Blackwater, Missouri

About 38,000 acres were included in the Pierre Chouteau land grant from the Osage Indians. About 6 miles southeast of Blackwater a town was laid out as well as a park, called Chouteau Springs, as was the town. Three or four sulphur springs were located in the park and from 1900 to the 1950's the park thrived on visitors who came to drink the "healing waters" as well as to entertain themselves with croquet matches, an outdoor bowling alley, a dance pavilion, refreshment stand, horseshoe pitching and an ice cold swimming pool, fed by the springs. A row of wooden bathhouses in which to change clothes, stood on one side of the pool and bathing suits could be rented.

Transportation from a near by MK&T (Katy) Railroad stop brought visitors and a hotel there housed them for a week or more. "Grandma Day" presided over the hotel, becoming famous for her Sunday fried chicken, feeding over 100 people at times. She was the mother of 15 children and operated the hotel for 18 years, serving the renowned chicken dinners until she was 81 years old.

The town never developed much past the hotel and a few houses but the park stood the test of time and going to Chouteau Park was a treat for a family reunion or Fourth of July long after the railroad ceased to send passenger cars its way. Each sulphur spring was left open, a gazebo erected above it, benches lined the inside of the gazebo, and people could sit and rest there, dipping their tin cup into the spring anytime they felt a thirst. Most people considered the water to taste like 'rotten eggs' but it had its supporters, too, who took home gallons of the water to drink until their next visit.

When the pocket flower garden was established on Main St. Blackwater, where once a building stood, and named Chouteau Gardens, she painted a mural depicting the old Chouteau Springs Park. A doorway between the razed building, now the garden, and the bank next door, had been filled in with new brick and looked a little out of place, so Bonnie Rapp chose that spot to paint a lady and gentleman strolling towards the gazebo over one of the springs,of the early 1900's era.

The Making of Chouteau Gardens

The spot at 116 Main, where once a brick building stood, had fallen into disgrace when the roof caved in, floor gave out and all that was left standing were the walls of the buildings on either side and the bleak back wall consisting of blank door and windows. The bank, who owned it, hid the sight with a tin front, so when in 1996, the Blackwater Preservation Society asked them to let them put a pocket garden there they heartily agreed.

The few remaining beams were taken down as was the false front. The John Hardeman Garden Club of New Franklin and Fayette area visited the site and discussed what sort of layout would be appropriate. A brick path was laid, partly with the Boonville Correction Center inmate work release program.

The front part consists of paving bricks made in LaClede which were found hidden by years of soil build up, making a path from the old hotel to the spot where once the depot stood. A fountain was purchased and transported from New Orleans. Jeff Oberhaus and Brian Mahieu suggested major plant items such as the Sweet Bay Magnolia, Korean Lilac, Boxwood hedge, Allegheny Viburnum, Oak Leaf Hydrangea and the Hydrangea vines which clutch the brick walls and helped us ready the soil for planting.

Oberhaus and other individuals contributed plants, others flowers acquired with donations, soon filled in the gaps and a generous donation by Kathryn Sue Eichman Staley made possible the purchase of benches and a wrought iron table and chairs in the back area accommodate visitors who want to picnic or just sit and talk. Care for the garden has been volunteer so all in all, it has been very little cost for as much enjoyment as it has given others.