Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

1840................

German Rhineland
From 1824 to 1827, Gottfried Duden visited the Missouri River valley and wrote about its beauty. His descriptions initiated a flood of German settlers to Missouri and St. Charles. The German population was so numerous that the area of the Missouri River between St. Louis and Jefferson City is still sometimes called the "Rhineland." The Germans left their greatest marks in solidly built homes and barns, and local customs. The area's grape-growing, originally encouraged by Duden, has become world renowned among wine producers. German names abound here, and their work ethic lives on today.
[Top Photo: This early drawing of St. Charles was published in 1845.
Used by permission, State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia.]

Growth and Disaster
The Northern Missouri Railroad first came to St. Charles in 1856 and was later bought out by the Wabash & Ohio Railroads. Construction on the Wabash Bridge, the second bridge across the Missouri River, was completed in 1871. The Wabash Bridge had several fatal disasters, including construction accidents, derailments and the collapse of two bridge spans.

St. Charles continued to grow in size and importance as a riverport, railroad stop, and agricultural and manufacturing center. But other disasters plagued St. Charles. In 1876, a tornado ravaged its downtown. The enormous steamboat Montana sank in 1884, after striking the Wabash Bridge. In 1891, an innovative pontoon bridge across the Missouri River was destroyed by ice.
[2nd Photo: On Feb 27, 1876, a tornado ripped through downtown St. Charles, damaging the county courthouse, opera house and city hall.
John J. Buse, Jr., Collection, 1860-1931, Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia, Mo.
3rd Photo: In 1890, Capt. John Enoch built a pontoon bridge across the Missouri River.
John J. Buse, Jr., Collection, 1860-1931, Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia, Mo.]

Legacy of the St. Charles Carriage Co.
In 1878, the St. Charles Carriage Co. began building railroad cars. In 1899, the car company joined 12 other railroad companies and formed American Car & Foundry (AC&F). For over 100 years, the AC&F factory has dominated the riverfront landscape of the city. It was once the main rail car producer for all U.S. railroads, and produced most of the MKT passenger cars. AC&F has constructed every sort of train car imaginable, including the first refrigerated cars, St. Louis Trolleys and subway cars for New York.
[Bottom Photo: AC&F made railcars for virtually every railroad. This Katy passenger car is displayed in front of the construction yards.
Courtesy of Historic Railroad Museum.]

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