Elsberry Swamp

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In 1879 most of present day Elsberry was a swamp. Standing here at 3rd and DuBois then you would have been looking at Lost Creek as it crossed over DuBois, Broadway and then on to what is now Hwy 79. It flooded every spring and made this area “below the bluff” very difficult to build in. However, here about where the Providence Bank parking lot used to be the Webb Hotel. The Webb was built on site (not moved) and it had the most modern and up to date hotel features! Contemporary reports say it had the best food for miles and miles and was a big draw for Elsberry.