Historic Maeystown, Illinois

Imagine crossing a stone arched bridge and being transported to another time in another country. That is the feeling one gets arriving in Maeystown, Illinois. This quaint Midwest village exudes the charm and style of nineteenth century Germany. My wife and I discovered Maeystown earlier this year while celebrating our wedding anniversary, and we instantly fell in love with the town.

Maeystown is located about thirty-five miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri just above the bluffs along the Mississippi River. The village has a population of about 148. It is the charm and elegance of this small town, along with its rich history, that has made Maeystown a very popular tourist destination in southwest Illinois.

Maeystown's history goes back to the 1780's, just after the American Revolution. Revolutionary war veterans began to claim one hundred-acre land grants as payment for their military service. James McRoberts claimed a hilly, wooded tract of land. This land contained three streams and a very large spring, plus limestone deposits on the hillsides and along the creek banks. This tract changed hands several times during the first half of the nineteenth century.

In 1848, a Bavarian immigrant named Jacob Maeys purchased the land. Maeys wanted to use the waterpower of the large spring to run a sawmill. Immigrants began to arrive in the region that same year, escaping the political turmoil in Germany. Maeys sold his sawmill in 1852 and laid out part of the tract in lots. He named the village Maeysville. The name was changed to Maeystown in 1860.

These immigrants (known as "Forty-Eighters") bought up the lots and built up a village reminiscent of old world Germany. They brought with them their knowledge of masonry and building construction. With the abundance of local limestone, they soon erected the stone dwellings, the stone arched bridge, the stone church, the flourmill and many stone structures which can still be seen today. The German settlers also brought a diversity of job skills, which made Maeystown a self-sufficient community with the ability to obtain all of its needs from local resources despite its proximity to St. Louis.

Although many communities in Monroe County have large German populations, Maeystown is distinctive in that it was exclusively German, and remained so for several decades. In 1973, the entire village was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, a distinction held only a handful of communities.

Maeystown has many sites for tourists to see during their visit. The Corner George Inn Bed and Breakfast is a restored 1884 hotel/saloon on the corner of Main and Mill, offering seven charming guest rooms, including whirlpool and loft suites, country and Victorian rooms, and a summer kitchen guest cottage. Today, the inn consists of four buildings: the original inn, two rock houses and the summer kitchen cottage. Each room is furnished with antiques and has a private bath. David and Marcia Braswell are the innkeepers. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available upon request.

Also on the corner of Main and Mill is Eschy's Restaurant and Bar. Eschy's is the "living room" of the community in Maeystown where locals and tourists gather to visit, enjoy dinner together, or just have a drink. Patrons can often be found at Eschy's, even when the tavern is not "officially" open. Some of the older men in the community will come in on Sunday morning to drink a cup of coffee and visit before going to church.

Other sites of interest in Maeystown include the old stone church built in 1867, the arched bridge, a sweet shop, craft and antique shops, and a museum devoted to the village's rich history. Some nearby tourist sites include Fort de Chartres near Prairie du Rocher, the original site of Fort Kaskaskia and the Pierre Menard home, both just north of Chester, plus several local wineries including the Schorr Lake Vineyards, Waterloo Winery and Lau-Nae Winery.

Maeystown also has a variety of special events occurring throughout the year celebrating the town's German heritage. Some of those events include the tradition of Oktoberfest, Fastnacht and Fruehlingfest/Springfest. An old-fashioned German Christmas celebration is held each year as well.

My wife surprised me earlier this year with a weekend trip to Maeystown for our one-year wedding anniversary. Neither of us had heard of the town before, but Kyndal found out about it online, then reserved the Roever Room at the Corner George Inn. We had a great time taking in the sites of Maeystown as well as nearby Waterloo and Fort de Chartres. It was one of the greatest weekends of our life together.

Maeystown, Illinois is a beautiful town with the elegance of a nineteenth century German village. Its rich history and old world charm have made it a favorite tourist site in southwestern Illinois. A visit to Maeystown is an unforgettable experience, and my wife and I are looking forward to returning someday.