Just 8 miles West South West of Jackson, MO in Burfordville sits the Bollinger Mill and Covered Bridge. Pre-dating the civil war, the original foundation and wood mill and dam was placed by George Frederick Bollinger. This piece of land sat on the Whitewater River and contained 640 acres of land that was granted from Pierre-Louis de Lorimier, the then Spanish Commandant of the Cape Girardeau district of Upper Louisiana. This transaction was a shade on the illegal side since all grants had to go to Catholics only. Bollinger as well as 20 other families granted land were most likely German Reformed families including that of the Limbaugh family of which today is made known from Mr. Rush Limbaugh.
The Bollinger Mill and Covered Bridge
The Bollinger Mill and Covered Bridge was rebuilt in 1825 in the limestone foundation and a limestone dam as well. The upper floors of the mill were still reported to be that of Frame. As well a blacksmith shop and a distillery were added to the business as well. In the timeline of events, Bollinger was elected as a member of the new territorial assembly, appointed him lieutenant colonel of the Fourth Regimental Militia and went on to be elected to the new Missouri State Senate and would continue to partake in politics for more than a decade.
Bollinger passed away in 1842 and was buried in the Bollinger Cemetery in present-day Burfordville. His daughter Sarah and two grandsons took over the mill and ran it until 1861 by the Union soldiers to stop the supply of grain and grain products to the Confederate soldiers. When the fire was out all that survived was the limestone foundation.
The Rebuild of Bollinger Mill and Covered Bridge
By now the war had came to pass and construction had began on the mill rebuild. Now all along dating back until 1858, the Burfordville Covered Bridge was already in construction across the Whitewater River. However due to the ongoing war, the bridge was put on hold. The bridge is 140 in length, Howe Truss and mainly built of Yellow Poplar. The bridge was originally a toll bridge but the local farmers solved that problem by ripping down the gates and using the bridge for free to get to the mill. In 1908, 1950 and 1998 the bridge was refurbished. Today in 2022, we see more construction going on as well here at the mill and the bridge.
The founder of the town Solomon R. Burford purchased all 640 acres of land and what was left of the mill (the foundation) and rebuilt the structure of bricks on the limestone foundation that we know see it in today. The following year the mill was up and going and by 68 the bridge was in full swing to traffic.
Burford owned the mill and land until 1897. It was at this point that he sold it to Cape County Milling Company. These folks operated it until 1953 when it was sold to the Vandivort family, relatives of George Bollinger.
Transactions O’Plenty!
The family who purchased the mill wished to see it preserved so in 1961 they donated it to the Cape Girardeau County Historical Society. A very short time later, the CGCHS donated the land and Mill as well as the covered bridge to the State of Missouri. This site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Today, once again as I showed you previously, there is a major construction project under way to preserver this place for generations to come. The turbine room is being renovated as well as many other projects. If coming here to do some photography, you may call ahead and check construction progress and visit when it is complete to get the most out of this historic gem!
What to Enjoy!
The Bollinger Mill and Covered bridge today is a working museum. On days the river allows, milling demonstrations are shown. Entry to the first floor and exhibits and the lower level turbine room are free. As I understand, you can get guided tours of the upper floors for a very slim fee per person. The site also features the Covered Bridge that is closed to foot traffic only (currently under construction 11-22). A very nice clean park with pic options available including BBQ grills and clean restroom facilities. On this site you can enjoy fishing in the Whitewater River for about a good quarter mile or so or even go visit the local Bollinger Cemetery where the remains of George Frederick Bollinger and members of his family rest. Come on down and visit this place year round!
The Important Stuff
Here on our website we use what is called Opinion. Please be aware of that. Yes it hurts at times but it is ours and no one else’s. As well, we have our own policies in place on our website. If you follow a link to another website, they control their own policies. It is up to you to know and understand their policies.
Further reading and Kudos
https://millpictures.com/mills.php?millid=1022
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-Louis_de_Lorimier
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh
I am a photographer that wants to be in the right place at the right time to capture every story that every person, place and thing has to tell. My mission is to get it on film …… Well, memory card and then on to print! I get to enjoy this journey with my lovely wife Carrie down state Illinois near the beautiful Shawnee Forest!
