My most recent landmark stop was to the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site in Bufordville, Missouri. Bufordville is a small community about eight miles west of Jackson, Missouri. This historic site is not only home to a magnificent mill, but also one for four of the last covered bridges left in Missouri. Aside from the designated historic site and state park, Bufordville holds multiple historic homes that have stood the test of time, and adds to the area's character.
Bollinger Mill and present day Bufordville came to be all because of one man. This man was George Frederick Bollinger, a Swiss-German immigrant living in North Carolina. Bollinger came to the Midwest with a friend in 1796, and upon exploring along the Mississippi River, wound up in the Cape Girardeau area in 1797. This territory was under Spanish rule at the time, and Bollinger soon became friends with Don Louis Loromier, the Spanish Commandant of Cape Girardeau.
While Bollinger was in the Cape Girardeau area, him and Lorimier made an agreement. Lorimier vowed to give Bollinger a land grant for himself and other settlers if he would return to North Carolina and brought back with him others to settle in Missouri. Bollinger agreed, and began his trek back to North Carolina.
In North Carolina Bollinger found 20 Swiss-German families, along with his own to make a new life on Lorimier's land grant. The group loaded up their covered wagons, and began their journey. After weeks of travel, the group arrived on the east bank of the Mississippi, across from Ste. Genevieve. They set up camp and waited two weeks until the ice was thick enough to cross, and then proceeded to their new settlement. In January of 1800, present day Bufordsville was settled. Upon arrival, Lorimier followed through with his promise, giving each family several hundred acres, and the Bollinger family 640 acres along the Whitewater River. The settlement was called "The Dutch Settlement".
In 1803, the Louisiana purchase was made, and by 1804 The Dutch Settlement was officially a part of the United States. Bollinger then proceeded to build a log dam, a log mill, and a blockhouse on his property. It was at this time the settlement began to be referred to as Bollinger's Mill. The town had already been maintaining a steady growth, but in the next coming years, it would begin to prosper.
As Bollinger's Mill flourished, Bollinger himself found great success. Aside from his growing village, in 1806 Bollinger began his political career. Bollinger did well in politics, and became a prominent figure in the area. He did so well in fact, that Governor William Clark appointed Bollinger lieutenant of the Fouth Regimental Militia. By 1820, Bollinger was elected to Missouri State Senate.
In 1819, a man by the name of Timothy Flint visited Bollinger's Mill. Flint was an author and missionary, who documented his findings in the town. He spoke of homemade liquors, lush orchards, well built structures, prospering businesses, and hard working residents. He concluded that the German immigrants which inhabited Bollinger's Mill dramatically improved the land.
By 1825, Bollinger had added a distillery and a blacksmith shop. He had also taken it upon himself to replace his early wooden structures with stone. Bollinger replaced the dam, and built a new foundation for the mill. He also added another wooden story to the mill at this time.
George Frederick Bollinger died on September 23rd, 1842. He was proceeded in death by his wife that had passed away only a few years after they had made the move to Missouri. They lay to rest in the Bollinger Family Cemetery, which is located on the park property in Bufordville, and is open to the public. Following Bollinger's death, his daughter Sarah Bollinger Daugherty and her sons took over the mill.
The mill had been running strong for several years after Bollinger's death, that is until the Civil War broke out. During the war, as Union troops moved through the area, they set fire to Bollinger Mill. Their reasoning for the fire was to prevent the Confederate Army from gaining access to the flour and meal produced by the mill. The fire destroyed the 1825 mill, leaving only the foundation. The war not only impacted the mill, but halted the construction of the covered bridge over Whitewater River. The bridge construction had begun in 1858, but would not be finished until 1868.
Bufordville Covered Bridge, taken by Jennie Moore
After the burning of the mill, the Bollinger family sold the mill ruins to Solomon Richard Buford in 1866. Buford rebuilt the Bollinger Mill on the original 1825 foundation, which was completed in 1867. Along with the mill, the covered bridge was completed at this time. The bridge was constructed by Cape Girardeau builder, Joseph Lansmon. Lansmon built the 140 foot long bridge from nearby yellow poplar trees. This bridge soon became a lifeline for the town, as the Macadamized Road Co Toll Road began operation. The toll road was vital to the area, as it spanned from Jackson to westward Greenville. The bridge operated as a toll bridge until 1906, when local farmers grew tired of waiting for the tolls to be abolished. They then ripped out the toll gates themselves, and proceeded to use the bridge without paying.
The small town that began as a settlement of just 20 families gained its post office in 1869, under the name Bufordville after Soloman R. Buford, the current mill owner. Buford operated the mill until 1897, when he sold the property to the Cape County Milling Co. The company operated the mill until 1953, when they sold it to the Vandivort family. The Vandivort family were relatives of George Frederick Bollinger, and had interest in preserving the mill and it's property. Wanting the mill in the best care, the Vandivort's donated the property to the Cape Girardeau Historical Society in 1961. In 1967, the property was donated to the state of Missouri, who still owns it today. Both the mill and the bridge are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, taken by Jennie Moore
I really enjoyed my visit to the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site. The mill's ground floor serves as a museum with many examples of how the mill worked in its day. There are many artifacts for visitors to see, many original to the mill. This museum is self guided, and completely free. The staff also sells guided tours, where you will be taken through the entire multi-story building. There property can be explored freely, including the covered brige, the Bollinger Family Cemetery, and a hiking trail. There are multiple seating areas, including picnic tables.
I also want to add that I found that the property is friendly for all kinds of visitors. There is wheelchair access to the mill and site office, along with public restrooms, and once again, lots of seating. I really loved the kind lady that was operating the office that day, as she was extremely fun to talk to and very helpful. There are souvenirs available for purchase at the mill, where I found a super cute iron-on patch for my patch jacket! (Which I will be sharing in another post.)
Overall, I really recommend this as a stop on your road trip. The Bollinger Mill State Historic Site is a great place for the family, a date, or the lone wolf that loves to travel. This place is just another example of hidden gems in your local area. Let me know if you visit Bollinger Mill, and what you think! Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed!
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