Fleming combines a history as an agricultural and mining community with traces of company life and historic film footage. The town’s history offers a concrete look at the community’s development; the historic tour through Ray County places Fleming in a regional context.
Mining, Company Store, and Community Life
Fleming began as a small agricultural and mining community. The Central Coal and Coke Company purchased Fleming’s mine and opened a company store there. Mining and agriculture were both part of the town’s beginnings; the company store adds another dimension to business life at the time.
Fleming’s post office was located in the company store building from 1903 to 1904. The Central Coal and Coke Company’s office was in the rear of the same building. The post office was discontinued before 1905. This distinguishes the company store’s lasting significance in the town’s history from the post office’s temporary function.
The blacksmith shops also served different groups: Fleming had one shop for the mining company and another for private customers. A doctor’s office in town had a barber shop at the rear of the building. Fleming’s businesses prospered until the coal mines closed. Together, these details tell of the different institutions and business relationships in the historic town.
Fleming on the Historic Tour
Fleming is included in the historic tour through Ray County as its own section. This regional perspective complements the history of individual establishments: it places Fleming within a broader regional-history theme without reducing the town to mining alone. If you are interested in the development of communities and their business life, this connection offers a useful thread to follow as you explore Fleming.
Film Footage and Archival Collection
The State Historical Society of Missouri preserves copies of photographs taken during the filming of “Range Rider” in Fleming in 1910. The Jim Skidmore Photograph Collection also includes photographs of actor Tom Mix. These archival materials connect the town’s history with another topic: the film footage made in Fleming and the photographs preserved there.
The Fleming-related Jim Skidmore Photograph Collection can be requested for viewing at research centers of the State Historical Society of Missouri. If you would like to include the collection in your travel plans, check the requirements for making an appointment before you arrive. This helps keep the historical topic distinct from the specific preparations needed for an archival visit.
A Cautious Name Identification
The Henry Smith-Jackson Cemetery may also be called Fleming Cemetery. This alternative name should not be considered confirmed. If you encounter both names, treat their equivalence as a possibility, not a definitive identification.
Considering Fleming as a Place to Stay
If you are considering Fleming as a place to stay, you can base your choice on the town’s historical focus: mining, company life, and photographs of the 1910 film shoot offer different points of interest. The tour through Ray County provides a regional context; the collection is a separate archival topic that can be requested for viewing. Consider whether this combination of local and film history fits what you would like to discover on your trip.
Discover more destinations: Camden, Lawson.
Go to the main travel overview: Ray.
