Welcome to small town, USA. In this case you have a view down Main Street, Green Ridge, Missouri. To your left is the Business District….about 6 or 7 buildings. Across from it there once were buildings that, unfortunately, were destroyed by fire in days long before I was born.

Think of the cattle drives that went down this street to the stock yards. The cattle were ‘stashed’ in the foreground, fenced until the cattle cars arrived to haul them back East. I used to listen enthralled as my third grade teacher told us these stories. It’s thanks to her that I’m repeating them this Thursday Doors.

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For the purposes of the subject matter, I’m going to display some pictures of the Green Ridge Hotel.

Recently, a someone decided to take it upon themselves to save this building. I wonder if they know about the legend that Frank James stayed here once? It’s rumored he was waiting for his brother Jesse to send word to him on ‘plans’. I don’t know how much truth to this there is, but the railroad ended just next to this hotel in 1870, the year Green Ridge was platted (mapped) as a town. 

I would love to know if someone has a record of this hotel’s guests!

Before it was rescued to its current state of an apartment, it held a local bar that I have to admit entering as a highschooler. A girlfriend wanted to purchase a pack of cigarettes while we were on lunch break. (wink) My how times have changed. You can’t leave a school during school hours anymore. And those cigarettes are no longer obtainable under age 18 (I kicked the habit in 1990 btw), much less entering a bar under age 21. Wait! and now pot is medicinally approved! Whodathunk?

And that’s what memories are made of when walking past doors of your youth. Hope you’ve enjoyed this weeks entry to Norm 2.0’s Thursday Door. Please visit his blog by clicking here and finding the other entrants. He’ll direct your way.