RECORDED HISTORY AND ITS INTERPRETATION

THREE MAIN PERIODS OF DOGTOWN HISTORY AND AN INTRODUCTION

Last updated January 12, 2000

• Some General Issues Relating To This History.   Here you will find essays on the disputed origins of the name "DOGTOWN," discussion of the boundaries of Dogtown, and an overview of what this recorded history is and how it is structured. There is another overview essay by Norbury L. Wayman, and an essay on the role of the Haitian Revolution in making Dogtown possible.
• Three Main "Periods" of Dogtown (Cheltenham) History.
  • THE 19TH-CENTURY   This section will (eventually) include essays on the early land grants and settlement of the area, the gradual building up of the area and the focus on the centrality of mining and brick making to this region. It will include the early history of St. James Church as an anchor of the settlement.
  • PERIOD TWO: FROM 1900 TO 1960.   The bulk of this history will focus on this period which constitutes the consolidation of the neighborhood and its greatest growth. It will include the economic shift from mining and brick making first to the World's Fair and Scullin Steel and then to being a bedroom community for people working in other areas of St. Louis. It will deal with individuals, families, sports teams, school class list and photos galore of all these areas.
  • PERIOD THREE: FROM 1960 TO THE PRESENT.   Here will be material tracing the slow shift after WWII of the youth moving away from Dogtown to other areas of St. Louis and beyond, and the slow changing of the nature and style of the neighborhood. There will be focus here on the current neighborhood including the businesses, realestate and most importantly, the quality of life of contemporary Dogtown.
• The writings of Louis Schmidt   When I began my work on Dogtown/Cheltenham history I discovered that Louis Schmidt had already done a great deal of ground breaking research and writing. Louis generously shared with me his writings and his files of maps, photos and documents, allowing me to make copies of the whole. Without Louis' standard to follow and encouragement and leads, my own work would have taken years more than it will otherwise. Not only am a deeply indebted to and thankful to Louis, but he has provided a disc of his own writings which are at the site indicated. Lots of good reading and material here!