History of Shell Knob, Missouri and Table Rock Lake Dam

Barry County was organized from a part of Greene County in Missouri. This allowed settlers to no longer have to travel to Springfield to pay taxes or transact business.

Shell Knob was established on January 5, 1835.

Henry and Elizabeth Schell built "Schell Trading Post" in 1835 on the banks of the White River, located at the foot of a mountain near what is now YY highway. Henry Schell was killed by bushwhackers during the Civil War on July 11, 1863.

The first "General Store" was built in the 1860's by Jack and Cordelia Kearney in what is now referred to as "Old Shell Knob". They were murdered in 1869 inside their store. The murderer was the last person hanged in Barry County.

The Shell Knob Post Office was established in 1872, at which time the "c" in Schell was somehow left off the name, making Schell Knob now Shell Knob.

In the 1890's the areas main industry was pearl buttons. Pearls were found in the clams of the White River. The shells provided the basis for manufacturing pearl buttons.

In the 1920's, a new industry was found. The rich fertile soil along the White River was suitable for growing tomatoes. The "Ashly Mixon Tomato Cannery" being built in 1922. Tomatoes were referred to as the, "Red gold of the Ozarks".

A 20 mile stretch of Highway 86 between Cassville and Shell Knob was completed in 1932. Making the three day round-trip oxen cart ride now only a few minutes by auto.

Construction started on Table Rock Dam in October 1954 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to operate during flood periods in conjunction with other lakes in the basin to prevent damages along the White and lower Mississippi Rivers and to provide hydroelectric power. Table Rock Dam was completed in August 1958 and is 6,423 feet long. The dam rises 252 feet above the riverbed, contains 1,230,000 cubic yards of concrete. The first two 50,000 kilowatt generating units in the powerhouse were ready for generation of power in June 1959. The installation of the remaining two units was completed in August 1961.

In the 1970's a new highway, Highway 39 was built through Shell Knob. Bypassing the town and leaving "Old Shell Knob" on the side.

Average rainfall per year: 41"
Average snowfall per year: 10"
Average summer temperature: High 88, Low 64
Average winter temperature: High 45, Low 24
Highest lake lever: April 11, 2008 (933.03')
Lowest lake level: February 5, 1965 (881.54)
Top of conservation pool: 915
Top of flood control pool: 931
Top of the Dam: 947
Table Rock Lake shoreline length at 915: 745 miles
Table Rock Lake shoreline length at 931: 857 miles