Those who have visited the House Springs pond near the intersection of Highways MM and 30 may have noticed that it is decorated for the holiday season.
A large wooden Bigfoot statue and other items were recently placed near the pond.
The decorations and other items were placed around the pond to honor the area's history, said Danny Tuggle, chief executive of House Springs Preservation Inc., a nonprofit that owns and owns the property on which the pond is located is supervised.
House Springs is named for the House family, who settled on the land in the early 19th century, and for the springs that flowed through the area on their way to Head's Creek.
After the town was settled, “it continued to develop into a prominent trading post and became a popular location for settlers,” Tuggle said. “As the area prospered and highways were built, the headwaters fell into obscurity and were eventually used as a retention basin for surrounding businesses.”
However, in 2008, the High Ridge Rotary Club took over the project to improve the area, including the pond, which had filled with mud and green slime. The group set up a few benches and landscaped the area with some native plants and flowers, Tuggle said.
Work continued in 2014 when Jim Terry expanded the landscaping. In 2020, the House Springs Preservation organization was founded and now works to preserve the area's history and ensure the community can enjoy the area. The Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce also supports this effort.
In 2021, a new round of renovations to the property began and in recent years the area has been decorated for Christmas and other occasions.
“We started decorating the park in 2022. It was very well received by the community,” Tuggle said. “That’s why we expanded the decorations to other holidays and seasons. The community has expressed its appreciation for the area and efforts to make it visually appealing.”
While Tuggle leads the group that maintains, improves and decorates the preservation area, maintenance is far from a one-man job.
“Jim Lehnhoff, David Marion, Jeff Moody and Adult Teen Challenge have provided assistance over the past few years,” Tuggle said. “For the last four years, there was also a homeless gentleman who regularly checked on me to see if I needed help. His name was Jason Bean. Unfortunately, Mr. Bean passed away,” Tuggle said.
He said the Christmas decorations are placed in the pond around Thanksgiving and must be monitored daily until they are taken down in January. The funding for the decorations varies each year. The HSP received a flood of donations from the community in 2023 after the area was destroyed. Most of the decorations that are there today were donated or purchased through monetary donations.
Bigfoot statue
“We have recently installed numerous wooden statues and benches in the area. These were purchased at the Wood Den in Festus. These items were chosen to give the area a natural feel,” Tuggle said.
One of the statues is a 12-foot-tall wooden replica of Bigfoot that cost $1,100, Tuggle said.
He said the statue weighs 4,000 pounds and is set in concrete, adding that volunteer Bobby Brooks had to use a crane to install it.
“Bigfoot is guarding the pond now,” Tuggle said.
More upgrades have been added.
“A water sprinkler system was installed in the lawns this year. Improvements have also been made to the area around the mouth of the pond to improve the appearance of the area while ensuring control of water flow,” Tuggle said. “The board is always looking for funding from grants and donor sources.”
The House Springs Preservation group's long-term goal is to increase community participation in the preservation of the area.
“This is truly a community project,” Tuggle said.
He said any funds the conservation group receives will be used to maintain and improve the pond property.
“Currently, there are nine circular areas in landscaping. These areas are available for the community to take over. Once adopted, they can plant and maintain the area year-round,” Tuggle said. “The names of each circle’s sponsors are displayed.”
To make a donation or for more information about the House Springs Preservation group's efforts, email Tuggle at housespringspreservation@gmail.com.