Old Store in Goldman built in about 1915 Contributed by Mona Houser. Click to see larger image. |
Even though there had been settlers in the area that later became Jefferson County, this land did not become part of the United States until the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson County was organized in 1819 from St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve counties. Statehood for Missouri, delayed because of the slavery issue in the US Congress and finally settled by the Missouri Compromise, was not attained until 1820.
Store & Fire Station in background Contributed by Mona Houser. Click to see larger image. |
Ed Johnston, an old-timer in this community of Goldman, Jefferson County, Missouri, was interviewed in 1960s, and reported that he remembered seeing herds of cattle being driven through the town on the way through Antonia and then were headed on to market in St. Louis. These herds of cattle led to Antonia's receiving the nickname "Bull Town."
Goldman was a center for trucking farm produce to St. Louis. There was a blacksmith shop from about 1878 until about 1946. The Goldman store also had a tavern, but I don't know the dates for that. In the 1930s Kap King's Dance Hall was a popular Saturday night gathering place.
Old firehouse and blacksmith shop Contributed by Mona Houser. Click to see larger image. |
In the 1920s, Dr. Brown established a treatment center for tuberculosis patients about one-quarter mile north of the store. Since antibiotics had not yet been developed, the standard treatment was a regimen of good nutrition and lots of fresh air ... plentiful in this area at that time. He built a large building for a dining-meeting room, and many small cabins for the individual patients. There were also several homes built for staff. These, of course, were the facilities that were later purchased by the St. Louis Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church and used for a camp-ground called Mater Dei. A fire destroyed several of the buildings some time ago. Today this property belongs to Christian Outreach Church, and is the site of the church and Christian Outreach School.
Sandy Creek Covered Bridge Contributed by Mona Houser. Click to see larger image. |
State Highway 21 was built in the early 1940s, by-passing the General Store and Sandy Creek Covered Bridge. Even though the commercial and business center is no longer functioning, the Goldman name is still alive and kept active by the Goldman Fire Protection District, formed in 1948.
(Submitted by Mona Houser and compiled from notes gathered by her and her daughter, Anne-marie Scott.)
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