In 1832, Julius Mallinckrodt arrived from Dortmund, Westphalia, Prussia, purchased land from Ludwig Eversmann, and married Mary McClenny. The Mallinckrodts dreamed of a new Dortmund. In 1835, Mallinckrodt asked Alexander McKinney to survey and lay out 90 lots, 50 feet wide and 125 feet deep. In 1836, the town of Dortmund was filed in St. Charles County, and lots were sold at public auction. In 1844, the Missouri River flooded and Dortmund was left without a waterfront. Mallinckrodt refunded money to people who had purchased lots as by verbal agreement. J.Y. Graif, owner of lots 3 and 34, had built a structure on one of the lots. Only memories of the dream of Dortmund remain.