Cove Hollow was originally the estate of the McDaniel family. Horace McDaniel was a successful banker in Springfield in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.
A daughter was born in 1871 named Elizabeth P. McDaniel better known as “Lizzie” McDaniel. Lizzie was involved in many of Springfield’s social and civic activities. Her parents built an outdoor amphitheater in the area of the acreage known as “Cove Hollow” for Lizzie.
This piece of land is just a short walk away from the beautiful James River. Lizzie sponsored plays, operettas, and numerous church services at the amphitheater. Visitors could be picked up at the Galloway train station, where they would be transported to the ridge overlooking the cove, and then walk down a path of stairs that led them to the amphitheater.
An article on the Springfield News-Leader site noted the following:
July 7, 1933: Over 2,200 people enjoyed the production of “Louisiana” at the grand opening of Cove Hollow Theatre. The open-air venue known as the “bowl” was located on the estate of Miss Lizzie McDaniel, 7 miles southeast of Springfield near the intersection of U.S. 65 and U.S. 60. Opening night proved many skeptics wrong that worried the site could not accommodate a large crowd. To ease congestion, buses transported many guests from Springfield, but there were still 600 cars in the parking lot. To reach their seats, theatergoers descended 300 feet into the bowl. Despite the walk, there were no mishaps and traffic moved smoothly in and out of the venue. The natural acoustics were so good that spectators sitting 150 feet away had no trouble hearing the actors. It was suggested that those attending a second performance on July 8 wear old shoes for the walk and bring a pillow for the rough benches. Springfield Leader & Press
Lizzie was strongly influenced by Harold Bell Wright’s novel, The Shepherd of Hills. She was so interested in the novel and its history that she sold her business interest in Springfield and moved to Branson, Missouri. The land she purchased in Branson became the popular sight now known as Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama.
The house Lizzie built sits on the north ridge of the Cove Hollow section of the land, and overlooks both the cove and the James River Valley to the west. The house is made from limestone rock blocks taken from the cove.
The stately house is a two story structure with 6,024 square feet of living space, consisting of up to 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 fireplaces, portico and a 3 car garage. Various patios surround the house with a large in-ground pool in the west part of the yard.
The original house was built in the late 1930’s and was remodeled in early 1940’s with the help of one of Springfield’s renowned architects, Don Russell.
The house also was used as a restaurant in the early 1960’s called “Keller’s”.