Chouteau Springs, Missouri facts for kids
Chouteau Springs is a small, unincorporated community in Cooper County, Missouri. It's located in Pilot Grove Township. This area is known for its natural mineral springs, which have a long and interesting history.
A Look Back: Chouteau Springs History
Early Discoveries and Ownership
In 1799, a fur trader named Jean Pierre Chouteau explored inland from the Missouri River. He found bubbling mineral springs in a beautiful valley. Local Osage Indians told him the water had healing powers. They said their warriors often drank from the springs.
Chouteau traded with the Osage for a large area of land. This land is now known as Chouteau Springs. The official deal happened at the Fort of the Osages on March 19, 1799. Chouteau later sold this land to William Henry Ashley. Ashley was Missouri's first Lieutenant Governor.
The Springs Become Famous
By 1855, newspapers were already advertising the "medicinal qualities" of the water from Chouteau Springs. People believed the water could help with health problems. In 1874, R. A. Campbell wrote about the springs. He said they were "much frequented" and would be a "delightful place for summer resort." Many people reported feeling better after using the water.
A Moment in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Chouteau Springs saw some action. On October 12, 1864, Major General Sterling Price led his Confederate troops there. They marched about 11 miles from Boonville and camped briefly. They were on their way to a battle in Westport.
A local resident, Maria Eva (Martin) Day, was about 16 years old then. She remembered soldiers camping in Chouteau Springs. She said they sometimes took food from farmers. Girls would ride horses quickly past the camps, singing songs.
Building a Community: Church and School
In 1870, St. Martin's Catholic Church was built in Chouteau Springs. It was a small log building, 18 by 24 feet. Daniel Martin donated 1.5 acres of land for it. This area was sometimes called "Martinsville."
A larger wooden church was built on the same land in 1877. Then, in 1908, a solid red brick church was constructed. Anton Joseph Wesselman donated 2.25 acres for this new church. It was located near the KATY railroad station. In 1920, St. Martin's Parochial School was built next to the brick church.
One hundred years after the first church, in 1970, the Diocese closed St. Martin's Church and School. St. Martin's Cemetery is still there today.
The Rise of a Resort Town
In 1877, a large, four-story hotel was built in Chouteau Springs. It was 190 feet long and 45 feet wide. It cost about $25,000 to build. The hotel had a passenger elevator, steam baths, and beautiful stained glass. By 1906, there was a hotel called "Hotel Brown."
One of the most loved hotel operators was Maria Eva (Martin) Day, known as "Grandma" Day. After her husband died in 1911, she ran the Day Hotel for 18 years. She charged $4.50 per week for a room and 25 cents per meal. Her fried chicken was very popular. Grandma Day passed away in 1937 at 89 years old.
By the late 1880s, the Chouteau Springs Resort was a popular destination. It had several gazebos where people could get mineral water. There was also a large dancing pavilion, a swimming pool, and picnic grounds. Families from St. Louis and other places would stay for a week or more. Fox hunts were also held at the resort.
Chouteau Springs was officially mapped out in 1886. It was named after Jean Pierre Chouteau, the first owner of the land.
Transportation and Daily Life
In 1887, there was a plan to build an electric railroad from Boonville to Chouteau Springs. However, this railroad was never built.
A U.S. Post Office named "Chouteau" opened in 1890. It operated until 1896. After that, mail services moved to Lamine.
By 1907, the KATY Railroad was making several stops in Chouteau Springs. This made it easier for people to visit the resort.
In 1900, Eugene A. Windsor bought the Chouteau Springs Park Resort. Everett Spry managed the resort from about 1917 to 1932.
The School and Community Today
Chouteau Springs had its own grade school. In 1937, Miss Florence Stoecklein was the teacher. The school board members were John S. Davis, Herman Lammers, and John Schuster. Henry Brownfield was the clerk. Many local children attended the school.
The Chouteau Springs Park Resort stopped operating around 1960. Jack Schweitzer was its last manager. Some people believe the building of Bagnell Dam (which created the Lake of the Ozarks) and the Great Depression led to its decline. Today, the resort buildings are in ruins.
However, the farmlands and homes around Chouteau Springs continue to thrive.
Scientific Discoveries at Chouteau Springs
Water Analysis
In 1874, Professor Adolphe Smith of the Missouri Geological Survey was very impressed with the water from Chouteau Springs. He said it was better than the famous Blue Lick waters in Kentucky.
In 1886, a state geologist named G. C. Swallow analyzed the water. He found minerals like iron, lime, magnesia, and salt. These minerals made up a very small part of the water's total weight.
Studying Ancient Life
In 1981, a scientist named Larry Stout made an interesting discovery. He found a rare type of tiny crustacean called an ostracode in Chouteau Springs. This specific type, Cyprideis salebrosa, usually lives in salty or brackish water. Finding it in Missouri was very unusual, only the third time it had been seen in North America.
In 1944, William H. Easton published an article about the limestone in Chouteau Springs. He noted that it contained more types of ancient coral than any other similar rock formation in this part of the world.
