Rich Fountain, Missouri facts for kids
Rich Fountain is a small, unincorporated community located in Osage County, Missouri, United States. An unincorporated community means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Rich Fountain is found about three miles east of U.S. Route 63 and is about fifteen miles southeast of Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri.
The Story of Rich Fountain
Rich Fountain began its history around 1839. That's when a man named John Strumpf built a gristmill there. A gristmill is a building where grain, like wheat or corn, is ground into flour or meal. This was a very important business back then!
The community got its name from a natural spring located near where the first buildings were put up. People likely thought the spring was "rich" because it provided plenty of water.
In 1854, a post office was opened in Rich Fountain. A post office is where people send and receive letters and packages. This post office served the community for many years, finally closing in 1972.
Important Buildings in Rich Fountain
One special building in Rich Fountain is the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Parsonage. In 1982, this church and its nearby house (parsonage) were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important because of their history, architecture, or what they represent. Being on this list helps protect these special places for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
