Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

In approx. 1799, Mo. William Eckert built this well known cooperage (Barrel Factory). Constructed of rocks from the Missouri River. This building is most durable and is in excellent condition.

Obviously the building is in another refurbishment project, and is no longer "in excellent condition". The building, presently owned by the Gulf Oil Corporation. The building had a complete new front in 1989, so to appreciate the rugged beauty of this building, which has survived so many floods, and so many years, look at the long part of it which is somewhat below the present road level and extends back toward the river.
The barrel factory was built in 1799 by William Eckert. It was made of uncut rocks - any shape - any size, taken from the Missouri River bank. The wooden beams inside are White Oak, cut from logs that floated down the river. The rocks are set in the crudest of mortar. The building is 30 feet wide and 100 feet long. On the main floor is a fire place. Near the building, at the time it was built, was a pond which was used to soak the barrels.

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