Information Sheet

 

 

R         Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company.

424                  Promotional booklet, ca. 1910.

                                    One folder, photocopies.

 

 

 

This is “Health and Pleasure in the Missouri Hills Along Rock Island Lines,” a promo­tional booklet featuring hotels, rooming houses, resorts, and recreational opportunities along or near the CRI&P Railway between St. Louis and Versailles, Missouri.

 

In 1904 the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company completed a line across mid‑Missouri from St. Louis to Kansas City.  Since the road passed through no major cities on its route, there was little locally‑generated freight and passenger traffic.  In an effort to boost pas­sen­ger revenues the company published an illustrated promotional booklet, entitled “Health and Pleas­ure in the Missouri Hills Along Rock Island Lines,” which featured hotels, rooming houses, resorts, and recreational opportunities in the Ozarks section of the route between St. Louis and Versailles.

 

The booklet includes places in Franklin, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Miller, and Morgan counties, and the communities of Villa Ridge, Union, Leslie, Noser’s Mill, Tea, Owensville, Pay Down, Belle, Vichy, Summerfield, LeBoeuf, Rich Fountain, Gascondy, Freeburg, Meta, Henley, Mary’s Home, Eldon, Aurora Springs, Versailles, and Gravois Mills.  Also featured are the Bour­beuse, Gasconade, and Osage rivers.  Generally there is a photograph of each establishment or house, the name of the proprietor, a description of the accommodations, and daily/weekly rates.  There also are photographs of general scenes and activities near or along the road.

 

The booklet is undated, but it likely was produced prior to the First World War.

 

 

 

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