I was visited by my good friend David. We have known each other since the second grade. He asked me if I would go to Neely’s Landing with him and take some photographs. Well, that was a no brainer. Exploring a town that is pretty much empty and shoot pictures, that’s what I am talking about. David had family that lived in Neely’s Landing and it had been several years since he had been there.

Neely’s Landing is located 17 miles north of Cape Girardeau. It was named after Jacob Neely; owner of the town store and he owned the ferry. Mississippi River steamboats used to stop at the landing. In 1876 there were 20 residents and 50 residents by 1898. In 1904 the Frisco railroad ran through the town. On October 27, 1869, tragedy struck. The steamboat Stonewall caught fire. On board were 300 passengers and 200 head of livestock. Two to three hundred passengers and crew perished in the fire. Local residents knew the exact location of the disaster and called it the Devil’s Tea Table.

Two of the three houses still left behind.

David’s uncle was a riverboat captain. He was fond of adult beverages and everyone called him Jug. He bought the Riverview Inn and turned it into a tavern and the locals called it Capn Jug’s tavern. David wanted to see if we could find where the tavern once stood. We scoured the area looking for it. We were able to find the old foundation and a couple of bricks used in the construction of the tavern. In the picture below David is standing in front of where his uncle’s tavern once stood.

We tried to find the town’s old cemetery but came away empty handed. It is said that 60 to 70 victims of the tragedy, who were never claimed, were buried in a mass grave on the Cotter Farm that was nearby.

It was a good day. Several times I noticed David had a far away look on his face. There was no doubt in my mind that David was back in Neely’s Landy remembering those days spent in Neely’s Landing as a child. He was having a good day going back to those days when life was simpler. I was sure of it when a big smile would replace the far away look in his eyes.