St. Louis Public Library Index of City Streets
Just discovered an interesting resource on the St. Louis Public Library web site – a Street Index dating to 1994. Street names are listed with a brief history. Here is an example:
COMPTON AVENUE (N-S). Attorney and St. Louis mayor (1864-1868) James S. Thomas made this thoroughfare the principal street in his Compton Hill Subdivision of 1854. This avenue was probably named in honor of Compton Place, a seat of the Duke of Devonshire in England. The section of the street from Bellerive Boulevard to Wilmington Avenue in the Morganford community was known as East Virginia Avenue until 1928 when it was rechristened Compton Avenue. A section of the street in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood originated in 1852 as Alby Street in Smith’s subdivision by A. R. Easton. This name persisted until 1867 when the current name was bestowed
Be warned, this is very interesting reading.
– Steve