My Castlewood
By Jerry Carpenter
22 Jun 2009
Castlewood State Park is located in St. Louis's suburban West County. The Meramec river winds through the park on it's way to the Mississippi. In the early 1900's a popular resort hotel sat atop Castlewood's bluffs. People swarmed to Castlewood by rail to swim and party. The hotel is long gone, but the ruins of the great staircase, which climbed from the rail line to the hotel, still cling to the bluff. The foundations of old guest cabins dot the wooded landscape.
When my youngest daughter, now grown and far away, was a child, we hiked along the bluff together the day before school started each year and picnicked beside the river. Castlewood was a great place to bond and have fun.
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy. The quiet back trails gave me a place to walk alone and ponder the cycle of life on display all around me. I found the woods a comforting presence. Months later, recovering from the stem cell transplant that saved my life, I used Castlewood's trails to rebuild my strength, biking the trails that I could and hiking those I couldn't.
These photographs are the way I see Castlewood. They were taken in various seasons with different cameras, but always with a sense of affection.
3 responses
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Ann Reece gave props (22 Jun 2009):
Jerry, I like your story, I voted for it! I did not know that you had lymphoma until recently. Thankfully you were able to get a stem cell transplant!!!
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Donna Whitecotton gave props (23 Jun 2009):
Excellent entry....gets my vote!!! Not only is this a lovely group of photos of your Castlewood...but the story behind your affection for the park is heartwarming. You have shown off your favorite park to its best advantage through your lens!
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David Eastham said (25 Jun 2009):
You have my vote.
