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Valles Mines, Missouri, U S A
Founded in 1749 by Francois Valle in the French Upper Louisiana before Lewis and Clark. 275 years later the Valle Mining Company's 4000+ acre property every year absorbs 21,000 tons of carbon dioxide and generates
14,000 tons of oxygen, enough to meet the needs of 63,000 people. [USDA Forest Facts]
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The Former Residents of 14103 Valle Mines School Road

Written by Cindy Marler and Kay Williams, granddaughters of Verna Skiles.

Ed and Verna Skiles moved from Saint Louis to Valle Mines in the 1960’s. First, they rented the Rozier House until a house fire which was rumored to have been arson in 1975. A reward of a $1000.00 was offered for information about the Arsonist. Still to this day no one knows who the Arsonist was. After the house fire Ed and Verna moved down the road to the little house by the creek (the Furnace Tender’s House) where they would live for the next 20+ years. The little house would see many of Ed's (by Vada Waters) and Verna’s (by Fred Skiles) grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up playing in the creek, helping in the gardens, carrying water from the Artesian Spring to the house.


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The little house on Valles Mines School Road was small. There was electric but no indoor plumbing. The water source was the Artesian Spring located down a path that led into the woods. The only bathroom was an old fashion “Out House”.

Ed and his sons along with Verna enjoyed hunting in the woods behind the little house. In the fall they would hunt for squirrels, rabbits, turkey, and deer. They would go fishing in the spring and summer in the area ponds and lakes. They also raised chickens, rabbits and an occasional pig that Verna would use the head to make “head cheese.” Ed and Verna grew up during the Great Depression and would not waste parts of a slaughter animal if it could be of use to make other food items.

The two of them loved to grow things from flowers to vegetables. They would pressure can and store away vegetables and give produce to the local neighbors. Verna would use her garden flowers and she would pick wildflowers in the area to make beautiful, pressed flower arrangements selling some and give others to her loved ones.

Because of life circumstances Verna would leave the little house and move to Park Hills, MO (once known as Elvins, MO) and Ed would stay in Valle Mines, MO till he passed away in 1994 while tending to his yard.

Photos are not to be reproduced.