Saddle up your horses and head for the village of Gladstone! While circuit rider Peter Cartwright may have followed this advice a century and a half ago when visiting the Methodist Church here, you may want to simply load up the family van and come check out this neat little Henderson County community. Country artist Hal Ketchum`s "Small Town Saturday Night" might well have been written about this village of 300. But don`t let its size deceive you. Gladstone and the community that surrounds it offer much to experience and see. Originally called Sagetown, the village of Gladstone was laid out in the mid-19th century. Its Methodist Church, constructed in 1867, was often visited by circuit rider Peter Cartwright.
Lock and Dam 18,located on the scenic Mississippi River, just off the Great River Road, was constructed in 1934 to provide a river channel for commercial barge traffic. The dam and water area are favorite walleye fishing spots. In winter, it affords an observation area for watching bald eagles.
The Henderson County Conservation Area, located to the south of Gladstone, is a popular spot for camping and fishing. The 87-acre site includes Gladstone Lake, a 27-acre lake with 1.5 miles of shoreline.
Henderson Covered Bridge to the north of Gladstone and along Route 164, is a post Civil War construction that offers a glimpse into transportation modes from another period in time. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Annual Events:
The Gladstone Homecoming: A weekend celebration held in the village park every August, the Homecoming events feature a church dinner, carnival rides, fair food, midway games and local entertainment.
Henderson County Heritage Trail: Gladstone is a scheduled stop on the Trail the last full weekend of September.