Carthage’s historic homes and a chance to gamble at the casinos in nearby northeast Oklahoma brought one Camdenton couple to Carthage.
For Rose Meyer, Carthage and the mansions on Grant and Main streets were the main draw. For her husband, Clarence Meyer, it was the chance to visit Downstream Casino.
“I love architecture and I don’t really remember where I got the information about Carthage and the lead industry, but I read that Carthage was one of the richest cities in the United States because of the lead,” Rose Meyer said. “I read up on the Internet about the mansions and I wanted to see for myself, and I dragged my husband with me with the promise of gambling.”
Rose Meyer is a retired postal worker. Clarence Meyer is a retired prefabricated steel worker.
Clarence Meyer said he was impressed with the Phelps House, despite the three stories worth of steps.
“I think it’s a nice looking town,” Clarence Meyer said. “I like the old style homes and everything like that. I don’t like to do a lot of walking up and down steps with my knees and my heart.”
The two live in Camdenton and have a home in St. Louis as well. They said this was not their first visit to Carthage. They were here in the spring and toured the Precious Moments Chapel.
“I like the old town atmosphere,” Rose Meyer said. “So far everyone has been very polite. Like when you want to get out on the curb and take a picture, they’ve been patient.”
Rose Meyer said she would like to come back and visit the Carthage Public Library and do more research on the mining era in Carthage.
The couple also said they have friends who would like to see the Battle of Carthage museum and the historic site.
“We have friends that we will bring back who are Civil War buffs and we’ll probably bring them back sometime,” Rose Meyer said. “They would love it.”
“They’ve probably been here already,” Clarence Meyer said.
Rose Meyer said she liked Carthage and the different aspects of Carthage’s heritage, but the town needed to promote itself more.
“Our friends are not gamblers so they will be specifically here for the Civil War,” Rose Meyer said. “You need to make sure you promote that reenactment. I hope it’s well publicized.”
She said they have a granddaughter who lives in Germany who would like to see the Route 66 heritage in Carthage.
“The Europeans just love Route 66,” Rose Meyer said. “Our granddaughter comes to visit us every other summer and I think her and her boyfriend would love to tour this town.”
