SUGGESTED AND CONSIDERED AREAS. 



WOODMAN'S HOLLOW AREA ONE OF NATURE'S BEAUTY SPOTS. 

 By Mrs. Pervilla Alsever Hart. 



Among the many beautiful and unique places along the Des Homes 

 river, is a valley, or glen, known to the inhabitants of Otho as Woodman's 

 Hollow. 



A long time ago, as early as 1855, it was owned by the government. 

 Later, it became what is called, "River Land." 



It was bought and sold several times, and finally became the property 

 of a man named Woodman, from whence ,it derived its name. 



The earliest inhabitants say that in 1855 the deer were running up and 

 down the Hollow, and two wild cats were seen about one-half mile from 

 the mouth of the Hollow. 



This picturesque place is situated on the Des Moines river, some over 

 two miles east of the little village of Otho, which is on the M. and St. L. 

 R. R. The Hollow is about one-half mile long, running east and west. 



At its source is a spring of clear, sparkling water, which feeds a small 

 stream, running the entire length of the Hollow. 



On either side of the stream are walls of rock, rising ten and twelve 

 feet in height, while the tops almost touch in places, as they grow out 

 from the hills, of which they form a part. 



At the base of the rocks, the water has washed out the earth and lefr 

 great, deep caverns, dark and weird looking, while out of the crevices and 

 at the bottom, where the soil has washed down, there are tiny ferns pro- 

 truding, and an occasional tree seed takes root, grows for awhile in a half- 

 hearted, sickly manner, then dries up and dies. Sometimes, at irregular 

 intervals, there are thrifty trees growing tall and straight, and reaching 

 up, as though to catch the sunlight, beyond the gloom. 



Around the spring, at the beginning of the cave, the most beautiful 

 white sand is found, clean and glistening. 



Above the chasm, and as though to shelter, it the trees spread their 

 branches, interlocking their long arms on either side, and the sunlight 

 glints through the branches on the rock bed below, while the roots are 

 imbedded in the moist, rich earth, that forms the hill on either side. 



Years ago there was an abundance of small cedar trees on the bank, 

 but most of them have been transplanted to ornament the homes and 

 farms throughout the township. There are but few cedar trees left, ex 

 cept several which were transplanted around the old Woodman house, 

 which is now a thing of the past, but was once a beautiful home-like scene, 

 on the north bank of the Hollow near its source. 



The trees growing along the Hollow are popple, basswood, and a great 

 many oaks. There are also wild raspberries, gooseberries' and choke 

 cherries. 



