Missouri Lumber and Mining Company

The Missouri Lumber and Mining Company (MLM), established in the 1880s, was a significant timber corporation in southeast Missouri, primarily operating in the Ozarks. Founded by Pennsylvania lumbermen, MLM aimed to exploit the region's abundant timber resources to support the westward expansion of the United States. The company built the town of Grandin, which became a bustling hub with a population of up to 3,000 and housed the largest lumber mill in the country at the time. As timber resources dwindled, MLM abandoned Grandin around 1910 but continued operations elsewhere until the 1920s. Today, many of Grandin's historic buildings are preserved and recognized for their contribution to Missouri's economic history, making it an intriguing site for tourists and researchers interested in industrial heritage and the evolution of timber industries in America.