St. Francois County, MO

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Bonne Terre Lead Mining

January 22, 2010 in St. Francois County, MO | 6 comments


Chat Dump, photo by MilliGFunk

Chat dumps are where mining waste goes when it dies. Erm, I mean chat dumps are the huge heaps of mining waste. When we were kids, we’d call these sand mountains, and we’d beg our parents to let us play on them.

In winter, we wanted to sled down them. In summer we wanted to build sand castles on them (out of them). In spring and fall, we probably begged our parents to let us roll down them. Not once during my childhood did I ever step foot on a chat dump. I guess my parents were fans of trespassing. No sense of adventure, I tell you…

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I have no idea what you call these things, but if someone could fill me in, I’d be happy about it. I’m fairly certain that these things play an important role in the life and death of the mining waste that rests in the chat dump when it dies.

What Do You Call This? photo by MilliGFunk

So meet me halfway, dear readers. I’ve told you about chat dumps, so can any of you tell me what these monstrosities are called?

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MilliGFunk’s Momma

January 20, 2010 in Appreciating Friends and Family, Having Fun, St. Francois County, MO | 3 comments

While I was at the Bonne Terre Public Library on Monday, I pulled out a copy of my mom’s North County High School yearbook. Check out the hottie on the upper-right corner of the spread.

MilliGFunk's Momma, photo by MilliGFunk

Turns out my mom was a cheerleader and on the pep squad. I had NO idea! I knew my trip to the library would teach me some things, but I never guessed it’d teach me about my own mom. Small Town, Missouri is FULL of surprises lately.

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More on Bonne Terre, Missouri

January 18, 2010 in Small Missouri Towns, St. Francois County, MO | 2 comments

My first blogging expedition to the historic lead mining town of Bonne Terre, Missouri only left me curious to learn more, so today I ventured back to Bonne Terre, camera in hand.

I made my way to the Bonne Terre library, which was completed and presented to the community in January of 1905.

Bonne Terre Library, photo by MilliGFunk

I could easily have spent my entire afternoon in the geneology and history room, reading through the dozens of reference book on local history. For all my reading, though, I still haven’t found a concrete explanation for the bell at the First Baptist Church.

Here’s one of my favorite pictures from my trip to Bonne Terre today. This is of the Bonne Terre Depot, erected in 1909.

Bonne Terre Depot, photo by MilliGFunk

Other Bonne Terre Posts:

Memorial Tree

Marvin Chapel United Methodist Church

Bonne Terre, Missouri

Mooner’s Hollow Trail (St. Francois State Park)

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The Bell at the First Baptist Church of Bonne Terre

January 7, 2010 in Churches, Missouri, Small Missouri Towns, St. Francois County, MO | 2 comments

St. Louis, MO, photo by smalltowngirl

SO…there’s this giant bell mounted on a brick and concrete pedestal in front of the First Baptist Church of Bonne Terre, Missouri, and I’m not sure why.

Granted the bell looks super-cool (up close, especially), but there’s no plaque or sign indicating what the significance of the bell is.

The bell has words inscribed into the side of the bell, as well as a large “No. 11″ embossed on it. Does anyone know why an older church would mount a bell this way? Any Bonne Terre folks out there who could tell me what this bell’s all about?

No. 11, photo by smalltowngirl

Bell at First Baptist, photo by smalltowngirl

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Memorial Tree (Bonne Terre, MO)

January 6, 2010 in Missouri, Small Missouri Towns, St. Francois County, MO | 2 comments

Memorial Tree, photo by smalltowngirl

The holidays have passed, but I can’t resist blogging about this little memorial tree in Bonne Terre, Missouri’s Bicentennial Park. The tree was planted in memory of a specific man whose name my fingers were too cold to write down on the 10 degree day I wandered this small Missouri town. It seems as though, during the Christmas season, people from Bonne Terre place Christmas ornaments on the tree in memory of loved ones.

I enjoy the sentimentality of small town people. This little tree inspired me toward a moment of very, very cold (it was 10 degrees!) silence for those I’ve loved who are no longer here with me.  Here are a few more photos of the tree and the ornaments on and beneath it:

Audrey and Marcus Maybery, photo by smalltowngirl

Frosty, photo by smalltowngirl

In Loving Memory of Mabel Barker, photo by smalltowngirl

In Memory, photo by smalltowngirl

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Marvin Chapel United Methodist Church

December 30, 2009 in Churches, Missouri, Small Missouri Towns, St. Francois County, MO | No comments

Marvin Chapel, photo by smalltowngirl

When I got off of US Highway 67 to drive into the town of Bonne Terre, I saw a sign for a United Methodist church five miles away in the opposite direction of the town. I took a detour to check the church out.

Marvin Chapel United Methodist Church sits on Missouri Highway 47, five miles east of Bonne Terre. I didn’t see an established date on the building, but the church didn’t look very old. The structure was simple, but the red front doors felt welcoming.

If you like Missouri church posts, check out Villa Ridge Christian Church (Villa Ridge, MO), St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church (Richwoods, MO), St. Paul Lutheran Church (Farmington, MO), Bellevue Presbyterian Church (Caledonia, MO), and another post on Bellevue.

Marvin Chapel, photo by smalltowngirl

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Bonne Terre, Missouri

December 28, 2009 in Missouri, Small Missouri Towns, St. Francois County, MO | No comments

Bonne Terre, photo by smalltowngirl

My most recent small town Missouri adventure was a freezing cold trip through Bonne Terre, Missouri. Bonne Terre is one of those old Midwestern mining towns that feels haunted to me as I walk its streets. I can so clearly imagine the time when Bonne Terre was booming and miners and railroad men spent their hard-earned money in the town’s bars, but the town simply isn’t that vibrant in 2009.

According to the sign in the picture, the first lead mining took place in what’s now Bonne Terre in the late 1790s, but the town wasn’t established until the 1880s.  Jean Baptiste Pratte opened the area’s fist “lead diggings”. In 1864, all 946 acres of lead diggings were purchased from Pratte by the New York City-backed St. Joseph Lead Company. It was the St. Joseph Company who took the initiative to build the town of Bonne Terre.

Missouri is the oldest and largest lead-producing state in the United States, and Bonne Terre sits at the heart of the largest lead-mining district in the country. While the lead-belt’s history is rich, little remains now but historic sites and huge mounds of chat that, as kids, we called sand mountains.

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Villa Ridge Christian Church

December 27, 2009 in Churches, Missouri, Small Missouri Towns, St. Francois County, MO | 4 comments

Villa Ridge Christian Church, photo by smalltowngirl

One of the things I love most about my wanderings in rural Missouri is the moment when I happen accidentally upon a beautiful, old, country church. Missouri’s churches have stories to tell; stories of weddings, funerals, and stories of community.

I’m always amazed that the people of these tiny, probably relatively poor towns understood the need for churches as gathering places, churches as symbols of faith, and churches as places of worship. Churches are deeply relevant in small town Missouri history and culture, which I think is what inspires me to photograph so many of them.

Villa Ridge Christian Church, photo by smalltowngirl

When I saw this church outside of Washington, Missouri, goosebumps immediately traversed my neck, back and arms. Not only is the church nearly 150 years old, it’s the same denomination I was raised in; First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.

Villa Ridge Christian Church is located in Villa Ridge, Missouri, between Union and Pacific, Missouri. According to US Census data from 2000, the population of Villa Ridge is 2,417.  Villa Ridge Christian Church is located at 119 East Villa Ridge Road.

Villa Ridge Christian Church, photo by smalltowngirl

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St. Francois State Park: Mooner’s Hollow Trail

December 14, 2009 in Hiking and the Outdoors, Missouri, Missouri Natural Areas, Missouri State Parks, St. Francois County, MO | 4 comments

Starburst, photo by smalltowngirl

Starburst - (Not Photoshopped), photo by smalltowngirl

St. Francois State Park was a pleasant surprise. This park sits directly on US Highway 67 north of Bonne Terre, Missouri, and I’ve driven past it countless times through the years without ever visiting it. The park boasts four trails ranging in length from .5-mile (Missouri Trail) to 11-miles (Pike Run Trail).

Frozen, photo by smalltowngirl

Frozen, photo by smalltowngirl

The first hike we took was along the Mooner’s Hollow Trail, a 2.7-mile loop that though judged moderate in difficulty on the MO State Parks website, seemed to me to be easy-to-moderate. There weren’t many steep inclines, and there weren’t many roots or larger rocks along the trail.

Rushing Water, photo by smalltowngirl

Rushing Water, photo by smalltowngirl

Much of the trail followed a dry creek bed, so I anticipate that this trail may be best hiked during dryer months. Mooner’s Hollow Trail follows Coonville Creek in the Coonville Creek Natural Area.

Missouri Hills, photo by smalltowngirl

Missouri Hills, photo by smalltowngirl

St. Francois State Park is one of 83 State Parks in the state of Missouri. The park boasts more than 2,700 acres of land, and welcomes hikers, horseback riding, fishing, camping, picnicking and swimming. There are shower houses and out buildings in the park. The park currently opens at 8 am and closes at 6 pm.

The

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Smalltowngirl’s Thanksgiving

November 27, 2009 in Appreciating Friends and Family, Missouri, St. Francois County, MO | No comments

This Thanksgiving I had more to be thankful for than I can articulate. Among the things I found myself the most thankful for were:

My dad’s health.

My brother coming home for the holiday.

Not having to travel to come home for the holiday for the first time in a decade. (NYC = 0; MO=1)

My family, in general. I love them. They’re amazing.

My old friends. I have some of the world’s most caring and devoted friends.

My new friends; moving to Missouri has provided the opportunity to meet fun new people.

My health. It’s a blessing that I have the physical well-being to trek around Missouri independently; hiking, taking photographs, and writing about this state.

My job, which keeps me interested and challenged, allowing me to grow and learn.

My faith, which even the events of 2009 haven’t been able to take away from me.

My taste buds; there are so many wonderful flavors in the world. I’m thankful I can enjoy chocolate martinis and meat on a stick and turkey and dressing and good cups of coffee.

My travels. I’ve lived in many places, and I’ve seen many more than that.

My education.

Reconnecting with old friends. I’ve had a great time lately, hanging out with new old friends!

Twitter; for helping me find the beginnings of a community in St. Louis when I live and work 70+ miles away in a small town.

Readers. i.e. YOU. For reading what I write and looking at the photos I take. For encouraging me when I’m down and reminding me why I make this blog a priority.

And a fun picture from yesterday’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I walked in it for work, taking pictures of our volunteers and staff, and helping to promote our organization. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

Happy Thanksgiving! photo by smalltowngirl

Happy Thanksgiving! photo by smalltowngirl

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