rates are 1 year - $14.95; 2 years - $27.00; 3 years - $38.00. Cover price is $2.95.
Advertising rates are available on request.
mailing address and telephone number: P. O. Box 20, Kirbyville, MO 65679, (417) 336-2665.
Photograph of The Ozarks Mountaineer courtesy of Barbara Wehrman
