The Colonial Era

• VALLES MINES * originated in 1749. Francois Valle, a Frenchmen from Quebec wanted to buy lead directly from the Indians who had discovered it in that area. So Valle moved here from Kaskaskia almost due East across the river with his new bride, Marianne Billeron.
• They lived in a log cabin built for them as a wedding present by her father Leonard Billeron who was at the time Mayor of Kaskaskia. This log cabin currently houses the Lost History Museum.
• The French Colonial Era now refers to the area's culture in the 1700's. The village of Kaskaskia was established first even before there was a United States in what would later be Illinois. Sainte Genevieve grew up directly to the West across the Mississippi in the"Louisiana Territories", also before there was a United States, but later to become the Louisiana Purchase under Jefferson. Valles' Mines lies 30 miles west of Ste. Genevieve in the Lead Belt of what would later become Missouri, founded and thriving well before St. Louis.
• The French Colonial era uniquely defined the culture of the area for centuries. Thanks to the annual reenactments at Fort DeChartres in Illinois and the work of many dedicated reenactors, you can see for a few days an entire village reconstructed in historically accurate dress and habits from the Colonial Era.

Exhibit: Recent construction (1954) of Missouri Highway 67 through the Valle Mining Company property destroyed many original hand dug mines. One museum grade (intact and open for spelunkers with guide) hand dug mine survived from that era, called 'The Rocky Digs'. It lies on the hillside across the creek from Valle's original front door, a 10 minute walk from the Lost History Museum.

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* VALLES' MINES started as Francois "Valle's Mines" when he was the only Valle. But as his family grew, so did the name change. Just like the Jones' means belonging to the many Jones family members, so Valles' Mines came from The Valle Families' Mines (all the brothers and sisters), or simply, Valles' Mines. Thank you, Rand McNally, for respecting the correct spelling in your maps. Back to top