Castle Ballroom: “Exclusively for the Best Colored People of St. Louis”

Segregation meant blacks had to duplicate all the establishments that were not open to them, including dance halls. One such place was the Castle Ballroom on Olive & 29th (now T.E. Huntley).

Across the street to the south is the Mill Creek Valley Urban Renewal area. This 454-acre tract was the result of a clearance project which razed one of the city’s densest African American neighborhoods beginning in 1959. The low-rise community called Laclede Town was built south of the ballroom in the early 1960s; after subsequent expansions, it was closed in the 1980s and later razed. The property now belongs to the Sigma Chemical Company; most of it is open space. In this context, the Castle can be understood as one of a few remaining buildings with significant associations with the population of Mill Creek Valley.

The nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, quoted above, was written by Lynn Josse.

I’d passed by this building thousands of times over the last 20 years but I had no clue to it’s history.  Again from the nomination:

For the purposes of the National Register, the most significant space in the building is the ballroom, which retains integrity. The dance floor, balcony, stage, even much of the plaster and woodwork are largely intact. Although some of the elements may not reflect the 1908 appearance, nearly all are original to the pre-1954 period of significance.

Thankfully the “pent roof” that was added to modernized the building has now been removed.  I can picture new storefront’s and the building occupied again.

Our buildings have so much history, it just takes someone to bring it to our attention.  In my case it was my friend Leigh Maibes, who has the property listed for sale. I’ve seen dark pictures of the ballroom space but without power I wasn’t able to see inside in person (walking is difficult enough for me in well lit spaces).

The renovation of midtown is moving east and downtown is moving west, in a few years they will meet along Washington, Locust or Olive.  Hopefully all three within a decade.

– Steve Patterson

Opening Reception for American City: St. Louis Architecture: Three Centuries of Classic Design Friday June 10th

Tomorrow night will be a great event, the “opening night reception with photographer William Zbaren and architectural writer Robert Sharoff, creators of American City: St. Louis Architecture: Three Centuries of Classic Design.”  Both the reception and exhibit are free.

The reception is Friday June 10th from 5-7pm at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard. You can use this address link to check transit routes in Google Maps.

I reviewed their book in January and had the pleasure to meet both last month at the reopening of the downtown Macy’s. I can’t wait to see the images in large format at the exhibit.  If you can’t make the reception tomorrow be sure to get to the exhibit by August 21st.

The authors also have two book signings scheduled: Saturday June 11, 2011 @ The Missouri Botanical Garden 11am -1pm and June 12, 2011 @ Left Bank Books 399 North Euclid from 4-6pm

– Steve Patterson

Low Enrollment at Webster University’s Old Post Office Campus

Webster University’s main campus is in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, but they’ve had a downtown campus for years.  For a long time they had classeroom space in the Lammert Building at 911 Washington Ave.

Webster was a driving force behind the latest renovation of the Old Post Office and the razing of the historic Century Building across 9th Street for a parking garage.  Back in 2003 the predictions were big & bold:

Webster plans to duplicate the programs offered on its Webster Groves campus when it opens in the Old Post Office building in 2005. Initially, about 1,200 students will attend classes at the Old Post Office, a number university President Richard Meyers expects to mushroom to 1,700 by 2007 or 2008.

That could create enough demand to justify building dormitories downtown — especially since the university’s latest dormitory project on its 47-acre Webster Groves campus will leave no space to develop more student housing. (St. Louis Business Journal)

Current enrollment? Only about 600, far from 1,700!  Don’t look for any new downtown dormitories anytime soon, unless they can convince the state to pay for the construction and lease them to the university below market. Webster’s Old Post Office website.

I visited the Webster University space in the Old Post Office last week.  Despite being a block from the 8th & Pine MetroLink light rail station, driving & parking is what is encouraged.  I found two versions of a “campus parking” guide.  These similar flyers give detailed driving & parking directions and barely mention taking transit.

And as you can see above, the map doesn’t show where the MetroLink station is located.  A tri-fold brochure on the downtown campus did have a small map indicating the station.  The state of Missouri owns both the Old Post Office and the 9th Street Garage — I think we need to be concerned about the financial liabilities here.

– Steve Patterson

Groups Raising Money for Memorial Honoring Soldiers Killed During Recent Wars

Memorial Day is a somber day for many who’ve lost loved ones to war:

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation’s Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to honor the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. (History.com)

St. Louis’ war memorials stop at the Vietnam war but we’ve clearly been involved in more wars since so we have more men & women to honor.  The Missouri Military Memorial Foundation is working to raise money for  a memorial to honor Missouri soldiers who have lost their lives during recent wars:

We consist of a group of dedicated volunteers (family & friends of fallen military personnel) raising money to build a memorial for our fallen heroes of Missouri. This will be in downtown St. Louis, Missouri in front of Soldiers Memorial (location has been approved). Join us in creating something beautiful to remember our fallen soldiers, of Missouri, who were Killed in Action or a casualty of War during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom or the Desert Storm/Desert Shield Wars.

The MMMF is working in conjunction with the American Gold Star Mothers to raise the funds for the memorial.  Veteren’s Day is November 11th.

– Steve Patterson

St. Louis No Stranger To Deadly Weather

One hundred fifteen years ago today a deadly tornado hit St. Louis:

At 4:30 PM, May 27, 1896, “the temperature fell rapidly and huge banks of black and greenish clouds were seen approaching the city…All the time the wind kept rising and in the far distance vivid forks of lightning could be seen. Gradually the thunder storm came nearer the city and the western portion was soon in the midst of a terrible storm. The wind’s velocity was about thirty-seven miles an hour. This speedily increased to sixty , seventy and even eighty miles, by the time the storm was at its height. For thirteen minutes this frightful speed was maintained and the rain fell in ceaseless torrents, far into the sad and never-to-be-forgotten night.”

The tornado first hit the ground along a ridge in the southwest portion of the city, near the St. Louis State Hospital (“City Hospital”). It next went along Jefferson avenue, through Lafayette Park to Seventh and Rutger streets. Then it moved on towards Soulard and the levee before crossing the river on towards East St. Louis in Illinois. In its wake, the storm left atleast 138 dead in St. Louis, another 118 in East St. Louis. Approximately 85 persons were missing in St. Louis and over one hundred more missing on the east-side. Many of those listed as missing were certainly killed and their bodies either carried away by the wind or by the river, with little hope that the bodies will be recovered. Over a thousand residents were physically injured. The “Cyclone of 1896” has been described as the single most deadly event that hit the St. Louis area in recorded history. In little over fifteen minutes the storm fully completed its course of death and destruction. (Source – recommended)

Lately we’ve seen tornados cause damage in the region and earlier in the week the deadly tornado devastated Joplin Missouri. Generations have managed to rebuild following such destruction, present and future generations will as well. Of course, St. Louis reaches out to help Joplin.

– Steve Patterson