Welcome to Mottville

 

The small village of Mottville, located on the St. Joseph River is a delightful stop in historic St. Joseph County.  Before Mottville was established as a village in 1830, an elderly Indian Chief established a toll station on the old trail nearby, charging travelers a fee. This area, with its meandering waterways and small scenic lakes, has the most navigable streams of any county in the state and also has a unique history. 

 

Bridge over the St. Joseph River

Several of the state's earliest and largest inland communities were located here and Mottville became a village of "firsts" for the county.  The first mill in St. Joseph County was built near Mottville by a Mr. Klinger. William Taylor opened a tavern in the village, also the first in the county and then later became the county's first sheriff. In another county first, goods for sale in the county were transported by wagon to White Pigeon and then transferred to Mottville Stewarts Store.  The load consisted of codfish, one keg of tobacco and five barrels of whiskey. Because money was scarce, pioneer merchants conducted business by exchange. Dealers took wheat, had it made into flour, then shipped it to eastern creditors to pay their bills.

 

Mottville's 270-foot Camelback Bridge, erected in 1922, is now a pedestrian pathway across the St. Joseph River and the Mottville Speedway, a staple of the community since 1950, still holds races each season.   Even further back in history, note the old pilings in the St. Joseph River across from US 12-they're from the original covered bridge that once spanned the waterway.