The Hoppe Springs Museum kitchen is still furnished with the same cooking equipment that was used in the 1800s, including a cast-iron stove, wooden mixing bowls, and cheese grinders. Each piece is labeled with a description and history that anyone is sure to enjoy.

Hoppe Springs Museum was originally purchased by the City of Steelville in 1962 from Albert Hoppe of St. Louis. The house was bought with every intention of creating a museum, and it opened to the public on June 2, 1963.

The grounds and the spring were originally owned by the Saltsman Family, who purchased them from Dr. Metcalf in the late 1800s. During that time, it was likely to find local residents chilling their milk, butter, and watermelons in the spring. All of the Saltsmans’ neighbors were welcome to use the spring. T.M. Saltsman and his sons, Claude and Ralph, were both baptized in the chilly spring water.

In 1976, the late Mrs. Louise Dowler requested and received a grant from the federal government in the amount of $1,500 to restore the old house as a historic landmark. The city contributed matching funds, and the museum committee put $3,000 into building improvements. Volunteers added a new roof, laid two coats of paint on the walls, and added better flooring and paneling. The museum reopened on July 1, 1979, and has been open to the public as a museum ever since.

Inside, the museum has six rooms, all full of priceless treasures donated from many families throughout the years. The kitchen still has all of the same equipment that was used in the early 1800s. You’ll also find a miniature replica of Steelville in 1914 that was made by local students. On every wall, there are photographs filled with the faces of Steelville’s residents, who serve to tell the rich history of Steelville over the past century.

Hoppe Springs Museum sits on top the hill overlooking the natural Hoppe Spring, but this old building is falling down before our eyes. As the years go by, the roof, walls, and floors that hold so much history continue to weaken.

Visiting the museum is completely free, but any and all donations are welcome. The current museum board, according to Steelville Alderman Terry Beckham, is planning to raise funds to construct a new museum building that will stand just behind the current Hoppe Springs Museum home. After visiting the museum, it is obvious that the building has many years of wear and tear, and part of the floor and ceiling are beginning to collapse.

The museum board has sketched a preliminary idea of what a new museum would look like. The building front would be a replica of some of the old Main Street businesses, including the old general store, bank, and Crawford Mirror newspaper buildings.

“They’ve said they already have most of the labor for the project donated,” Beckham told the city council this week. “They would like the blessing of the rest of the city council to start raising funds to begin this project.” The city council gave their consent and blessings for fundraising to begin.