page_title: Chouteau Springs, Missouri
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Chouteau Springs, Missouri / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Chouteau Springs Resort Pavilion ca 1900 photo taken by Maximilian Schmidt, Cooper County, Missouri.
context_page_description: Chouteau Springs is an unincorporated community in Pilot Grove Township, Cooper County, in the U.S. state of Missouri.
context_section_description: In 1799 Jean Pierre Chouteau and his party of fur traders on an inland excursion from the Missouri River came upon bubbling mineral springs in a valley surrounded by sycamores and elms.  The local Osage Indians informed Chouteau of the curative qualities of the mineral water and told him that their braves would often drink from them. Chouteau bartered  with the Osage for 30,000 arpens (about 25,000 acres) of what is now called the Chouteau Springs area.  The official transaction took place at the Fort of the Osages on March 19, 1799. Chouteau would later sell the 30,000 arpens to William Henry Ashley.
  As early as 1855, the "medicinal qualities" of the water from Chouteau Springs was being touted in newspaper advertisements.
  In 1870, St. Martin's Catholic Church, an 18x24 log structure, was built in Chouteau Springs on 1.5 acres of land donated by Daniel Martin, called "Martinsville."  St. Martin's Cemetery (Chouteau Springs "Martinsville") is located on the eastern rim of Chouteau Springs 38.9169006°N 92.8778000°W.  Cemetery records are regularly surveyed.
  
  In 1877, a 4-story frame hotel 190 x 45 ft. was built in Chouteau Springs for about $25,000 with C. B. Lakin of Kansas City as the architect.  It had a passenger elevator, steam bath, speaking tubes, hardwood, stained glass.  In 1906, there was a hotel in Chouteau Springs called the "Hotel Brown". 
  
  In 1882, citizens of Boonville seriously considered piping Chouteau Springs mineral water from Chouteau Springs to Boonville, a distance of about ten miles.  Chouteau Springs Resort had several turreted structures from which to obtain the mineral water, a large dancing pavilion, a pool, and ample picnic grounds.
   
  Families from St. Louis and beyond would spend a week or more at Chouteau Springs Resort (1902).  Fox hunts were also conducted at Chouteau Springs Resort.
  Chouteau Springs was officially platted in 1886 beside a mineral spring, and named after Jean Pierre Chouteau, the original owner of the town site.
  In 1887, an electric railroad from Boonville to Chouteau Springs was proposed.  It was never built.
  In 1889, Nick, John and Leonard Smith sunk a shaft south of Chouteau Springs, seeking gold.
  A post office called Chouteau was established in 1890, and remained in operation until 1896.
  
  In 1900, Eugene A Windsor purchased Chouteau Springs Park Resort from James E. Young of Kansas City, Kansas.
    
  Everett Spry was manager of Chouteau Springs Resort from about 1917 to 1932.
  By 1907, KATY Railroad was making multiple stops in Chouteau Springs.
  Melton (1937, p. 159) noted the following about the Chouteau Springs Grade School:  "DISTRICT 18, CHOUTEAU, is taught by Miss Florence Stoecklein. Members of the board are: President, John S. Davis; Herman Lammers and John Schuster. Henry Brownfield is clerk. Pupils are: Dorothy Davis, Lorena Gatewood, John Edward Schuster, Farrel Gatewood, Jr., Margie Edson, Edna Grace Davis, Ruby Smith, Goldie Nelson, Kenneth Nelson, Bennie Evans, Albert Gatewood, Orville Evans, Mary Schraeder, Albert Leo Imhoff, Alberta Schraeder, Thomas Gatewood, Homer Evans, Alvin Oland and Robert Imhoff." 
  Chouteau Springs Resort ceased operations about 1960.  It is in ruins as of 2019.
caption: Chouteau Springs Resort Entrance & Pavilion early 1900s. From Schmidt, Maximilan E, Photographs (P0001)P0001-A041. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Photograph Collection
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