Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:

The Davis family has deep roots in Howard County, MO, and along the banks of the Missouri River. Today's Franklin Island and Davisdale Conservation Areas, in the floodplain and river hills across the river from Boonville, were farmed by three generations of the Davis family before being acquired by the Missouri Department of Conservation 35 years ago. This history stretches back to the days when Franklin Island was still an island, before the river was channelized by the Corps of Engineers and before today's strong levees protected much of the rich Howard County floodplain.

Paul Davis, son and grandson of the founders of Davisdale Farms, will share stories on the fifty-year history of these treasured public lands prior to the acquisition by MDC. He will also describe the impact of the “Design for Conservation”, MDC’s land acquisition and management program made possible by a Missouri 1/8 cent sales tax.

Davis will also talk briefly about the history of Interstate Marine Terminals, Inc. (IMT), the barge unloading facility located on the north bank of the Missouri River, just downstream from the Missouri River Bridge at Boonville, Missouri. IMT was also owned and operated  by the Davis family for over thirty-five years. Davis successfully rebuilt the facility following the “Great Missouri River Flood of 1993”.

The Missouri River Commission maps of 1894 show a very different riverscape than our river today. This map portion shows Boonville, Franklin Island and a very different course of Bonne Femme Creek. This map was created before the Davis family moved to the area. (Click map to view a zoomable version).