Fleming: Mining History and Film Footage

Fleming began as a small agricultural and mining community. The Central Coal and Coke Company bought Fleming’s mine and opened a company store there. Agriculture and coal mining thus mark two foundations of the town’s early history; the company store adds a glimpse of local business life. For your travel planning, Fleming offers a specific historical focus that spans mining and the community’s facilities and businesses.

Company Store and Post Office

The Central Coal and Coke Company’s office was located at the back of the company store building. Fleming’s post office was also housed in this building: it was there in 1903–1904 and had closed before 1905. The company office directly links the store to the company, while the post office points to another local function of the building. The same building can therefore be considered in terms of both the mining company and postal history.

Business Life and Local Facilities

Another detail concerns the doctor’s office in Fleming: a barbershop was located at the back of the building. There were also two blacksmith shops, one for the mining company and one for private individuals. This distinction identifies two different groups of users and adds private customers to the connection between mining and local business life. Along with the doctor’s office and barbershop, other businesses and facilities complemented the company store.

Businesses in Fleming prospered until the coal mines closed. Mining was thus not only part of the town’s early history, but also a reference point for the end of this period of business activity. If you are interested in economic development, you can trace the arc from the town’s beginnings as a small community to this later turning point.

Historic Tour and Film History

Fleming is part of the historic tour of Ray County, which includes a section devoted to Fleming. This places the town in the context of both its local development and the wider Ray County tour. For your travel planning, this is a helpful distinction: the town’s history focuses on Fleming itself, while the tour places it in a broader historical context.

Film history offers another specific perspective: the State Historical Society of Missouri preserves copies of photographs from the 1910 filming of “Range Rider” in Fleming. The Jim Skidmore Photograph Collection also includes photographs of actor Tom Mix. These Fleming-related materials can be requested for viewing at research centers of the State Historical Society of Missouri. Check the appointment requirements before traveling.

The tour and the photographs offer different perspectives: the tour places Fleming in the historical context of Ray County, while the images document the 1910 filming of “Range Rider” in Fleming. When weighing your travel interests, you can distinguish between the town’s development, the regional tour, and film history.

Discover more destinations: Lawson, Camden.

For the broader travel overview: Ray.