Missouri Lumber and Mining Company

The Missouri Lumber and Mining Company (MLM) was a significant timber corporation established in the late 19th century in southeast Missouri, primarily to exploit the region's abundant timber resources for construction during the U.S. westward expansion. Founded by Pennsylvania lumbermen, MLM built the largest lumber mill in the country in the company town of Grandin, which peaked at a population of 3,000. The company played a crucial role in the local economy until the timber was depleted, leading to the town's decline around 1910. Today, many of Grandin's historic buildings are preserved as part of the National Register of Historic Places, making it a point of interest for tourists and researchers exploring the history of timber industry and company towns in America.