“The Mills & Springs of the Ozarks” hosted by Ozarks Heritage Research Center & WPCA featuring Richard McGee

Missouri History Author Richard McGee was born and raised in Greene County, Missouri. He earned an engineering degree at the Missouri University of Science & Technology, and worked in the manufacturing and healthcare industries for over forty years. His last real job was Director of Behavioral Healthcare at Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains where he served for ten years. Richard founded a one-man publishing company in 2023 and began writing books. His work gravitated to Missouri history with an interest in structures of historical significance.

Presentation Description: Discover the rich history of the mill era in the Ozarks. This talk covers the development and decline of the grist milling industry and how this era was shaped by western expansion, statehood, and the Civil War. It includes a short discussion of the unique geology that shaped the landscape and created the area’s beautiful caves and springs. A concise review of grist mill machinery is included.