Fults, Illinois, formerly known as Brownsburg, began in the early 1900's with construction of the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad through the Monroe County Bottoms. In 1902, the Nanson Commission Co. erected a grain elevator there, and William Limestall built a general store that he operated with George Bradshaw for many years. In 1903, Brownsburg was renamed Fults after nearby homesteader Jacob Fults because its earlier name resembled those of other Illinois towns, and Limestall became the first postmaster. Casper Jost long operated Jost's Retreat, a well-known saloon and hall. The Evangelical Church began construction in 1906 and its congregation was officially organized in 1907, sharing pastoral service with the church at St. Joe for many years. Fults was incorporated in June 1937 as Monroe County's youngest organized municipality, with William Asselmeier as its first mayor, and for many years the town held an annual homecoming and picnic. Just north of town, Saltpeter Cave supplied saltpeter for gunpowder in Monroe County's early history and also sheltered Native American people moved through the area on the Trail of Tears. In 1956, the Valmeyer School District opened Cedar Bluff School in Fults for grades 1 through 6, after which students went to Valmeyer for grades 7 through 12. The town for many years had grocery taverns, garages, a busy grain elevator, baseball and softball teams, a softball tournament at the former elementary school grounds, and occasional local pickup football games called the Toilet Bowl. After the Flood of 1993, many homes were bought and demolished by FEMA, but remaining residents continued to maintain organized government. A park was later developed on the south end of town at the former Cedar Bluff School site, preserving the school's concrete foundation and classroom layout beneath a pavilion. Because of the 1993 flood, the congregation of St. John Church disbanded, and Merrill Prange and his wife, Sheryl, restored the church for weddings and the annual Fults Christmas church service.