I'm sure many of you have seen or rode the free trolleys that run around downtown Branson that are named "Sparky." Those werE named in honor of the lady who traveled many miles in our area and was one of our first major promoters of tourism—Pearl Spurlock, who went by the nickname of "Sparky."
There are not a lot of details known about Pearl's beginnings. She was not from around here originally.
Pearl was born Anna Pearl Fadley on August 6, 1883, in Harrison County, Missouri. In 1917, she and her husband G.F. Spurlock came to Branson buying the only garage in town. Mr. Spurlock had been a locomotive engineer. At the time he opened his shop, there wasn't enough automotive business to keep him busy. Pearl didn't see the need to remain home all the time. A couple of taxi cars had come with the business. So in the hillbilly spirit, Pearl began her own tour guide business, and during the 1920s, things were booming.
Eventually Mr. Spurlock would sell the garage business due to ill health. Pearl would remain very active. Pearl was known for driving her taxi along the old worn-out wagon roads. She would go anywhere she was able to, driving tours from Branson deep into the Shepherd of the Hills Country. Taking the "trail that nobody knows how old," Pearl would show her guests all the sites from Harold Bell Wright's famous novel, which had been released as a film in 1919.
Pearl's guests were absolutely amazed at how she was able to handle the rough and rocky terrain. Her customers got to see Dewey Bald (the only way to get up that horribly rough hillside was to go up it in reverse since the car didn't have a fuel pump) where she would show them Sammy's Lookout. From there it was on to the Homestead of Old Matt and Aunt Mollie, then Marvel Cave, Uncle Ike's Post Office, and eventually the Fairy Cave, which had just been opened to the public by the family of Truman Powell, the inspiration for the Shepherd in "The Shepherd of the Hills."
Walker Powell recalled Pearl's daily arrivals, her parking space, and how she would introduce him to her guests as the grandson of the Shepherd.
Being a true pioneer of the hillbilly spirit, Pearl was remembered for her quotes and philosophy as she shared the beauty of our area with hundreds of guests each year.
In 1936, she released her book, "Over the Old Ozark Trails." The book was such a success, it later saw a second and third printing. One of the quotes from her book is worth sharing here: "Did you ever realize that if you came into this country once, you would always come back? Well, one time there was a tourist who came down here and dreamed he had died and gone to heaven. When he got up to the Golden Gates, he met St. Peter, shook hands and passed the time of day. He peeked through the Golden Gates and saw a row of people chained to the golden streets. He said to St. Peter, "Well, that's very beautiful in there, but why are those people chained to the streets?" St. Peter said, "Well, all those people are from Taney County, and if we didn't keep them chained, they would all go back!"
That kind of humor caused folks to fall in love with her operation, and visitors would long remember their rough ride into the famous Shepherd of the Hills Country.
Pearl's husband G.F. would pass away in 1936, and she would marry his brother Lee in 1939 at Sammy's Lookout on Dewey Bald. Two years later, he would pass away. Pearl unfortunately dealt with a three-month illness and passed away March 14, 1945. She is laid to rest just east of Branson in the Ozarks Memorial Park Cemetery.
Folks, it's worth the hunt and if you can find one—grab it: Pearl's 1936 book "Over the Old Ozark Trails." It provides a fabulous look into the early years of tourism here in the Branson community. You won't be disappointed. And when you see those downtown "Sparky" trolleys, remember Pearl and the impact she had on our area.
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