Hamburg, Missouri facts for kids

Hamburg was once a small town in St. Charles County, Missouri, in the United States. It was one of three towns, including nearby Howell and Toonerville, that had to be completely emptied and closed down between 1940 and 1941. This happened because the United States Department of the Army took over the area to build the Weldon Spring Ordnance Works. This factory made important materials like trinitrotoluene (TNT) and dinitrotoluene (DNT), which are used in explosives. Later, the factory also processed uranium.

The Story of Hamburg

Early Settlers and Town Life

Hamburg was founded in the 1830s by German immigrants. People like John Nahm, William Koenig, George Mades, Daniel Schmidt, Jacob Schneider, and Nickolas Roth were among the first to settle there. The town was an important spot because it had access to both the railroad and the Missouri River. This made it a central place for local farm families to trade and connect.

Originally, the German settlers built their homes near the Missouri River, below and along the bluffs (steep cliffs). However, after some serious floods, most of the community moved to higher ground above the bluff. This created two parts of the town: an "upper" Hamburg and a "lower" Hamburg.

Why Hamburg Disappeared

Hamburg's story came to an end in 1941. The U.S. government bought the entire area, including Hamburg and two other nearby farming communities, Howell and Toonerville. They needed the land to build a special factory called an "ordinance plant." This plant was crucial for making supplies to help prepare for World War II.

Residents were told about the government's plan in late 1940. By the middle of 1941, everyone had moved out, and the area was closed off. Some people were able to agree on a price for their land and received payment. However, others ended up in a long legal fight over the land's value. This court battle wasn't settled until after World War II, by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Life in the Area

Hamburg was located along the Missouri River, southwest of St. Charles. It was near Highway 94 in St. Charles County. Other farm communities nearby were settled in the late 1700s by famous families like the Howells and the Boones, including Daniel Boone and his son Daniel Morgan Boone.

Some people from the Hamburg area even took part in the California gold rush, hoping to find gold. A few returned to Missouri with enough money to buy farms and start their families. Many residents also served in the American Civil War. While some fought on different sides, most German-heritage families in the area supported the Union (the northern states). Later, some settlers moved to the Oklahoma territory during the Land Run of 1889, when new land was opened for settlement.

Famous People from Hamburg

Hamburg, though small, was home to a few notable individuals:

• John E. Schneider: Born in 1823, John Schneider was a talented weaver who made special blankets called coverlets. He was one of the first weavers west of the Mississippi River. His beautiful coverlets are now displayed in important places like the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago.
• Archie Bowman: He was locally remembered as one of the last U.S. citizens to die in World War I.
• Ralph Sutton: Born in Hamburg in 1922, Ralph Sutton became a very well-known traditional jazz stride pianist. When he was young, in the 1930s, he played in his father's band at the Riverview Park dance hall in Hamburg. This dance hall was actually built by his father, Earl Sutton, and Earl's friend Theodore (Tot) Mades, specifically to encourage Ralph's piano playing.