Last Updated on August 16, 2023
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
By Carla Marie Rupp
I had first seen Weston, Missouri years ago when the daughter of a colleague took my son and I on a drive over a bridge of the Missouri River. We stopped at Weston Bend State Park for a scenic view before continuing our day trip into that 1837 river town.
Although I’ve traveled the world, I’ve always remembered that picturesque scene of Weston. It has stayed in my mind along with the belief that anyone who wants to see a cute American town from another era, pre-Civil War and beyond, would love Weston, Missouri…it’s just breathtaking.
Weston, Missouri – Full of Vintage Charm and Shops
This town that time forgot was born when an ex-Dragoon soldier, Joseph E. Moore from Fort Leavenworth, came over to live 175 years ago. Back in 1850, when 300 steamships a year docked at the Port of Weston, it had about 5,000 residents. Today though, this pretty little town full of vintage charm and shops, is a bit over 1,600.
There are many things to do in Weston, Missouri. In fact, it’s Kansas City, Missouri’s favorite getaway town for day trips. And for good reason: all 22 blocks of the town iare listed as a historic district on The National Register of Historic Places.
It’s actually one of the best day trips in Missouri, and Weston seems to be a town of parties. In autumn alone there’s Applefest, a Fall Harvest Festival. It’s followed by Weston Irish Fest (food, drinks and Irish wares). And then there’s the annual tree-lighting ceremonies and November celebrations. They arrive with carolers, refreshments and souvenirs, and a Candlelight Homes Tour.
It’s almost magical being in Weston and hearing about figures such as Buffalo Bill Cody coming to see his uncle at the Cody Home (across the street from the Methodist Church). Or John Marshall, one of the lucky ones to go to California and discover gold at Sutter’s Mill, homesteading here.
It’s also a town where locals regale visitors with good stories. One is that President Abraham Lincoln’s “Other Mary” lived in Weston.
Honest Abe, they say, courted her when they were young in Illinois. But she turned down his proposal because of bad manners. Instead she came to Weston and married Jessie Vineyard, later killed in the Civil War. Asked if she regretted not being First Lady of the US, she said “good manners superseded wealth, power and influence.”
The Saint George Hotel and the Weston Red Barn Farm
I was also told that Ben Holladay, who created a stagecoach empire, eloped with his bride over her parents’ objections by sweeping her off her horse and carrying her off from Weston. No one swept me away, sorry to say, but I still had a good time in Weston, including staying in the apartment-styled Saint George Hotel, which was built in 1845. The hospitable guy at the front desk loves history and gladly gives a fascinating tour. Just ask.
There’s nothing Weston-like back home for me…except the apples I brought back which I picked at the Weston Red Barn Farm myself, and the boutique clothes and colorful slip-on shoes from hospitable Elsa Liu at the Pacific Breeze shop.
Pleasant Memories
I’ve also brought back pleasant memories of the many things I did in this cute town…walking Main Street, dining by gas lamp at the American Bowman Restaurant up the hill, toasting the Irish at O’Malley’s Public House, toasting more at the stone brewery cellar bar, and feasting on the most (and I mean most!) scrumptious breakfast at the Upstairs Tearoom at Main Street Galleria, where I couldn’t resist their cookbook, “Recipes from the Heart.”
You may also enjoy: Independence, Missouri – Where Trails Start and the Buck Stops / Kansas City’s Tried, True and Treasured Hotel / Fort Benton, MT and the Missouri Breaks
I’m amazed Weston, with its eight B&Bs and a hotel, has so many original buildings from the 1800s. It’s a very walkable place and visitors can walk all over the town, shop, drink (hopefully the local Weston Brewing Company’s beer) and eat great food. It’s obvious the folks who live and work here love it and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
And by the way, every second Saturday they keep their shops open until 7 p.m., and will entertain you with concerts and music through October. Weston, Missouri is well worth a day trip any time of the year, especially when you bring apples back from the red barn farm.
The author was invited by the State of Missouri’s Division of Tourism and Platt County to visit Western Missouri. As always, all of the views and opinions expressed are strictly her own.
If You Go:
Weston Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center
526 Main Street
Weston, MO 64098
(816) 640-2909
Platt County Convention & Visitors Bureau
http://visitplatte.com
(816) 270-3967
Missouri Division of Tourism
P.O. Box 1055
Jefferson, MO 65102
www.VisitMo.com
(753) 571-4133
The Saint George Hotel
500 Main Street
Weston, MO
(816) 640-9902
What a great article and photos – thanks Carla! You need to schedule time to come back in December for the Candlelight Homes Tour and see the downtown shops decked out in all their Christmas finest! Who knows – you might even want to tackle the slopes at Snow Creek Ski & Board Area. Yes – Missouri has a ski resort and it’s located in Weston!!
I grew up in Weston. We were tobacco tarmers. In the river bottoms. My favorite aunt had a home on the old bluff road. Our whole family farmed several different farms as we were share croppers. Each would help out with the planting. As children we would sit on short close to the ground flat wagons and set the delicate plants. And hoe the weeds row by row. When we finished with one farm we went to the next. We were led by one of our many aunts or uncles. Whoever we worked for furnished lunch. Mostly lunch was vegetables from my grandmother’s garden she tended it. As well as her Christmas chicken coop where Sunday dinner came from. Her garden was a work of art. She grew rubbarb for her pies, lettuce, onions, cucumber’s, which she made pickels, peaches and cream sweet corn, cantelop, and the best watermelon I ever ate, tomatoes were bigger than softballs they were the best fried green tomatoes I ever stuck a fork in. Later when they were ripe we would get a salt shaker and eat em right in the garden. We had peas, green beans, squash, cauliflower like I said grandma’s garden was a work of art. What was left by the eend of summer they canned. We would go to the Apple orchard to pick wash tubs of apples. There aren’t any peach orchards in Weston anymore when I was a kid there were as many as there were apple trees. We also picked wash tubs of peaches. We canned enough vegetables to last all winter. Enough fruit to make pies. To last through next summer. This was what we did for fun. We had a little TV but mostly we spent our time working together. I guess I was thinking of those times so much I forgot all about the tobacco. It was pretty much just hoping all summer. I worked with my favorite aunt Judy mostly. She packed our sandwiches for a midmorning snack and big fruit jars of ice water at the ends of the rows.
That went on all spring and up till August. As I grew my chores were added to what was called topping. There were blooms on the top of the plants and they had to be pruned to make sure the leaves fattened up before harvest. When we harvested the older boys cut the stalks and put 5 plants are n tobacco sticks which were sharpened on the end. They then had steel spear heads they would fit on the stick and move them one to the next as they changed sticks.
All the weomen would meet at the house of which farm we were working to make our lunch. The older boys worked so hard they could do inhale huge plates of fried chicken platters of baked rolls, platters of tomatoes and mashed potatoes. The last man to get up from the table got the last crumb. Thanks never ate so much or seen that many men so hungry.
We then went back to the field and worked just as hard for another 5 hours.
Whoever the crop belonged to got the easiest job driving the tractorvhe set the pace for the crew. He would put the tractor in gear and the cutters went too work then the loaders we dared not slow down. When our wagon was full the tractor driver drove us to the barn. On the way we got a few minutes rest. When we got to the barn we hung the sticks in the rafters letting the plants dry curing the leaves. They cured for 30 days. Then we pulled them out of the barn and took them to a stripping room where the weomen joined in the hard work. They stripped the leaves from the stalks graded them by color tied in bundles put them back to n the sticks. There would be a man that put the graded tobacco in a press and reload them on a wagon take them back to the barn rehang them cure for another month. We then took them out of the barn and took them into the wharehouse and set them out on tables for the buyers to inspect.
Then the tobacco show started
The wharehouse owner would bring in a band and usually celebrity. I remember Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, I don’t remember them all I’m getting old and those days are far behind me. They were the best days of my life. I have had other good years and some very bad ones too. Other chapters will tell of.
Thank you for that wonderful story.
My father was born in Weston, Missouri on July 3, 1914! His father helped on a tobacco farm. My grandfather’s name was Elmer Ellsworth Thomas
Thank you for sharing your story , I myself worked in those tobacco fields in Weston grew up there my name is Sherry Alexander Maiden name is Hill! I’m one of the Hill twins
Thank you!! It is glad to hear this.
I spent every weekend at my granny’s tobacco farm and apple orchard. It was during WWII. No tractor. No electricity.
A team of horses and a team of mules.
The tobacco show was the big event of the year. Schenler’s grocery store and the dime store was the highlight of a trip into town. Dr. Calvert was the country doctor but he had connections with some of the best doctors in Kansas City.
My uncle was a share cropper for Senator Hull.
Lester, I enjoyed reading all this!! Thank you.
What a blessing your story is to read! Thank you!
Thank you Dana!
Was wondering why snow creek wasn’t mentioned.
Time of the year thing, I suppose.
But i recall from childhood trying to hold onto that big rope and make my way to the top of the snow
Hi KC,
Thanks for your comment. I agree that it was likely because of the time of the year when our writer visited.
Jim
Right on! We loved Weston so much that we settled our family of eight here when my husband retired from the Army last year. It’s a wonderful place to visit and a great place to live. Come back soon!
Thanks! I hope to come back when I can. You’re right — it is a wonderful place in Weston, MO!
What a wonderful town to hear about. I want to check it out and I mean in the best possible way. I’m seeking to relocate for retirement and it sounds so inviting. Thanks so much for your great article and photos on Weston, Mo.
Hi Helene,
I’m glad you enjoyed Carla Rupp’s article. And best of luck with your retirement!
I grew up in Weston and as I rember hearing my family saying as I left. Y’all come see us when you can
Visit The Celtic Ranch for Irish clothes, jewelry and more! Don’t forget try some samples in their Whiskey Snug.
The writer hit the nail on the head! We live going to Weston! Everyone we’ve encountered is so welcoming. Definately an easy day trip if you live near. There are also great walking/hiking trails with great scenic views along the river. They have wineries, a distillery and great places to eat. Check out Tin Kitchen(great food) Weston Wine Company(you’ll leave friends with the owners) and McCormick’s distillery just to name a few. Such a quiet, relaxing atmosphere! Dont miss it!
Thank you for your kind words about Weston. We live in the “Lincoln’s Other Mary” house – please stop by the next time you visit.
It was a great town to grow up in. I lived and farmed there in the 50s & 60s mom moved to Kansas City where she got a office job or I would have still been there.
I lived there back in the 70s when a mister jewel Anderson was the mayor of Weston I worked in his tobacco fields I was a young girl of around 13 it was a wonderful time in my life
Uncle Jewel was my mother’s brother.
Isn’t weston mo home of 360 vodka ?
I remember Dr Calvert on the same side of the street as the hotel. There was a huge ,at least in my child’s eyes, Grandfather clock that ticked so slow. You counted the ticks hoping to hurry up and get it over with. He had delivered my mother in 1919 and me in 1939and my sister in 1941. Then he lived long enough to give me a beautiful diamond necklace for graduating high school. Neither of my parents had done that.
The annual tobacco show was held every fall after the tobacco auction.. It was held in the building at the end of the street near the railroad. The picture of the general store reminded me of the stairs going into the tobacco show. One time they had a famous singer, Dallas something or either. What a tenor. There were those machines that kids can put money in to use a little derrick to pickup trinkets. Off on the west side of the building were bins full of the different tobacco that had sold. The smell was not of cigarets but fresh tobacco.
Then, there was a dime store, where for 10c you could buy a little toy car. Nearby was
Schenler’s grocery store. As a child during WWII, I wondered how a German could own a grocery store right here when we were fighting them in the war.
Do any of you remember the water hose just off the Main Street. It hung down from a tall pipe possibly 18 feet high. It was 4 inches in diameter. I don’t remember if it was for the fire department or public use of farmers.
I had an uncle who was a share cropper for Senator Hull. My granny had her own tobacco farm. She also had an apple orchard. I remember the wasps liked apples too. All the family gathered there on holidays. One time a chicken stepped right in the middle of mom’s pie as it was cooling in the bed of a truck. Another time a huge rooster chased me around the yard. Next week he was dinner.
When I was but a baby my granny lived in a little house right on the road out in front of McCormick whiskey. She lost all her money at a bank before Federal Insurance. But she saved again enough to buy her farm. Tough and couldn’t even read.
I hope you don’t turn Weston into one of
Lester you are younger than me. My granny had a team of horses and a team of mules for planting tobacco. It was not until after the war that she got a tractor and electricity. Of course there were cows, pigs and chickens oh, and coon dogs for hunting not coons but squirrel.
We would only listen to the radio if one of the boys took the battery out of the truck to put in the radio. It had to be important to use ,like the president. After dark there was music that someone strummed on a guitar or fiddled on a homemade violin. And card playing. The kerosene lanterns repelled the mosquitoes. Ha.Nine o’clock was time to go to bed or go home.
Besides tobacco in the barn was hay. We couldn’t jump down from the loft into the hay because someone might have left a pitchfork in the hay at bottom. Oh fooey. There were some other words we learned but got soap in our mouth.
There was a cellar for all the canned sausage and vegetables. And what about the outhouse. Yes, there was a Sears catalogue there. Another place wasps liked .
When granny got propane she had 2 stoves in her kitchen. One was propane and one wood. I don’t think she liked the propane. But she had a propane refrigerator. In my mind, how could you turn fire into something that gets cold.
Up in the attic was an old pump organ. It was a pretty piece of furniture and still played just as good as new( I guess). She had an old Victrola. The records were made of paper with plastic on one side with grooves for music and some were Bible sermons.
I have been told Weston is a very racist town. It has been revealed that RJ’s has refused service to people of color. Beautiful town but I wouldn’t visit it.
Thank you for your comment. Everyone should be very careful, however, of calling any place racist unless one has irrefutable proof. People’s lives and reputations can be easily destroyed.
I am bringing three other ladies there for there birthdays. Would like to know some things for us to do we are all older. Was planning coming on a Monday will things be open on Monday. please feel free to respond to me.
Hello Shirley,
You and your friends will have a wonderful. I think shopping is an ideal activity. I loved going in and out of the stores. It is so much fun trying things on. Pick a lunch place with the help of the local Weston Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. You’ll have a great day!! Let us know how it went.
Thank you for commenting.
Best regards,
Carla
I would have to know why service would be denied to anyone regardless of race. Working with the public for over sixty years I have witnessed many people denied service of all races because of their ill manners, and causing disturbances. Before you accuse a person of being a racist know all the facts, skin color probably had nothing to do with the situation.
Thank you for your comment Moses.
What age group would enjoy the shopping in Weston? My 21 year old granddaughter wants to shop for a dress to wear to a wedding. Would you recommend coming here for that? I’m 69 and thinking it might appeal to me more than her
My friends discovered Weston by mistake many years ago while looking for a Catholic Church. They introduced Weston to us and we have started a tradition of going there Mother’s Day Weekend and Irish Fest Weekend for several years now. (And any chance we can get away) 🤣 We love this little town and the friendly people. If you are in to Irish music stop by O’Malley’s and check out Bob Reeder! ❤️ If shopping is your thing, you can always find little trinkets in the many shops along Main Street. I highly recommend this little hidden gem any time of year!☘️
Yes weston its so lovely I lived at Platte City 8 miles from weston and I always wanting go there to expend my weekends its make me so happy as I love walking it the weston national park and it’s always so beatiful to me.