Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 9-22-21

FACEBOOK.COM/MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
September 22, 2021
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
Fall Foliage Road Trip: Exploring the German Heritage Corridor
I 17
As the leaves turn from green to gold
and rusty red, finding the best views of
fall foliage means looking no further than
St. Charles County where a country drive
along Hwy. 94 offers up breathtaking
vistas, new discoveries and found history
around every bend.
Specifically, head to the ribbon of highway
that runs from Weldon Spring to
Washington, which is part of the German
Heritage Corridor. Established in 2016 by
Missouri Humanities, a statewide nonprofit
organization dedicated to bringing educational
programs to Missourians, the corridor
is full of activities with appeal for all ages.
Weldon Spring Site Interpretive
Center: Just a couple miles down Hwy.
94 from I-64/Hwy. 40 sits an unsuspecting
building. If it weren’t for the massive pile
of gravel and concrete behind it, you might
miss it. This site once held the Weldon
Spring Ordnance Works, which was constructed
during World War II to produce
explosives, and later processed uranium ore
during the Cold War. However, before the
site was constructed, this land was home to
three towns: Hamburg, Howell and Toonerville,
which were all forced to evacuate to
allow for the building of the plant. Hamburg
was a town established by German immigrants
and maintained a predominantly
German population during its history.
While the Interpretive Center, which
houses information about the towns that
were evacuated, the plant that took their
place and the massive cleanup effort that
resulted in the construction of a giant containment
cell, is temporarily closed due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Weldon
Spring site is open to the public during
daylight hours.
The site serves as a trailhead to the multiuse
6-mile Hamburg Trail with connections
to Missouri Department of Conservation
trail systems, the Great Rivers Greenway
trail network and the historic Katy Trail
State Park trail that stretches
across the state along the Missouri
River. Additionally, a
climb to the top of its 41-acre
disposal cell offers panoramic
views of St. Charles County
and the 150-acre Howell Prairie.
On a clear day visitors can
see all the way to The Arch.
Climb to the top and take a
picture, which you can share
to our Facebook page using
the hashtag: #germanheritagecorridor.
Daniel Boone Home
in Defiance: Operated by
St. Charles County Parks
and Recreation, the historic
Daniel Boone home is beautifully situated
atop the rolling hills of Missouri Wine
Country in Defiance. Gottfried Duden,
whose 19th-Century writings about the
Missouri River Valley inspired thousands
of German immigrants to settle the area,
spent four days here during his travels.
The site is made up of almost 300 acres,
which include the Daniel Boone Home
and the Village Historic Site complex.
Visitors to the site can see representations
of early 1800s pioneer life in Missouri
through tours and living history demonstrations.
The site hosts many special
events throughout the year where kids
and adults alike can experience hands-on
history. The complex is open from 8:30
a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday,
and from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
Tours start at 9 a.m., Monday-Saturday
and at noon on Sunday (fees are charged).
For details and current pandemic protocols,
visit sccmo.org/1701/The-Historic-
Daniel-Boone-Home.
Femme Osage United Church of
Christ in Augusta: This beautiful church,
located at 4360 Cappeln Osage Road, was
Peers Store in Marthasville, Mo.
(Source: MagnificentMissouri.org)
home to the first Evangelical congregation
west of the Mississippi River, founded in
1833. Churches frequently served as more
than just the religious center of the town;
they regularly served as the location of
many town activities, from dances and
picnics to festivals and fundraisers. Oftentimes,
the establishment of a church and
the congregation that came with it is what
established the town itself, as was true
with Femme Osage.
Visitors are welcome to respectfully
explore the church’s historic cemeteries
and beautiful scenery.
The Peers Store in Marthasville: Take
a pit stop during your drive along Hwy. 94
or your family bike ride on the Katy Trail
and visit the Peers Store, 16011 Concord
Hill Road, in Marthasville.
Recently listed on the National Register
of Historic Places, the store opened in 1896
as the Glosemeyer General Store. It was
owned and operated by the Glosemeyer
family, German immigrants who settled in
what was then called Peers, Missouri. The
family took advantage of the railroad boom
and built a general store just steps from the
tracks of the Katy Railroad line
that ran through Missouri until
the 1980s. Today on a typical
weekend, visitors can grab a
snack and listen to music on the
porch.
The store is open noon-4
p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
through October.
The Treloar Mercantile
and Missouri Corn Carving:
Just a few miles west of Peers
is Treloar, home to the Treloar
Mercantile Building and the
state’s largest ear of corn.
The Mercantile was built in
1896, like Peers, to welcome
the new Katy Railroad. Also
owned by Katy Land Trust, the building
today is still in the midst of preservation
efforts so it may someday be open to the
public. For now, visitors can read the panel
in the window of the Mercantile to learn
about the history of the building, visit the
grain elevator and and snap a selfie with a
giant ear of corn (#katycorn).
The corn is carved from the remains of a
massive elm tree that grew to the right of
the Mercantile for over 100 years. Unfortunately,
the tree died before the site was
purchased by Katy Land Trust. But when it
was cut down, its 12-foot stump was soon
carved into Missouri’s largest ear of corn!
Downtown Washington: As you continue
to explore the German Heritage Corridor,
the city of Washington should not be
missed.
Founded by German immigrants, with a
beautiful downtown full of activities, there
is something for everyone in this quintessential
Missouri River town from shopping
to dining to special events.
If you find yourself there on a Saturday,
See ROAD TRIP, page 38
Mathias Precision Tree Service
Josh Mathias, owner
For 19 years, Mathias Precision Tree Service has continued its
tradition of offering tree removal and services for both residential
and commercial clients alike. Their expert crews take the guesswork
out of large projects like tree removal, pruning and stump-grinding, making sure the
job is done right and not leaving a mess behind for homeowners or businesses to have
to worry about. They offer 24/7 high-risk tree removal in times of emergency and
know how to safely remove dead, rotting, or unsightly trees. They are fully-insured and
backed by a positive reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Free estimates are
always offered. Call today to learn more.
223 Salt Lick Road, Suite 315 • St. Peters
314.322.7690 • mathiasprecision@gmail.com
Beseda Flooring & More
Brian Beseda, owner
Beseda Flooring & More is a family owned and operated, full-service
flooring and design center celebrating their 36th anniversary serving
the community. Owner Brian Beseda takes pride in the
quality of their work, products, and most importantly, their customer service. Choosing
a new floor can be overwhelming, but Beseda Flooring is committed to making it
easier every step of the way – with options for every purpose, decorating style and
budget. Experienced designers are there to assist you from concept to installation and
everything in between. In-home estimates are always free. It is Brian’s hope that you
will make Beseda Flooring & More “your one-stop floor shop.”
5773 Westwood Drive • St. Charles
636.926.9989 • www.besedaflooring.com