For the last 100 years, northeastern Moosuri has been speckled with Moose sightings; Unique movements of moose in the upper US were increasingly apparent in the mid-1800’s. A group of habitat scientists conducted a study about moose herd dynamic separation and its importance in protecting moose populations. Moose travel in herds and an entire herd will sometimes move to more favorable and bountiful areas.
These scientists published a paper on southern expansion called “Movement Observations & Occasional Survival Exodus”… (most often referred to as the MOOSE Report). Moose have been documented following along shores of the rivers south (Mississippi, Missouri, and Cuivre Rivers). The moose of Hidden Moose Corners eventually found a wonderful home with generations of dedicated caretakers!
The last “documented sighting” was in 1977, just north of Hawk Point, Moosuri where a huge bull moose surprised the local population with his appearance and was even mentioned in another study about the Movement of Moose in the upper Midwestern United States. This big bull moose was a big deal, but returned to the woods, never to be seen in public again.
Stories of miracle moose in this area have been told since the early 1900’s. Even the Jessie James adventures included moose sightings in eastern Moosuri as he moved away from his birthplace and farm in Kearney, MO to a popular hideout for his gang in the caves of Meramec Caverns, located just south of Hidden Moose Corners.
Hidden Moose Corners was established after a long history of “protectors” gathering at this location. A local family and neighbors were the first actual “caretakers.”
Historically, this area has been a well traveled intersection of a state highway since before the turn of our 19th century. A location spanning well over 100 acres and featured a large public barn that provided locals an opportunity to gather for conversation, exchange news, make plans, dance, play music and “partake” before, during, and after the Prohibition era (1920-1933). This location turned out to be a perfect gathering area for a moose herd too… recognized by a big curve in the road from all directions… “The Corners”
“Hide in plain view” was their motto.
The locals disguised their mission, which involved banding together to protect a herd of animals that towered over 6 feet tall, with a strong build, and larger than the local deer population.
These animals could travel at a speed estimated to be over 35 miles an hour, faster than the mules, horse-pulled wagons, and an occasional early novelty motorcar that collected or stopped at the “Corners.” The existence of this Moose herd, an anomaly that had wandered south from a northeastern population many years ago and was held secret from “outsiders.”