Village of Bacon has faded into history

MONITEAU COUNTY, Mo. - In the northeastern section of Moniteau County lies the remnants of what used to be a small, but thriving village.

Prior to the early 1900s, the community of Bacon was a populated area based around the Moniteau Creek. A general store, a blacksmith and a post office were among the small businesses during its population peak. Today, the only standing reminder is a bridge.

According to an article from the California Democrat, circa 1930s, the town succumbed to the modern days of automobiles. Population eventually declined and Bacon became what some refer to as a ghost town.

Although there are no businesses or buildings remaining and the history of the area is somewhat sketchy, one California resident recalls many stories about the area.

“My granddaddy ran the store in Bacon for several years when my dad was a young boy,” said Jack Bowlin.

“My dad was born in 1897. I know he wasn't born there, but I believe they moved there shortly after he was born.”

Bowlin, 77, said although his father didn't grow up in Bacon, he spent the first several years of his life the small community before his family relocated to Centertown and eventually to California.

“My granddaddy didn't own the Bacon Store. It was owned by the A.V. Inglish family that lived about a quarter of a mile from the store,” Bowlin said. “He ran the store for them and his dad used to run a steam driven wagon from California to Bacon two or three times a week, dropping off and picking up supplies.”

That, Bowlin believes, is probably the reason his grandfather was given the job. “I have always had the opinion that's why my grandfather had the job,” he said. “His dad probably heard they were in need of someone to run the store and he probably made the contacts for him.”

Either way, Bowlin's memories, although they don't specifically belong to him in that he didn't grow up or live in the Bacon community, are still an important part of his family's history.

“One thing I always found amazing when my dad would tell stories about Bacon,” Bowlin said. “Was the story he told about the barges that would come down the Missouri River to the Moniteau Creek and dock at Bacon Bridge during wheat harvest time each year in June.”

According to Bowlin's father, the Missouri River would flood, causing water to back up that would make Moniteau Creek deep enough for a river barge to travel to Bacon Bridge. Local farmers would bring their harvest to the bridge and dump it into the barges.

“It was, apparently, to hear my dad talk about it, something that happened every year in June back in those days,” Bowlin said. “That was the most amazing thing for me to think about. Now you could hardly get a rowboat to Bacon Bridge from the Missouri River. That would have been somewhere around the 1905 time era.”

According to Moniteau County Court records, the Bacon Bridge was commissioned in 1884, six years prior to the platting of the town.

Construction of the bridge was completed in March of 1885 at a cost of $2,440.

A devastating flood in September 1905 washed the bridge off its piers. The same flood removed three other major bridges within the county. The total damage was estimated to be about $15,000.

Bacon Bridge was the last of the four bridges to be reconstructed and it was back in service by the summer of 1906. It is unclear whether the old bridge was reconstructed or if a new bridge was constructed.

In 1986, the wrought iron truss bridge was in dire need of repair or replacement. Construction of a new, more modern bridge was completed in 1987 at a cost of $230,000.

There is very little written history of the Bacon community other than the history of the bridge.

Bacon bits

* There were 12 lots in the entire town with the nearest “city” being Jamestown, which was located approximately three miles north of the village.

* Some local historians said the village was named after Jim Inglish, who was known for curing bacon.

* The term of operation of the Bacon Post Office remains unknown, but it is believed to have closed with the establishment of rural mail in 1905.

The "new" Bacon Bridge, completed in 1987, is the only remnant of the tiny Moniteau County village. The bridge covers Moniteau Creek where, more than100 years ago, boats would dock to pick up wheat from local farmers. A road sign, right, is near the bridge. (Ra'Vae Edwards/News Tribune photo)