Baldknobbers is not just a great show located on the infamous strip in Branson. They were an actual group that existed in Southwest Missouri during the 1880's. The group were non-racially motivated vigilantes. The name was derived by locals because the group members held meetings upon a "bald" mountain top (to keep a lookout for spies). Typically they wore hoods with horns to separate themselves from other groups in the area. Chapters existed in Taney, Stone, Christian, Douglas and Greene Counties. The group originally formed with the purpose of putting an end to the marauding gangs after the Civil War. As the number of members grew, the purpose quickly lost focus. There were many murders, but no one was ever convicted. Eventually in 1889 the group was disbanded, although there were rumors of other incidents taking place all the way up to the 1920s.
Still from the film, The Shepherd of the Hills
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