The Magic of Moss Canyon

By Anne McKee / guest columnist

September 20, 2007 10:29 pm

— If you are a native Meridianite or during your childhood lived in Meridian, then, you know about Moss Canyon. Many of a childhood adventure occurred in Moss Canyon located in west Meridian, near Highland Avenue.
Recently James Elmer Smith shared some of his canyon memories from the 1940’s and 1950’s. “Moss Canyon played a big part in my childhood. Mr. Charlie Moss owned most of the canyon area, and he took special interest in preserving a safe haven for the kids of the neighborhood. Mr. Moss built a nice baseball field behind his house were we played organized games against other communities such as the Complete Community located near State Boulevard,” Smith remembers.
Moss Canyon was located along side Gallagher Creek. The creek winds throughout the entire city of Meridian. There were several nice swimming holes ... one named “Apple Core” by the locals where the water was cool and deep. Smith remembered catching some nice-sized-bass out of that pool of water, then, with his buddies, frying the fish up for a tasty meal. The kids would wrap potatoes with red-mud-clay, then, put the potatoes into the campfire. When the clay began to crack, the potatoes were ready to eat.
Campouts at Moss Canyon were a regular event for neighborhood kids. Smith remembers some of his friends who enjoyed time with him at Moss Canyon: Mike Guy, Al Trussell, Richard Chatham, Norman Rowsie, Sue Shannon, and James Elmer’s childhood sweetheart, Glenda Shepherd. James Elmer and Glenda will celebrate their 49th Wedding Anniversary, December 20.
James confessed to some “skinny-dipping” at the ole swimming hole — all innocent and fun. He stated the boys would run the girls off before they would take a naked-dip, but I would be inclined to think the girls would take a peek now and then.
Oh, the glory of youth!
The Falls located in Moss Canyon were spectacular, and the most beautiful sight of the entire area. Fool’s Gold lined the edges with sharp rocks, and the swimming hole was approximately 10 feet deep. There was a steep bank as one approached this area with a twelve-foot drop down into the water.
Setting hooks for fish, enjoying campouts while lying under the stars and hearing the rippling water of The Falls located at Moss Canyon…life just couldn’t get any better during those wonderful summer days.
Smith remembers days of digging for arrowheads, and finding many of them all along the canyon floor, bringing, for the youngsters, an interest of the Native Americans who lived in the canyon area in the long ago past. Also, of tying ropes from trees in order to access even further up into the creek area. I asked about dangers such as snakes, and he acknowledged they were present, but could easily be scared away when the kids came out to swim.
But, Smith reminded, “There were no real dangers like drugs in those days, just kids having good-clean-fun.” I found this to be important thoughts for ponder as we live in the 21st Century.
The magic of Moss Canyon was real and free to all ... making sweet memories of a time that radiates in the minds of those who were fortunate to have had the opportunity of spending childhood days in a magical place.
Today, it is hard to locate the old canyon as most of it has been filled. The Gallagher Creek still runs through the area, but is no longer used as a place to swim by neighborhood kids ... only the memories remain of that magical place of wonder.
It is apparent the “Moss Canyon Kids” had no need of attending exercise classes or signing up for Summer Camp to reduce pounds ... No, these kids enjoyed tons of exercise while running through the canyon, and swimming in the water holes. They enjoyed the fresh air, sunshine, the adventure, and the mystery of history, companionship, and support of community by the organization of baseball games, plus the encouragement and guidance by the Charlie Moss family for all of the kids in the neighborhood.
Is there something to learn from this time of reminiscing, this time of recalling bygone days when neighborhoods worked together to make their home places be the best that they could be?
Yes, there’s plenty to learn … I offer that in many ways old-fashioned times, and our rich legacy are all we need to know, plus, by learning from what-worked-then, we can apply this to our present day lives as we move forward into the 21 Century. This knowledge can be our greatest encourager as we continue our pathway of life by learning from the past.