Eldon History
Peter Thompson’s farm ended up a town. George Weeks filed
the plat for Eldon on March 15, 1882, with the County Clerk, J.B.
Clark. The name “Eldon” comes from the English duke
of the same name. Weeks simple thought it sounded good. A month
later the Jefferson City, Lebanon and Southwest Railroad announced
that they were going to build through the area. This railroad was
later known as the Missouri Pacific Bagnell Branch.
The depot was originally to be located around Grand Avenue. But
when the train came through, the brakes would not hold the steep
grade of the proposed depot site. The train rolled back until it
stopped. The depot was built at the point where the train stopped
rolling. This was the East side of Maple Street at Second Street.
Two trains a day came through Eldon. Times weren’t always
exact but people used to set their watches by the trains. The streets
in town were dirt. When the rainy season hit, people were ankle
deep in mud crossing the street. There were boardwalks in front
of the stores with wooden awnings over them. Plank seats were put
between the posts. This is where the men would sit and exchange
news, chew tobacco and whittle. In front of the stores were hitching
posts.
About the same time as the depot was finished, Samuel Newton,
John Weeks and T.J. Hart built the Eldon Roller Mills, the first
industry in Eldon. This opened up Eldon as a town with industry
and an interest in expanding economically beyond a simple farming
community. The Roller Mills was the biggest source of capital in
Eldon for years. Sam Newton was said to be the richest man in town.
That is not known to be true, but he seemed to have a head for business
and folks respected his opinions. There is a street in Eldon named
for the Newton family. 1882 was a big year in Eldon. Houses were
built in Upper Eldon. Doctors, dentists and businesses started coming
to town. But before anything starts up in any town, there needs
to be a church. The Methodist and Christian Churches were the first
organized churches in Eldon. They were the formed here in 1882.
In April 1883, the Congregational Church was finished. Other denominations
rented the building for one dollar a month. Each church group was
responsible for furnishing their own fuel and lights. In 1904 yet
another train depot was constructed at a cost of $12,000. Headed
by community leader, R.S. Harvey, this depot which no longer exists
became known as the Rock Island Depot.
After completion of the dam, tourist development began with the
building of Musser's Ozark Resort. Followed by tourist camps, hotels,
cafes, garages, filling stations and hotels, local advertising promoted
this new area north of the dam. In the late '50s Maple Street
took on a completely different look being paved and complete with
street lamps.
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