The River
110 N Franklin St
Cuba, MO
Viva Cuba’s ninth vintage style river mural is appropriately named “The River.” The mural painted by artists Shelly Smith Steiger and Julie Balogh Brand depicts the use of the river as a source of recreation, beauty, and transportation.
The very name of Missouri is a form of the Indian word meaning canoe, “Miss-sou-ly.” The nation of Indians was called “miss-sou-le-au” (canoe men) by other Indians because they did all their traveling in canoes. Later, loggers used the river to float their timber to market.
In more modern times, the Cuba/Steelville area became a focus of river resorts and tourism. During the 20s-40s, many river resorts developed along the river. Tourists arrived by train and were taken to the resorts by buggy and wagon.
The river mural, which is sponsored by Stephan and Robert “Bear” Bass, reflects their heritage as members of Meramec, Courtois, and Huzzah river families who made their living and enjoyed the recreation along the river. A family farm was located on the scenic Courtois River. Stephan and Robert Bass are the sons of Bob Bass, one of the founders of the Steelville floating companies.
Their father Bob Bass was a pioneer in this area. Bob Bass’s parents owned a general store in Steelville. Bob Bass opened Bass Canoe in 1967 with 6 canoes. Bass started covering St. Louis with advertising posters. According to a St. Louis Post article in June, 2003, “I was selling firewood in the winter in St. Louis. I’d go to the bars, saloons, apartment complexes…anywhere there were young people,” he said. “I’d tell them, ‘For 20 bucks a head, I’ll roast you a whole hog and you can float all day.’ It was the least expensive sport for a young couple in the world.” In two years, Bass had 400 canoes. According to Bass, Ralph “Tree House,” Brown was his main competition then.
Then the Meramec Dam project tipped the canoe, so to speak. The Corp of Engineers took the Bass property for the proposed dam. But lovers of the Meramec and Missouri voters did what seemed impossible and stopped a government project. When the project failed and was de-authorized by Congress in 1981, the Bass family was able to buy back their land.
Today, Bear Bass and his brother Stephan have taken over their father’s business. Stephan operates Bass’ River Resort on the Courtois River and has cabins, canoes, and rafts. He is married to Julie Cottrell whose parents own the nearby Huzzah Valley Resort. Bear bought the old Keyes canoe livery on the Meramec and has turned it into Ozark Outdoors Riverfront Resort with rustic cabins and camping spots.
While the cast of characters might change, the old Missouri Rivers continue to roll. Missourians and others enjoy the floating, camping, and beauty that have always been such an important part of Crawford County, and it’s this aspect of our state that Viva Cuba salutes in its ninth mural.
