Mill Remnants Found for Rosendale’s Namesake

ROSENDALE, MO — Preserving archeological sites is partly the responsibility of the Missouri Department of Transportation, especially when preforming bridge replacements. One example is when MoDOT replaces a bridge over the 102 River here this summer. Ogle’s Mill, the name of an 1800’s water power grist mill, was located near the south side of the current State Highway 48 bridge. A team of archeological engineers from MoDOT investigated the site recently and found mill foundation stones buried about 10 feet in the silt. Wooden stakes marking the site were placed after drilling was conducted. Just south of the current metal bridge, there also exist stone foundations and iron supports for one of the earlier bridges that was installed in 1884. Rosendale, like many mill towns, was originally named after the mill owner and was called Ogle’s Mill. In 1881, it was renamed Rosendale after the wild roses that grew in the bottomland in and around the village.