Venerable venue returns for another acoustic music season

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Cassville Democrat

You could hear the music seeping through the doorway as you approached on the barely lit gravel driveway. 

The old McDowell schoolhouse is back in action, as the McDowell Gold Jubilee is continuing its twice-a-month concert series of acoustic music. Shows are on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.

The venue hasn’t changed much over decades of use. Padded pews take up three-quarters of the hall, with individual theater-style chairs in several rows in the front. Messages and the schedule are written on chalkboards on the walls. On stage, the musicians gather, often backed by players who double as the stock band. On Dec. 27, these included Bob Gideon on banjo, Debbie Jones on bass, Lonnie Lawson on guitar, and Wayne Clevenger on mandolin. James Townsend took his turn as master of ceremonies for the evening. 

Performers come from near and far to play what is commonly referred to as old-time music — classic country from the Carter Family to Loretta Lynn and Ray Price, bluegrass and gospel. This occasion featured Don Joy and Melanie Lynn from Lynchburg, Va., and Larry Hayworth, visiting from Summit, S.D. Others had more local roots, like Carl Hendrix and Mandy Henry, of Washburn; Jimmy Blevins, of Anderson; and Aaron Brooks, of Star Holler near Exeter. 

The rules are simple. Come early and sign up. Singing lasts from 6-9 p.m., though it may run over. Each performer or duo or group presents six numbers. Even that’s a bit flexible. David and Cathi Warren, of Lampe, assembled a group to accompany them and played 10 songs, a set that ran from Andru Bemis’s “Two Dollar Bill” and the traditional “Careless Love” to Flatt and Scruggs’ “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” to the Carter Family’s version of the turn-of-the-century “Keep on the Sunny Side of Life.” 

According to Shirley Fletcher, Lonnie and Cheryl Lawson have taken over running the venerable music venue, run for more than four decades by Benny and Betty Henderson, of Monett. The McDowell Gold Jubilee was started by Raymond and Norma Clevenger as an outgrowth of their house parties in the 1950s. Wayne Clevenger, leader of the popular Flyin’ Buzzards band, is their son. Raymond Clevenger moved the event into the old McDowell school in 1971, where it ran monthly for seven years. Betty and Benny Henderson started running it regularly in 1977. 

“We put on a new roof a month ago,” Fletcher said. “When we reopened, people flocked back here.” 

The venue remains rustic. The only toilet is an outhouse where users are urged to dump scoops of sawdust on their business. Back rooms serve as warm-up areas for the musicians. The stage now has additional lights and a multi-miked sound system. Otherwise, it looks much the same as it has for decades. Janice Henson, who used to run a restaurant at Silver Dollar City, runs the concession stand. 

Expenses are covered by passing the hat. 

Townsend pointed with pride to two teenagers, Justin Blevins and his sister, Aubrey, of Shell Knob, who played along on several sets, with Justin on banjo and Aubrey on guitar. Both are still learning their instruments, but had a chance for solo performing and singing along.

“People just getting together and having a good time is what this is all about,” Townsend said. “There’s no generation gap in music.” 

That was all the more evident in looking at the performers, most of whom were over 50. Nor was age a measure of talent. Marcele Craig, an older solo performer backed by the house crew, sang “I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” a 1935 hit for Patsy Montana, whose real name was Rubye Blevins, including Patsy’s characteristic yodeling, done as well done as any professional, obviously a skill she learned at a young age. 

A brightly lit sign helps motorists on State Highway VV find the old schoolhouse, a little way north of State Highway B. The McDowell Gold Jubilee has social media posts but does little additional promotion. 

The next shows will be Jan. 10, then twice a month on Feb. 14 and 28, and March 14 and 28. The posted schedule ran to May 9.