"WEST CHELTENHAM" (AS NOTED PARTLY BY THE BOOK) "ST.LOUIS:IT'S NEIGHBORHOODS AND NEIGHBORS, LANDMARKS AND MILESTONES" "THE GLADES" -"TAMM AND MANCHESTER"-"BENTON AREA SCHOOLS & CHURCHES" "AND VALLEY OF RIVER DES PERES",AND "BENTON" THIS AREA IS OF COURSE WEST OF TAMM. I THINK IT WAS BOUNDED BY BERTHOLD, TAMM,RIVER DES PERES, AND THE CITY LIMITS.(THIS IS NOT VERIFIED) I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THIS AREA UNTIL THE 1850'S. THE MAIN ESTATES WERE PETER LINDELLS, B.BERTHOLDS, R.D. WATSONS "THE GLADES", JAMES V. PRATHERS EST., JAMES SUTTON EDWARD J. GAY, C.S.RANNELS, JOHN B. BRUNO, JOHN P.GRATIOT, JAMES McCAUSLAND, AND PAUL M.GRATIOT. EAST OF TAMM HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS WEST CHELTENHAM BUT NOT VERY OFTEN. I THINK THE LINE IS DRAWN AT TAMM. SUBLETTE'S SULPHUR SPRINGS ENDED AT TAMM AND THE PROPERTY LINE NEVER CHANGED MUCH FROM 1830 TO 1850'S. IN 1852, WITH THE COMING OF THE RAILROAD, CHELTENHAM CAME INTO BEING.(THAT IS, THE R.R.STATION WAS NAMED AFTER THE AREA). ABOUT 1850 THE AREA WAS NAMED BY WILLIAM WIBBLE, MANAGER, OF SULPHUR SPRINGS RESORT AFTER HIS BIRTHPLACE IN ENGLAND. THIS REMINDS ME - IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED ABOUT ENGLISH QUAKERS STARTING THE FIRST CLAY MINES. BUT NEVER FOUND WHO THIS COULD HAVE BEEN.(HUMBOLT AND GREEN?)
"WEST CHELTENHAM MINES"
"CLAY FACTORY IN WEST CHELTENHAM"
"BENTON"
I NEVER REALLY FOUND THE BOUNDARY OF BENTON. IT IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES. THE ROE SCHOOL USED TO HAVE THE BENTON LIBRARY, THEN THERE WAS A BENTON STATION IN 1853/54 AT THE MO/PAC TRACKS AND ECOFF. THEN IN 1870 THE BENTON SCHOOL AT McCAUSLAND AND MANCHESTER. THIS WAS THE SECOND PUBLIC SCHOOL IN CHELTENHAM. THIS NAME CARRIED ON WHEN THE SCHOOL MOVED UP THE HILL. EHRHARDT FRANZ MOVED TO BENTON IN 1871 ON HILL ROAD(MITCHELL),AND HAD LARGE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS IN BENTON. THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN 1888 IN THE AREA CALLED BENTON AT FOREST AND BRUNO. THESE ARE THE FEW INDICATIONS OF BENTON,BUT NO HARD BOUNDARIES. I'M GUESSING BENTON WENT FROM GLADES TO OLD MANCHESTER(SOUTHWEST) AND KRAFT TO McCAUSLAND FOLLOWING THE OLD PROPERTY LINE OF JOHN PIERRE GRATIOT, OR IT COULD HAVE INCLUDED THE GLADES ON THE OLD PROPERTY OF HENRY GRATIOT. SOME DAY WE WILL KNOW.
IN THE 1850'S THE LARGE PRATHER ESTATE WENT FROM TAMM ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MANCHESTER TO THE CITY LIMITS AND ON A LINE WITH GLADES AND BRUNO,AND BY 1878 WEBSTER M.SAMUELS OWNED APPROX 18 ACRES FROM GLADES TO MANCHESTER AND PRATHER TO KRAFT. BY 1899 THE AREA SOUTH OF GLADES FROM KRAFT TO THE CITY LIMITS WAS HIGHLY POPULATED. I THINK A LOT OF THE OLD TWO STORY FRAMES IN THIS AREA SHOW THEIR AGE, ESPECIALLY AROUND GLADES AND GARNER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN BENTON. I MUST DO MORE RESEARCH ON PRATHER, BUT BELIEVE HIM TO HAVE BEEN IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION.
ONE OTHER THING THAT ALMOST SLIPPED BY ME WAS AN OLD CAR SHED ON MANCHESTER BETWEEN KRAFT AND WALDEMAR. THIS IS NOW COPYING CONCEPTS (THE OLD SCULLINS STEEL OFFICE BUILDING. THIS WAS FOUND ON THE 1899 PLAT MAP. I CAN Vaguely REMEMBER THIS BUILDING AS A CHILD. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE 1940'S. OF COURSE SINCE I HAD TO WALK DOWN THE HILL TO CATCH THE MANCHESTER STREETCAR, I WAS USUALLY IN A HURRY AND DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION.
THE PLACES I REMEMBER ARE THE SMALL CONFECTIONERY AT PRATHER AND GLADES, FALONI'S BAR, THE COAL COMPANY AT MANCHESTER AND PRATHER, THE OLD RESTAURANT ON WALDEMAR OFF MANCHESTER WHICH WAS A RIP-ROARING PLACE. THE MEN FROM SCULLINS ATE THERE, AND THE BLACKS HAD TO EAT IN THE BACK ROOM. IT WAS THE LOUDEST PLACE I HAD EVER SEEN. AND OF COURSE THE MAIN GATE OF SCULLINS ON MANCHESTER AT WALDEMAR, WHERE THE WOMEN WAITED FOR THEIR HUSBANDS TO GET OFF WORK WITH THE PAY CHECKS. I HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT I THINK IS THE OLD FEED STORE (6523 MANCHESTER). I CAN REMEMBER AS A CHILD WALKING TO THE FEED STORE ON MANCHESTER JUST WEST OF MITCHELL. WEST ON MANCHESTER WAS THE ICE HOUSE JUST WEST OF McCAUSLAND WHICH WAS A GREAT PLACE TO RIDE THE BIKE TO REFRESH.
"THE GLADES"
THE GLADES IS A SECTION OF GRATIOT LEAGUE SQUARE OWNED BY RINGWOLD D. WATSON, A LAND SPECULATOR, AT LEAST WITH THE GLADES. THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GLADES WAS TAMM, McCAUSLAND, ON A LINE WITH DALE, AND ON A LINE WITH GLADES. THIS WOULD MATCH HENRY GRATIOT'S INHERITANCE. ALSO FOUND A PAGE OF THE OLD MISSOURI REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER OF 1852 WHICH HAD AN ADVERTISEMENT OF PROPERTY FOR SALE. 200 ACRES OF SUBDIVIDED LOTS BELONGING TO RINGROSE D. WATSON FOR 23 YEARS.(SINCE 1829).I DON'T KNOW WHO HE BOUGHT IT FROM.(POSSIBLY THE GLADES FAMILY WHO I FIND LITTLE ABOUT). I DO KNOW IT WASN'T FROM THE GRATIOTS. I HAVE FOUND RECENTLY, THERE WAS A GLADES FAMILY EARLY ON. THEY MUST HAVE OWNED THE VALLEY. THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO THEM OWNING A FARM AT KRAFT AND DALE.(DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I FOUND THIS). MUST HAVE BEEN BEFORE 1829. BUT I CANNOT VERIFY THIS BY THE CITY RECORDS. THE DEEDS DO NOT SHOW MUCH BEFORE 1830.
THE GLADES WAS COVERED WITH VALUABLE TIMBER. ALL THE LOTS HAD A GOOD VIEW, MANY COULD SEE THE CITY (WHICH MAY MEAN TO GRAND WHICH WAS THE CITY LIMITS). IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SPOT WITH VALLEY ROAD WINDING IT'S WAY TO McCAUSLAND WITH 550 FOOT HILLS ON BOTH SIDES. (ON THE NORTH TO HI-POINT, ON THE SOUTH TO HILL ROAD- MITCHELL). ON A CONTOUR MAP YOU CAN SEE THE TOP OF THIS HILL STRETCH FROM KRAFT TO ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL. TWO BRANCHES OF A CREEK RAN THROUGH THE VALLEY, ONE FROM ABOUT THE CITY LIMITS NORTH OF DALE THEN CROSSING TO RUN ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF DALE TO JOIN THE OTHER BRANCH WHICH RAN FROM WISE DOWN THE EAST SIDE OF LOUISVILLE. BOTH THEN WENT ALONG THE EAST EDGE OF HILL ROAD TO THE RIVER DES PERES, OR FILLED IN THE QUARRY AT MANCHESTER. THIS WAS "A ROCK QUARRY" AT NORTH EAST CORNER OF MITCHELL AND MANCHESTER OWNED BY DAVID O'GORMAN, MAY BE FROM THE 1850'S TO 1867, SOLD TO RICHARD HANRAHAN. (1878 MAP SHOWS R.HANRAHAN ON APPROX.EIGHT ACRES BORDERED BY VALLEY ROAD, MANCHESTER, HILL ROAD, AND ON A LINE WITH WHAT IS NOW SANFORD).I WAS TOLD NOT TO GO NEAR, SINCE IT WAS VERY DEEP. I CAN'T REMEMBER SEEING IT FILLED IN. DURING THE WORLDS FAIR THERE WAS A RAILROAD SPUR FROM THE PACIFIC RAILROAD. THE TRACKS EITHER WENT ON DALE TO SANFORD OR WERE ON THE SIDE BY THE QUARRY. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THIS AREA ALSO.
NOW THERE IS A TAVERN ON THE N/E CORNER OF MITCHELL AND MANCHESTER AND A CITY TOW LOT FROM THERE TO DALE RIGHT ON TOP OF THE QUARRY.
IN 1867 WILLIAM REILLY HAD HIS HOME AT PLATEAU (NOW MITCHELL) AND KRAFT. (NOT VERIFIED). ON A PAINTING BY ALBERT MUEGGE YOU CAN SEE A HOUSE ON AN INSIDE BEND OF MITCHELL AS IT COMES DOWN THE HILL. WHOSE? THE 1878 MAP SHOWS M.V.STEIGERS THERE WITH 4.23 ACRES. THEN UP THE HILL ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MITCHELL JOHN GOEBEL WITH 5.28 ACRES, THEN HENRY KLEINSCHMIDT EAST OF KRAFT WITH 1.39 ACRES, AND F.T. KLEINSCHMIDT WEST OF KRAFT WITH 1.33 ACRES, NEXT E.D. FRANZ WITH 5.32 ACRES, THEN WEST OF PRATHER, E. WIDER WITH 4.52 ACRES, THEN I. URIG WITH 2.16 ACRES. THEN STANISLAUS MITCHELL UP TO McCAUSLAND WITH 6.61 ACRES. HIS HOUSE, THE ONLY ONE SHOWN IN THE WHOLE OF THE GLADES WAS AT 6926 MITCHELL. ALL HIS PROPERTY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MITCHELL WENT TO GLADES WHICH DIDN'T EXIST AT THIS TIME. STANISLAUS MITCHELL WAS THE PRESIDENT OF MITCHELL CLAY MANUFACTURING AT 5625 MANCHESTER WHICH STARTED IN 1857. (BETWEEN SUBLETTE AND PIERCE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MANCHESTER) ANOTHER SOURCE PUT IT AT 5700 MANCHESTER. THEY HAD CLAY PITS AT THE FACTORY, ALSO A MINE AT PIERCE AND VICTORIA. E.WIDER PROPERTY AT PLATEAU (NOW MITCHELL) AND PRATHER WAS SOLD TO THE CITY FOR ROE SCHOOL.
"FRANZ PARK"
SOPHIA D. FRANZ GAVE HER 5.32 ACRES TO THE CITY FOR A PARK AND PLAYGROUND IN HONOR OF HER HUSBAND EHRHARDT D. FRANZ IN 1915,(WITH THE STIPULATION TO BE USED FOR A PLAYGROUND FOR THE CHILDREN). EHRHARDT WAS A WHOLESALE MERCHANDISER. HE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1854, AND AFTER ACCUMULATING SOME WEALTH, MOVED HIS FAMILY TO ST. LOUIS (BENTON) IN 1871. THEIR HOUSE SAT ON 6730 MITCHELL ON WHAT IS NOW A TENNIS COURT IN THE PLAYGROUND. HE HAD LARGE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS IN THE VICINITY OF BENTON. HE RETIRED IN 1873, BUT WENT BACK TO WORK IN 1880 IN THE GROCERY BUSINESS UNTIL HIS STORE BURNED DOWN. HE THEN TOOK CARE OF HIS PROPERTY INTERESTS UNTIL HE DIED IN 1898 AT 65 YRS. ONE OF THE PERSONS PRESENTING THE DEED TO THE CITY WAS S.H. KLEINSCHMIDT, THE FRANZ'S DAUGHTER MINNIE MARRIED SHERMAN KLEINSCHMIDT.
"TAMM AND MANCHESTER"
THE MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN STATED THE ADDRESS OF THE MUEGGE HOME AS 6229 MANCHESTER AT DALE (VALLEY ROAD) VOL XXII. IT SHOULD BE 6429 MANCHESTER SINCE 6400 STARTS AT TAMM.(VERIFIED BY AN 1899 PLAT MAP).THIS WAS ON A LOT 100X205FT. AN ALLEY STARTED AT TAMM, 66FT.FROM MANCHESTER TO BEHIND THE MUEGGE HOME AT DALE,THEN STRAIGHT TO MITCHELL. I THINK THERE WAS A BROCKSCHMIDT BRICK CO. LOCATED AT THIS ROAD BETWEEN HILL RD.(MITCHELL) AND VALLEY RD.(DALE). JOHANNA MUEGGE ALSO HAD A SMALL CORNER (.5 ACRE) ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MANCHESTER. THIS PIECE OF LAND WOULD FALL IN LINE WITH THE GLADES. JOHANNA WAS THE WIFE OF AUGUSTUS WHO MUST HAVE DIED IN THE 1870'S. THEY HAD A STORE AND POST OFFICE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THEIR HOME. I HAVE A COPY OF A PICTURE OF THE MUEGGE FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES THEIR SON ALBERT THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED SEVERAL GOOD PICTURES OF CHELTENHAM (PAINTED BY MEMORY IN 1877 OF 1856 SCENES). THE PAINTINGS ARE IN THE MO. HISTORICAL LIBRARY, AND THERE ARE COPIES IN THE MO. HIST.BULLETIN. THIS WAS A SET OF EIGHT PICTURES. NUMBERS 3,5,AND 7 ARE MISSING. I HAVE TAKEN A SET OF PHOTOS SHOWING A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE SAME AREA.
THE MUEGGES MOVED TO CHELTENHAM IN 1852. AUGUSTUS ENTERED THE GROCERY BUSINESS IN 1850 (PER THE BULLETIN) ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF DALE AND MANCHESTER. BY 1852 CHELTENHAM HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH A POST OFFICE IN MUEGGE'S STORE. THE OLD TWO STORY BRICK BUILDING STILL STOOD IN 1937. GENERAL GRANT, LATER PRESIDENT GRANT WHEN COMING TO ST. LOUIS FROM THE GRANT FARM OFTEN WASSAILED IN MUEGGE'S STORE.
ON THE NIGHT OF SEPT. 29,1864, A RAIDING PARTY OF CONFEDERATES, AN ATTACHMENT OF SHELBY'S CALVARY RAIDED THE POST OFFICE. SHORTLY AFTER DUSK (5.00PM), MR. AND MRS. MUEGGE WERE SITTING IN THEIR RESIDENCE AND A KNOCK WAS HEARD AT THE DOOR. OPENING IT MR. MUEGGE WAS CONFRONTED BY A NUMBER OF MEN STANDING ON THE STEPS WHILE OTHERS FURTHER BACK WERE HOLDING THE HORSES OF THE PARTY. THEY ASKED MUEGGE ABOUT HIS PARTISANSHIP,AND HE REPLIED HE WAS THE UNITED STATES POSTMASTER AND A UNION MAN.
HE OBSERVED THEIR GRAY UNIFORMS, SABERS, AND LONG RIDING COATS. WHILE THEY WERE SEIZING THE MAIL AND RAIDING THE HOME MUEGGE ESCAPED ON HORSE BACK AND RODE WITH ALL SPEED TO THE MILITIA CAMP OF THE OLIVE STREET PLANK ROAD. A FORCE WAS IMMEDIATELY SENT TO CHELTENHAM BUT THE CONFEDERATES HAD ESCAPED BACK TOWARD VALLEY PARK (THEN CALLED MERAMEC) WHENCE THEY CAME. THE UNION FORCES PURSUED THEM ALONG THE LACLEDE STATION ROAD AND THEN GAVE UP THE HUNT.
DANIEL PAYNE, AN OLD NEGRO RESIDING IN A SMALL LOG HOUSE ON THE EAST SIDE OF CLARKSON ROAD,MIDWAY BETWEEN CLAYTON ROAD AND KEHRS MILL ROAD SAYS HE VIVIDLY RECALLED SEEING THIS SQUAD OF CONFEDERATE CAVALRY AND THOUGHT THE WHOLE SOUTHERN ARMY WAS MAKING A RAID ON ST.LOUIS. AN INQUIRY WAS LATER MADE AND NEVER ANSWERED AS TO HOW THE RIDERS PENETRATED SO CLOSE TO CHELTENHAM WITHOUT BEING OBSERVED. ALL BRIDGES OVER THE MERAMEC WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN GUARDED THAT DAY. FROM "THE HISTORY OF CHELTENHAM AND ST.JAMES CHURCH" PG.101. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE GUNPOWDER HOUSES THAT WERE ON CLAYTON ROAD WHERE THE ST.MARY'S HOSPITAL SITS NOW.(FOUND THIS IN AN ARTICLE ON RICHMOND HEIGHTS). TO THINK, ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS TAKE A SHORT RIDE UP VALLEY ROAD.
FROM THE BOOK "THE CIVIL WAR IN ST.LOUIS"
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A LARGER STORY AS TOLD IN "THE CIVIL WAR IN ST.LOUIS"(PG 94 & 95). ONE STORY TELLS OF THE RAID ON CHELTENHAM POST OFFICE WITH A FEW CHANGES. AUGUSTUS ARRIVED AT THE MILITIA CAMP ON OLIVE STREET ROAD AROUND 8:00PM ON SEPT.29,1864. HE FRANTICALLY TOLD HIS STORY: HOW SERIOUSLY THE UNION TROOPS TOOK MUEGGE'S REPORT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY.
ACCORDING TO MUEGGE, FOUR MEN RODE UP TO HIS STORE IN THE EARLY EVENING, PERHAPS AS EARLY AS 5:00PM. TWO MEN REMAINED MOUNTED AS THE OTHER TWO DISMOUNTED AND WALKED INTO THE STORE. AFTER LOOKING AROUND, THEY INQUIRED ABOUT THE DISTANCE TO THE NEAREST MILITARY POST. MRS.MUEGGE, SUSPICIOUS OF THE VISITORS' INTENT, CALLED OUT A WARNING TO HER HUSBAND IN GERMAN TO BE CAREFUL.
NEXT THE INTRUDERS ASKED ABOUT MUEGGE'S POLITICS. HE REPLIED THAT HE WAS A UNION MAN. THEN THEY ASKED WHETHER HE HAD EVER HELD OFFICE. MUEGGE SAID HE WAS THE UNITED STATES POSTMASTER FOR CHELTENHAM. IN RESPONSE, ONE OF THE MEN DREW HIS PISTOL AND ANNOUNCED, "IT'S JUST SUCH MEN AS YOU THAT WE WANT TO KILL". THE EVER ALERT MRS.MUEGGE THREW HERSELF BETWEEN HER HUSBAND AND THE INTRUDER, CAUSING THE WOULD-BE KILLER TO PULL UP HIS ARM.
HEEDING HIS WIFE'S CALL TO RUN FOR HIS LIFE, MR.MUEGGE SPRANG DOWN THE HALL, WENT OUT THE BACK DOOR, AND MADE HIS ESCAPE. AS SOON AS HE COULD FIND A HORSE, HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE UNION MILITIA CAMP. (THIS MUST HAVE BEEN CAMP JACKSON).THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN REPORTED JUST AFTER THE EVENT THAT A SCOUT WAS SENT OUT "IMMEDIATLEY". THE MISSOURI DEMOCRAT CLAIMED THAT, DESPITE CONSIDERABLE EFFORT ON MUEGGE'S PART TO GET THE UNION TROOPS INTERESTED, HE COULD FIND NO ONE "WHO HAD AUTHORITY TO ACT". BECAUSE EVERY BRIDGE AND FORD CROSSING THE MERAMEC RIVER WAS WELL GUARDED IN APPREHENSION OF STERLING PRICE'S ADVANCING ARMY, IT WAS ASSUMED THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE RAIDERS TO HAVE ESCAPED IN THAT DIRECTION. THE DIRECTION BEING OUT LACLEDE STATION ROAD.
UNION TROOPS WERE SENT IN PERSUIT OUT LACLEDE STATION ROAD BUT GAVE UP WHEN THEY REACHED OLD WATSON ROAD (CHIPPEWA) AND HAD SEEN NO SIGNS OF THE MARAUDERS. IT'S POSSIBLE THE MARAUDERS DIDN'T GO THAT WAY. MAYBE THEY WENT UP VALLEY ROAD STRAIGHT TO THE POWDER HOUSES IN RICHMOND HEIGHTS ON CLAYTON ROAD WHERE ST.MARYS IS NOW. OR - IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIVERSION.
THE STORY OF DANIEL PAYNE, AN OLD NEGRO RESIDING IN A SMALL LOG HOUSE ON THE EAST SIDE OF CLARKSON ROAD, MID-WAY BETWEEN CLAYTON AND KERRS MILL ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN THE MAIN BODY THAT TRIED TO TAKE THE POWDER HOUSES. THIS STORY OF THE POWDER HOUSES HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED YET. BUT GEN.STERLING PRICE DID CROSS INTO MISSOURI ON SEPT.19, AND HE DID HAVE A JOSEPH O.SHELBY AS ONE OF HIS DIVISION LEADERS.
PRICE AND TWELVE THOUSAND CALVALRYMEN CROSSED INTO MISSOURI FROM ARKANSAS, CONVERGING ON FREDERICKTOWN. PRICES CORPS, THREE DIVISIONS UNDER JAMES F.FAGAN, JOHN S.MARMADUKE, AND JOSEPH O.SHELBY, WAS A GREAT CONCERN TO UNION GENERAL WILLIAM S.ROSECRANS AT HIS HEADQUARTERS IN ST.LOUIS. UNKNOWN TO ROSECRANS, SEVEN REGIMENTS AND ONE BATTALION OF PRICE'S COLUMN WERE MOUNTED INFANTRY WITH NO TRAINING IN CAVALRY TACTICS. NEARLY FOUR THOUSAND OF PRICE'S MEN WERE UNARMED. DESPITE THESE WEAKNESSES, PRICE'S FORCE WAS THE "MOST POWERFUL BODY OF CAVELRY" ASSEMBLED WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
AS PRICE'S COLUMN MOVED NORTHWARD, OFFICIALS IN ST.LOUIS WERE JOLTED INTO ACTION. ON SEPT.26 ROSENCRANS ISSUED ORDERS THAT, ON RECOMENDATION OF THE MAYOR AND MANY LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF THE CITY, REQUIRED ALL BUSINESSES TO BE SUSPENDED AT NOON OF THE NEXT DAY TO ALLOW THE FORMATION OF CITIZEN GUARD UNITS.
ENOUGH ST.LOUISANS RESPONDED TO THE CALL TO FORM FIVE REGIMENTS AND THREE BATTALIONS, ONE OF THEM BLACK CITIZENS. ON SEPT.30, FEARING A CONFEDERATE ADVANCE ACROSS THE MERAMEC RIVER, ROSENCRANS ORDERED UNION MILITIA UNITS MOVED FROM ST.LOUIS TO KIRKWOOD AS A DEFENSIVE MEASURE. MAJOR GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON SMITH, A PROVEN COMBAT OFFICER, WAS ON HAND TO LEAD THE FEDERAL TROOPS. FORTUNATELY FOR ROSENCRANS, SMITH WAS THE HARBINGER OF THE ARRIVAL OF HIS COMPLETE VETERAN CORPS. SMITH'S TROOPS HAD BEEN DIVERTED TO ST.LOUIS FROM TENNESSEE BY WAY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WHEN PRICE'S MOVEMENTS BECAME KNOWN.
UNTIL HIS VETERANS ARRIVED, HOWEVER, SMITH WOULD LEAD TWO BRIGADES OF MILITIA UNITS. ONE BRIGADE, CONSISTING OF TWELVE HUNDRED MEN. THE OTHER CONSISTING OF FIFTEEN HUNDRED MEN. THE 7TH KANSAS CAVALRY AND THREE COMPANIES OF MILITIA CAVALRY ACCOMPANIED THE FOOT SOLDIERS.
ON SEPT.27 EIGHTY MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST.LOUIS AT PILOT KNOB, PRICE'S COLUMN WAS BADLY HURT BY GEN. THOMAS EWING'S UNION FORCES DEFENDING FORT DAVIDSON. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY OF THIS BLOODY REBUFF, THE UNION GARRISON WITHDREW, ELUDING CAPTURE BY THE CONFEDERATES. LEARNING THAT ROSENCRANS WAS BEING HEAVILY REINFORCED BY SMITH'S COMBAT-TESTED SOLDIERS, PRICE CONCLUDED THAT ST.LOUIS WAS NOT VULNERABLE TO ATTACK. HE TURNED HIS ARMY WEST, MARCHING ACROSS THE STATE TO DEFEAT AT THE BATTLE OF WESTPORT, NEAR KANSAS CITY.
AS A RESULT OF THE TIMELY MOVEMENT OF UNION FORCES, THE "BATTLE OF KIRKWOOD" WAS NEVER FOUGHT. THE DISCRIPTIONS OF THE "REBEL GUERILLAS" VARRIED WIDELY. THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN REPORTED THAT THEY WERE "SPLENDIDLY MOUNTED AND FINELY DRESSED, WITH DUSTERS OVER THEIR FINE CLOTHES". DISPLAYING THE REGULAR CONFEDERATE UNIFORM, THEY WERE "EVIDENTLY OLD SOLDIERS".
THE MISSOURI DEMOCRAT DESCRIBED THE CONFEDERATES AS ALSO WEARING LONG DUSTERS "UNDER WHICH THE COLLAR OF THE REBEL UNIFORM" WAS VISIBLE. THE RIDERS WORE MOCCASINS WITH LONG MEXICAN SPURS AND "MIGHT HAVE SOME INDIAN BLOOD FROM THEIR COMPLEXION AND FEATURES", THE NEWSPAPER ADDED. WHATEVER THEIR INTENTION, THE CONFEDERATE RIDERS HAVE DISAPPEARED INTO HISTORY.
THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN OFFERED THIS RATIONALE FOR THE EXCITEMENT AT THE CHELTENHAM POST OFFICE:"THE MOST PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION IS THAT THE FRIGHT OF THE POSTMASTER INDUCED HIM IN IMAGINING A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN HE SAW, AND IN HIS STATEMENT DREW LARGELY UPON HIS FANCY". IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT APPARENTLY NO ONE TOOK THE TIME TO INTERVIEW THE POSTMASTERS WIFE.
TO ME IT SEEMS SOMEONE DID INTERVIEW HER. FOR THERE IS MORE INFORMATION THAN MR.MUEGGE COULD HAVE KNOWN. BESIDES, HOW COULD THEY HAVE MISSED THE RAIDERS? ALSO WHERE IS THE STORY OF THE RAID ON THE POWDER HOUSES? AND DID THEY GET ANY MUNITIONS? WAS THERE SOUTHERN SYMPATHIZERS WORKING? I SUSPECT THAT'S HOW THEY GOT AS FAR AS THEY DID.
PRICE WAS A PAST MISSOURI GOV. HE HAD A RAG TAG OUTFIT BUT THEY WERE HILL PEOPLE FROM MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS, AND WERE SHARP-SHOOTERS IN CLOSE RANGE. THIS MADE UP FOR THE NORTH'S LONGER RANGE RIFLES. LONG RANGE MEANT NOTHING IN THE HILLS. MORE TO FOLLOW. THIS STORY MAY NEED IT'S OWN CHAPTER.
IN 1934 THE TAMM-DALE MARKET WAS OPERATED BY FRANK BARETICH AT 6413 MANCHESTER. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN APPROX. THE SAME AS THE MUEGGE STORE OF OLD. CLOSE BY WAS THE CHELTENHAM (FOUND LATER THE NAME WAS MUEGGE NOT CHELTENHAM) OIL-CLOTH AND WINDOW-SHADE FACTORY WHICH OPENED IN 1854,POSSIBLY THE FIRST INDUSTRY BESIDES THE CLAY COMPANIES. CAN'T FIND ON A MAP, BUT DID FIND AN ADVERTISEMENT OF THE COMPANY DOWNTOWN. THE DRAWING BY ALFRED MUEGGE SHOWS THE MUEGGE HOME IN THE BACKGROUND,AND IT'S A VIEW FACING WEST FROM THE EAST SIDE OF TAMM WHICH MEANS THE FACTORY COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE EAST SIDE OF TAMM NEAR MANCHESTER. TECH ELECTRONICS IS ON BOTH THE N/E AND N/W CORNER OF DALE AND MANCHESTER WITH A SHADY GRASS LOT IN FRONT. A TAVERN IS ON THE N/E CORNER OF MITCHELL AND MANCHESTER WITH A CITY TOW LOT BEHIND IT WHICH IS THE LOCATION OF THE OLD ROCK QUARRY.
I NEED TO FIND A MAP THAT SHOWS THE R/R TRACKS THAT WENT ON THE EAST SIDE OF LOUISVILLE TO THE PARK,(NO MAP SHOWS THE TRACKS,BUT A MAP OF THE WORLDS FAIR INDICATES A R/R ENTRANCE AT APPROX.THE INTERSECTION OF LOUISVILLE AND OAKLAND. THE MAP SHOWED TRACKS, LOCOMOTIVE HOUSE, AND COAL CHUTE. IT WAS CALLED "TAYLOR CITY BELT R.R.". THE TRACKS MUST HAVE WENT ALONGSIDE VALLEY ROAD FROM THE MO-PAC TRACKS, ALONG WHAT IS NOW SANFORD, AND UP A LITTLE VALLEY WHICH EARLIER WAS THE CREEK BRANCH. YOU CAN FIND THIS ON THE EAST SIDE OF LOUISVILLE ON WEST PARK WHERE IT MAKES A LOW DIP JUST EAST OF LOUISVILLE,THEN UP THE HILL AND UNDER A WOODEN BRIDGE AT CLAYTON AND ON TO THE PARK).
ALSO, THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE O'GORMAN HOME WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FIRST HOUSE ON TAMM WAS 1527 TAMM(PER THE HISTORY OF ST. JAMES AND CHELTENHAM). THE 1878 MAP SHOWS JOHN O'GORMAN NEXT DOOR EAST OF MUEGGE'S. HIS LOT FRONTING ON S/W CORNER OF BROCKSCHMIDT AND TAMM. THE 1899 PLAT MAP SHOWS AN UNMARKED TWO STORY HOUSE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 1527 WHICH USUALLY MEANS THE HOUSE WAS REMEMBERED BUT DID NOT EXIST IN 1899. ON THE N/W CORNER OF TAMM AND MANCHESTER IS THE COOPER TIRE CO.- PREVIOUSLY DOLAN REALTY, PREVIOUSLY "CLIFTON HEIGHTS HOUSE" - STARTED AS A TAVERN IN 1894. PEOPLE STARTED BORROWING MONEY, SO JOHN P. DOLAN STARTED A LOAN CO. IN A SMALL BACKROOM OF THE TAVERN IN 1908. JOHN DOLAN AND THOMAS O'GORMAN OPENED THE DOLAN REALTY CO. AT 6403 MANCHESTER IN 1909, THEN BY 1928 THE BUILDING WAS REMODELED FOR A LOAN CO. WITHOUT A TAVERN. THE 1878 MAP SHOWS EMPTY LOTS BETWEEN MANCHESTER AND AN ALLEY FROM TAMM TO HILL STREET WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN PART OF THE ROCK QUARRY OR JUST A LARGE FRONT YARD FOR THE MUEGGE'S AND O'GORMAN'S. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE,(THE LOCATION OF BROCKSCHMIDT ST.)
IN 1867 THE LANCASTERS LIVED ONE HUNDRED FEET NORTH OF DOLANS CORNER. LATER THIS PIECE OF GROUND BECAME THE PROPERTY OF THE NIXON'S. IN 1867 ACROSS FROM DOLAN'S REAL ESTATE OFFICE WAS A PICNIC GROUNDS. EAST OF WHICH WAS PETER HUME'S FARM. MR HUME WAS THE FATHER OF MRS. ED NIXON. I'VE SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES CONSIDERING MANCHESTER. IT'S THE IDEA OF BEING EAST AND WEST OF MANCHESTER, NOT NORTH AND SOUTH. THERE WERE A FEW SMALL HOUSES ON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF THE MO/PAC TRACKS. ONE OF THESE AT DALE OWNED BY JOHN CONNERS. ANDREW CAHILL LIVED NEAR THE TRACKS EAST OF TAMM. THERE IS A HINT OF THIS AREA BEING CALLED NORTH CLIFTON HEIGHTS. I HAVE A MEMBERSHIP CARD FOR J.W.ODE FOR THE NORTH CLIFTON HEIGHTS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.IT ISN'T DATED. THE ENVELOPE RETURN ADDRESS IS 6333 CLAYTON AVENUE.
"ST.LOUIS PERFUME COMPANY"
MANY ST.LOUISANS WILL REMEMBER THE LABELS AND CARTONS PORTRAYING ST.LOUIS PERFUME, DORAY, DIRGO, CAL-A-PAX, NANCY-KAY, MARESCHAL-NEIL, SALKO OR HALF A DOZEN OTHERS, WERE ALL MADE IN THE SAME ST.LOUIS LABORATORY, CONCEIVED AND MIXED BY THE SAME CHEMIST, DR.CLARENCE R.SIZEMORE. HE WAS BORN IN ERIN, HOUSTON COUNTY, TENN. ON OCT.27,1868. HIS FATHER DR.R.H.SIZEMORE SERVED AS A FIELD SURGEON IN THE ARMY OF THE CONFEDERACY AND MAINTAINED HIS MEDICAL PRACTICE UNTIL HIS DEATH WHEN THE BOY WAS 10YR.OLD. CLARENCE BECAME A CLERK IN A DRUG STORE. FROM 1887 TO 1888 HE ATTENDED VANDERBILT U. IN NASHVILLE, STUDYING PHARMACY. HE WENT BACK TO WORK IN THE DRUG STORE THEN BOUGHT IT. A SHORT TIME LATER HE SOLD THE STORE AND WENT TO WORK IN HENDERSON KY. FROM THERE HE WORKED IN MEMPHIS,TENN. HE CONTACTED TYPHOID FEVER AND WENT BACK TO ERIN TO RECOVER. HE THEN TRAVELED TO DICKSON,TENN AND FOUNDED THE DICKSON DRUG CO. DURING HIS SEVEN YEARS THERE HE OBTAINED A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN OPTICS.
HIS FIRST JOB IN ST.LOUIS WAS WITH PULLEN-RICHARDSON CHEMICAL CO., AND LIVED AT 3106 LUCAS, BUT SOON MOVED INTO THE COMPANY AT 219 CHESTNUT. WHILE HE WORKED THERE IN 1908 HE SERVED BRIEFLY AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MISSOURI BOX AND LABEL CO. LEARNING PACKAGING. IN 1911 AFTER OBTAINING AN ALCOHOL PERMIT HE ESTABLISHED THE CARNATION TOILET CO. AT 3156 EASTON, MANUFACTURING CHEMICALS. HE TOOK ON A PARTNER AND CONTINUED TO WORK FOR PULLEN-RICHARDSON. IN 1913 THIS CO. WAS ABSORBED BY ALLEN-PFEIFFER CHEM.CO. HE WENT TO WORK FOR THIS CO., AND AFTER FOUR YEARS HE BECAME GEN.SUPT., CHIEF CHEMIST, AND BUYER. AFTER A YEAR HE WENT TO THE AMERICAN DRUG CO. AND IN 1921 WAS MADE CHIEF CHEMIST. WHILE HERE HE PROMOTED AN ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN AMERICAN DRUG MOVING INTO THE BUILDING OF ALLEN-PFEIFFER, WORKING SEPARATELY BUT SHARING THE LABORATORY. SIZEMORE SUPERVISED THIS COMBINED LAB.
IN 1925 HE DID WHAT HE ALWAYS WANTED, STARTED HIS OWN FIRM "ST.LOUIS PERFUME CO. PICKING UP TWO PARTNERS WITH MONEY (C.F. AND JOHN VAN DALE WITH A CAPITALIZATION OF $10,000. THEY MANUFACTURED THEIR OWN PRODUCT AND ALSO FOR OTHER FIRMS AT HIS HOME 6746 GLADES AVE. BY 1927 HE BOUGHT OUT THE VAN DALES. HE WORKED WITH HIS WIFE ROSE. THE GREAT DEPRESSION BROUGHT ON HARD TIMES AND NEW PARTNERS. WINDORF H.WALGREN AND JEREMIAH A. WIEDKNECHT, BOTH RESIDENTS OF ST.LOUIS IN 1931. THEY INCORPORATED THE ST. LOUIS PERFUME CO. WITH $28,000. WRITING IN 1934 SIZEMORE CALLED IT "AN UNFORTUNATE ALLIANCE, QUITE A SETBACK TO THE BUSINESS". HE HAD TO DEVELOP NEW PRODUCTS AND MORE COMPANIES, THEN BUILT A NEW BUILDING NEXT TO HIS HOME AT 6748 GLADES.
IN 1935 AND 36 HE TRIED PRINTING HIS OWN LABELS BY INSTALLING A PRINTING PRESS IN A SMALL BUILDING BEHIND HIS HOUSE. BY 1939 AT THE END OF THE DEPRESSION HE WAS IN HIS 60'S WITH HEART TROUBLE. WW11 ALMOST BROUGHT HIM THE SUCCESS HE WAS LOOKING FOR BUT HE DIED OF PNEUMONIA ON DEC.29,1943. AFTER HIS DEATH, HIS WIFE SOLD THE COMPANY AND MOVED TO AN APT. ON LINDELL. THE COMPANY REMAINED OPEN UNTIL THE 50'S, AND THE BUILDING IS NOW GONE.
MY MOTHER AND AUNT WORKED THERE AND I EVEN CUT THE GRASS FOR A SPELL. THE OLD HOUSE STILL STANDS AND A SMALL BUNGALOW IS ON THE LOT JUST TO THE WEST OF THE HOUSE. I CAN REMEMBER THE OLD WOODEN FLOORS THAT CREAKED , THE BIG MIXING VATS AND THE SWEET SMELL.THE OLD FACTORY WAS FULL OF MYSTERIES AND THE HOUSE WAS A QUAINT OLD PLACE. MY MOTHER WORKED IN THE POWDER SIFTING ROOM WHICH I DON'T THINK HELPED HER HEALTH. MY AUNT WAS THE SECRETARY FOR MANY YEARS. MY UNCLE RENTED THE OLD HOUSE AFTER THE WAR. THE OLD HOUSE STILL STANDS AND IS OCCUPIED,THE FACTORY GONE.
SCHOOLS
AS THE AREA WEST OF CHELTENHAM WAS GROWING A SCHOOL "BENTON STATION SCHOOL" WAS OPENED IN 1870 ON MANCHESTER ROAD NEAR THE BENTON STATION ON THE MO/PAC RAILROAD. IT WAS SIMILAR IN APPEARANCE TO THE CHELTENHAM SCHOOL, ALTHOUGH ITS TWO ROOMS COULD ONLY ACCOMMODATE 90 STUDENTS. I THINK THIS SCHOOL WAS APPROX. WHERE McCAUSLAND INTERSECTS WITH MANCHESTER. McCAUSLAND STOPPED AT MANCHESTER UNTIL 1920'S?.
ACCORDING TO JEWEL HUTCHINGS ROBINSON BY 1910 THE SCHOOL WAS TOO SMALL AND PORTABLE BUILDINGS AND AN OLD FARM HOUSE WERE USED AS CLASSROOMS. THE FARM HOUSE WAS USED FOR KINDERGARTEN AND WAS WHERE GRADUATIONS WERE HELD (CAN'T VERIFY WHERE). MY GOOD OLD 1899 PLAT MAP SHOWS TWO HOUSES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MITCHELL ON OR NEAR THE SCHOOL GROUNDS. ONE IS A TWO STORY FRAME AT 6838/6840 MITCHELL. A 145FT.LOT FROM FOREST TO MAYBE THE ALLEY,AND FROM MITCHELL TO WHAT NOW IS GLADES.(POSSIBLY I.URIG HOME WITH 2.16 ACRES -1878) THE OTHER, A TWO STORY FRAME AT ABOUT 6818 MITCHELL WITH A 93X235 FT.LOT. (POSSIBLY E.WIDER HOME WITH 4.52 ACRES - 1878). I FOUND A LITTLE PICTURE IN SOME BOOK IN THE LIBRARY OF A HOUSE SAID TO BE USED FOR THE SCHOOL WITH CHILDREN WORKING IN A GARDEN WITH NO INDICATION WHERE IT WAS. THE WHOLE SECTION FROM PRATHER TO THE ALLEY WAS BROKEN DOWN INTO EIGHT LOTS OF EQUAL SIZE. BY 1921 A THIRTEEN ROOM SCHOOL WAS FINISHED ON THE LOT PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY E. WIDER. ADDRESS - 1921 PRATHER. AND A FEW YEARS LATER A SIX ROOM WING WAS ADDED (1927). CURRENTLY THE SCHOOL IS USED FOR KINDERGARTEN THRU FIFTH GRADE. THERE IS ALSO A PRE-KINDERGARTEN CLASS. ABOUT 75 TO 100 PUPILS ARE FOREIGN STUDENTS, AND ABOUT 50% OF THE CHILDREN COME FROM THE IMMEDIATE AREA. SOMETIME IN THE 1990'S A GYMNASIUM WAS ADDED ON THE WEST SIDE.
NAMESAKE OF ROE SCHOOL WAS A BOAT BUILDER WHO STARTED TRADING IN BOATS AND BECAME VERY WEALTHY, AND USED HIS WEALTH TO HELP THE CITY WHICH HAD PRODUCED IT. WHEN HE RETIRED HE CAME TO ST. LOUIS. INSTEAD OF RESTING, HE STARTED A MEAT PACKING BUSINESS, HAD INTERESTS IN MANY VENTURES. HE SAVED MANY FIRMS, HELPED YOUNG MEN TRYING TO MAKE IT IN BUSINESS, AND ONE OF HIS GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS WAS TO SAVE THE EADS BRIDGE. THE BUILDERS RAN OUT OF MONEY,AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ST. LOUIS, HE PERSONALLY DONATED $100,000, THEN HELPED PROMOTE THE BRIDGE, WENT TO THE EAST COAST AND DRUMMED UP $1,000,000.
DURING THE CIVIL WAR HE FURNISHED SUPPLIES TO THE ST. LOUIS MILITARY AUTHORITIES (ALONG WITH FRANCIS WHITTAKER) WHEN THE GOVERNMENT HAD NEITHER CASH OR CREDIT WITH WHICH TO MAKE PURCHASES. HIS LIFE WAS MORE ACTIVE AFTER THAN BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT. HE DIED AT A MEETING OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE MEMPHIS PACKING CO. ON FEB. 14, 1870. HIS DEATH WAS SO GREAT A LOSS TO THE CITY THAT THE MAYOR ORDERED BUSINESS SUSPENDED ON THE DAY OF HIS FUNERAL, SO THE WHOLE CITY MIGHT DO HIM HONOR. HE HAD MARRIED THE DAUGHTER OF THOMAS WRIGHT OF CINCINNATI IN 1837. THEIR HOME STOOD AT THE CORNER OF LAFAYETTE AND COMPTON ON TEN ACRES - A BEAUTIFUL ESTATE.
WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBDIVISIONS NEAR THE HIPOINT AREA, THE NEED FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL WAS MET BY THE COMPLETION OF THE GEORGE DEWEY SCHOOL AT 6746 CLAYTON AVE. IN 1917. IT'S NAMESAKE, DEWEY WAS A SPANISH - AMERICAN WAR ADMIRAL. THIS SCHOOL WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ST. LOUIS SCHOOL BUILDINGS DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT R.M. MILLIGAN. ANOTHER SCHOOL DESIGNED BY HIM WAS THE WILKINSON SCHOOL AT 7212 ARSENAL ST. WHICH OPENED IN 1927. WILKINSON WAS A ST. LOUIS MERCHANT.
CHURCHES
WAS ORGANIZED MAY 6, 1888. AT THAT TIME, THE AREA AROUND THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS CALLED BENTON. HOUSES WERE FAR APART , STREETS WERE UNPAVED AND THE ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO THE CITY PROPER WAS THE DAILY LOCAL TRAIN, WHICH STOPPED AT BENTON STATION, LOCATED ON THE MO/PAC RAILROAD JUST EAST OF ECOFF AVENUE.
A GROUP OF MEN WHO WERE DAILY COMMUTERS ON THE LOCAL FELT THE COMMUNITY NEEDED A METHODIST CHURCH,BECAUSE THE METHODIST LIVING IN BENTON HAD TO RISE EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING TO CATCH THE TRAIN TO UNION STATION,WHICH WAS LOCATED AT 12TH AND POPLAR. THEY HAD TO EITHER WALK OR TAKE A CAB TO CENTENARY METHODIST CHURCH AT 16TH AND PINE. AFTER THE SERVICES THEY HAD TO RETURN TO THE STATION, WAIT FOR THE CREVE COEUR LOCAL AND ARRIVE HOME ABOUT TWO IN THE AFTERNOON. THE GROUP DECIDED TO HOLD A MEETING AT MR. AND MRS. PETER FELKER'S HOME CONCERNING A CHURCH. SO ON MAY 6, 1888,TWENTY INDIVIDUALS ORGANIZED A METHODIST CHURCH.(1989)
THE FIRST PLACE OF WORSHIP WAS HELD IN A SMALL MASONIC HALL,(2ND FLOOR) ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF BRUNO AND FOREST, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS A SCHOOL FOR THE CHILDREN OF GERMAN SPEAKING FAMILIES OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS HALL SERVED UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 1890 WHEN A NEW CHURCH BUILDING WAS ERECTED ON THE CORNER OF BRUNO AND BLENDON. DURING THIS YEAR ONE OF THE MEMBERS, MRS JOHN W. TREMAYNE NAMED THE CHURCH, "EMMANUEL" MEANING GOD WITH US; AND AFTER DEDICATION SERVICE,IT BECAME KNOWN OFFICIALLY AS "METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.
DURING THE YEARS OF 1899-1901, THE LOT ON BLENDON AND BRUNO WAS SOLD AND THE CHURCH BUILDING WAS MOVED TO 2115 McCAUSLAND (THE PRESENT PARKING LOT). THE BUILDING WAS REMODELED.
AS THE CHURCH GREW AND PROSPERED WORK BEGAN ON THE PRESENT BUILDING,THE CORNERSTONE WAS LAID JUNE 11, 1927. THE FIRST WORSHIP SERVICE IN THE NEW BUILDING WAS JAN.18, 1928. THE MORTGAGE WAS PAID OFF IN DEC. 1945 AND ON SUNDAY MORNING, FEB. 17, 1946, BISHOP IVAN LEE HOLT DEDICATED THE CHURCH.
IN 1945 AN EDUCATIONAL BUILDING WAS ADDED TO THE PRESENT STRUCTURE. IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, MANY IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE AMONG WHICH WAS A NEW WORSHIP SANCTUARY, PARKING LOT ADJOINING THE PARSONAGE, AIR-CONDITIONING OF PARSONAGE AND CHURCH TO NAME A FEW.
IN 1891 WHEN MAPLEWOOD WAS A LITTLE HAMLET WITH ABOUT TWELVE OR FIFTEEN HOMES AND QUITE SOME DISTANCE FROM THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, SEVERAL PERSONS CONCEIVED A DESIRE TO HAVE A CHURCH. THEY HAD BEEN WORSHIPING IN CHURCHES IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES SUCH AS WEBSTER GROVES,KIRKWOOD, AND ST. LOUIS. ON DEC. 27, 1891, THE GROUP MET IN THE HOME OF W.D. BARNES FOR THEIR FIRST SERVICE. SERVICES WERE HELD FROM THEN ON IN VARIOUS HOMES, VIS: BARNES, HUDSON, TRACY, AND OTHERS. AFTER A FEW WEEKS A SUNDAY SCHOOL WAS FORMED WITH A FEW IN ATTENDANCE. ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER A CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY WAS ORGANIZED. ON JAN. 25, 1893, THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY WAS FORMED IN THE HOME OF MRS. GRUMLEY, WITH MRS. SNODGRASS AS PRESIDENT.
AS THE WORK GREW IT WAS EVIDENT THAT MEETINGS IN HOMES COULD NOT CONTINUE AND THE ANSWER TO PRAYER , AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF ACTIVITY, IN MARCH 1892, A MR. MARSHALL BUILT A STORE BUILDING WITH UNFINISHED ROOMS UPSTAIRS AT SUTTON AND MANCHESTER AVENUES, SOUTHWEST CORNER, AND OFFERED THE ROOMS FREE OF CHARGE, FOR THE SERVICES AND SUNDAY SCHOOL. BECAUSE OF INCOMING TENANTS, THE CHURCH WAS MOVED TO THE THIRD FLOOR. EARLY IN 1894 - THE CHURCH WAS FORCED TO MOVE AND LOCATED IN A TABERNACLE ON SUTTON AND FLORA AVENUES. IN THE MEANTIME SUBSCRIPTIONS HAD BEEN STARTED FOR A CHURCH BUILDING. THE TABERNACLE WAS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED IN THE CYCLONE OF MAY 27, 1896.
BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST SERVICE OF 1891, THE REV. A.L.LOVE, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY CONDUCTED THE SERVICES AND ASSISTED IN THE ORGANIZATION WORK. THERE WERE THIRTEEN DENOMINATIONS REPRESENTED IN THE GROUP WHICH STARTED THE CHURCH AND DESIRING A "COMMUNITY" CHURCH, THEY CHOSE "CONGREGATIONAL" BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT AND AUTHORITY IS VESTED IN THE LOCAL CONGREGATION WITH EACH CHURCH HAVING ITS OWN CREED OR STATEMENT OF FAITH. ON APR. 2, 1893, THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF THE COVENANT OF MAPLEWOOD, MO. WAS ORGANIZED WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM ELEVEN DENOMINATIONS IN THE THIRTY ONE CHARTER MEMBERS. ON APR. 5, THE CHURCH REQUESTED RECOGNITION IN THE ST. LOUIS ASSOCIATION AND WAS GRANTED SAME ON APR. 9, 1893.
IN THE SPRING OF 1894 A LOT WAS PURCHASED AT THE CORNER OF SUTTON AND HAZEL AVE. FOR THE SPECIAL PRICE OF $640.00.(VALUED AT $1,000.00). ON AUG.10,1894, THE GRADING AND EXCAVATING FOR THE CELLAR AND THE BASEMENT WERE STARTED. IN DEC. THE ERECTION OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE WAS BEGUN. THE CORNER STONE WAS LAID AUG.1, 1895, AND THE CHURCH DEDICATED MAR.13, 1896. ON SUNDAY AUG.6,1911 A PIPE ORGAN WAS DEDICATED, THE FIRST PIPE ORGAN IN MAPLEWOOD. IN 1930 EXTENSIVE REPAIRS HAD TO BE MADE. THE YEAR OF 1940 THE CONGREGATION VOTED TO SELL THE LOT,BUT THE WAR INTERFERED. INFORMATION BREAKS DOWN HERE. THE CHURCHES HISTORY LEAVES THE DATE BLANK. THE MOVE HAD TO BE BETWEEN 1940 AND 1946. RUSSELL BOETTCHER CAME ON THE SCENE SEPT.1, 1941,AND THE MOVE WAS TO THE OLD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BUILT IN 1927 AND CLOSED DURING THE DEPRESSION AT 1517 McCAUSLAND.
AT THE CLOSE OF THE WAR THINGS STARTED PICKING UP. ATTENDANCE WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. IN 1957 SUNDAY SCHOOL REACHED 340. THE MISSIONARY WORK WAS VERY STRONG. A BIG EVENT WAS HELD ON JAN. 16, 1952 - THE BURNING OF THE MORTGAGE. A BUILDING PROGRAM WAS STARTED. IN FEB. 1961 CLASSES WERE HELD IN THE NEW BUILDING. A MOVEMENT WAS UNDER WAY IN THE 70'S FOR THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES TO UNITE WITH THE EVANGELICAL & REFORMED CHURCH, WHICH MAPLEWOOD VOTED TO REJECT. THEY JOINED A FEW OTHER CHURCHES IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA AND OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO FORM THE CONSERVATIVE CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE (THE 4 C'S). MAPLEWOOD JOINED THIS GROUP IN 1979. FOLLOWING ARE THE PASTORS FROM 1929 TO THE PRESENT
"VALLEY OF RIVER DES PERES"
THERE WERE NO ROADS, JUST PATHS. THE MANCHESTER WE KNOW DIDN'T EXIST UNTIL THE LATE 1830'S NO DOUBT BUILT FOR SUBLETTE'S SULPHUR SPRINGS. SOUTHWEST AVE. WAS CALLED OLD MANCHESTER ROAD. (ORIGINALLY FOX CREEK ROAD).THIS WAS THE ROAD SUBLETTE USED TO GET TO THE PROPERTY HE BOUGHT IN 1831. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO CHANGE. ONCE THE LIMESTONE, COAL,AND CLAY WAS FOUND, AND THE TREES FOR LUMBER AND HEAT, THAT WAS IT. JUST ABOUT ALL OF GRATIOT LEAGUE SQUARE WAS EITHER CLEARED, DUG UP,OR UNDERMINED EXCEPT FOR MOST OF THE PARK, AND SMALL SECTIONS WHERE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING, THEN THEY BUILT HOUSES. THE LAND STAYED THAT WAY UNTIL AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR WHEN THEY FILLED UP THE LAND WITH MASS PRODUCTION HOUSES,ESPECIALLY FROM TAMM TO McCAUSLAND.
IN THE EARLY DAYS THERE WERE POCKETS OF HOMES AND ESTATES INTERSPERSED WITH FACTORIES AND CLAY MINES. YOU CAN STILL SEE THE STYLE OF HOUSE NOW. THE FAVORITE STYLE WAS THE SHOT GUN TYPE WHICH MEANT YOU COULD SHOOT IN THE FRONT DOOR AND THE BULLET WOULD GO OUT THE BACK. THREE ROOMS IN A ROW FOR THE POOR. THE LARGE TWO AND THREE STORY FRAME HOUSE FOR THE WELL TO DO. BY THE 1900'S BRICK HOUSES STARTED TO BE BUILT. THIS MAY BE A WRONG STATEMENT SINCE I'VE FOUND ON AN 1899 PLAT MAP,THREE HOUSES SIDE BY SIDE ON WHAT IS NOW SANFORD AT MITCHELL. THERE ARE THREE HOUSES THERE NOW, THE MIDDLE ONE BEING GREATLY REMOLDELED. THEY LOOK ORIGINAL AND ARE BUILT OF BRICK. THE EXCEPTION WAS LIMESTONE HOUSES FOR THE RICH. (SUBLETTE'S WAS ONE).IN MANY OF THE PRESENT BRICK APARTMENTS YOU WILL FIND LIMESTONE FOUNDATIONS.
THERE WERE MANY ROCK QUARRIES AROUND TOWN, ONE OF WHICH WAS ON THE N/E CORNER OF MANCHESTER & MITCHELL. ANOTHER QUARRY IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN AT McCAUSLAND JUST SOUTH OF MANCHESTER. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THE SEWER PEOPLE THINK WHEN AS THEY WERE DIGGING 65 FT.DOWN FOR A NEW SEWER IN JULY,1997, McCAUSLAND CAVED IN. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY IT WAS AN OLD MINE SHAFT SINCE A CLAY MINE HAD EXISTED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MANCHESTER.
AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR THE TURNAROUND CAME. THE TREES ARE BACK, AND COVER THE HOUSES THAT FILL UP THE OLD CLAY MINE SITES. IN SOME SPOTS YOU CAN SEE DOWNTOWN. THE BIG CLAY FACTORIES ARE GONE IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIVER DES PERES. SMALLER COMPANIES HAVE TAKEN THEIR PLACE. THE AIR IS CLEAN COMPARED TO THE OLD DAYS WITH OVER A DOZEN CLAY FACTORIES, IRON ORE SMELTING PLANTS, PAINT FACTORIES, AND STEEL MILLS. IN THE EARLY 1900'S ST. LOUIS WAS BLANKETED WITH SMOKE. THE NEW IMMIGRANT HAD A HARD LIFE WITH LONG HOURS AND LITTLE MONEY. BOTH THE FACTORIES AND THE MINES WERE UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY. HARD TO SAY WHICH WAS THE WORST.
THE DIGGING IN THE MINES WAS DONE BY DYNAMITE, THEN SHOVEL BY HAND. MULES PULLED THE CLAY OUT OF THE MINE THEN ON TO THE FACTORY, WHICH IN SOME CASES WAS RIGHT THERE. A STORY IN THE BOOK "THE HILL" TOLD ABOUT TWELVE HOUR DAYS, SIX DAYS A WEEK, FORTY CENTS FOR A TON OF CLAY LOADED. THE WORKER SUPPLIED HIS OWN TOOLS,AND HAD NO INSURANCE. THE MINES BY RIVER DES PERES HAD TO BE PUMPED OF WATER TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY. UNTIL THE MID 1870'S MOST COMMON BRICKS WERE HAND MADE IN WOODEN MOLDS. MASTER MOLDERS COULD TURN OUT 3,000 BRICKS A DAY. THE STEAM ENGINE DIDN'T COME ALONG UNTIL 1852.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE WAS SCULLIN - GALLEGER STEEL COMPANY. IT OPENED IN 1898 AND BY THE 1930'S IT COVERED TWELVE BLOCKS, BETWEEN NEW MANCHESTER, AND SOUTHWEST; FROM TAMM TO ECOFF IN 1905), AND EMPLOYED 1200 PEOPLE. THEY MADE RAILROAD CARS (AT LEAST THE FRAMES AND WHEELS). THEY SWITCHED OVER TO AMMUNITION FOR WWII. ONCE THE WAR WAS OVER, AND THE RAILROAD GAVE WAY TO TRUCKS, THAT WAS ALL. ALSO ON ECOFF, SOUTH OF THE MO-PAC TRACKS WAS THE SCANLON R. BLDG.CO. I BELIEVE THIS LATER BECAME A ROLLING MILL). NOW IT HAS EVEN CHANGED MORE. THEY FINALLY TORE DOWN THE BUILDINGS, MOVED THE TRACKS TO RUN ALONG SIDE THE RIVER DES PERES, AND BUILT A LARGE STRIP MALL CALLED "ST.LOUIS MARKET PLACE" SET BACK OFF MANCHESTER FOR LOTS OF PARKING, FOUR LARGE STORES, AND MANY SMALL ONES. THERE IS ALSO A SMALL LIBRARY AND A SATELLITE POLICE STATION.
THE RAILROAD MADE A COMEBACK WITH PIGGY BACK CARS FOR FREIGHT, BOTH THE MO PAC AND THE FRISCO. I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE RIDE TO SOUTHWEST HIGH IN THE LATE 40'S ON THE MANCHESTER STREETCAR ESPECIALLY DURING SNOW AND ICE. THE ROUND BRICK KILNS WERE STILL FIRED UP. THERE WERE DAYS WHEN THE WIND WAS JUST RIGHT,THE AIR CAME RIGHT UP VALLEY RD.(DALE),AND HUNG THERE. THE SMOKE EVEN REACHED FOREST PARK AND KILLED TREES. THE COAL FOUND HERE HAD LOTS OF SULPHUR.
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