Archive
This project is no longer active. All submitted place stories have been archived below.
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This tree was planted sixty years ago by Mary, who still lives in the house behind it. She has seen the community transform, and possesses a wealth of knowledge about the history of the neighborhood. The tree has come to be a kind of symbol for the area. Dave has lived in the Shaw neighborhood since 1996. He and his wife moved for work, and have been involved in the neighborhood ever since.
Longitude: -90.242386000000
In this video, Pamela describes a business owner who lived in the neighborhood. She also discusses the importance of Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality.
Pamela McLucas is a long-time resident of Lewis Place.
Interview conducted August 2018.
Longitude: 90.254393000000
In this video, Mr. Robinson talks about the historical significance a local restaurant owner, Mattie.
George Robinson was raised in the Vandeventer nieghborhood.
Interview conducted October 2018.
Longitude: -90.247606000000
The collapsing buildings remind Arun of a war-torn region, not a thriving neighborhood in St. Louis. He does not believe the buildings are able to be recover, and would like to see them torn down. Arun has lived in the Botanical Heights neighborhood for only a few months of 2015.
Longitude: -90.251492000000
William explains that this corner used to be part of a nice neighborhood, but has since gone downhill. He calls the area a deathtrap.
Longitude: -90.247422000000
This intersection contains trendy new restaurants, an advertising agency, a landscape agency, an urban improvement company, and a Montessori school. Arun believes this section shows how vibrant the neighborhood is, and how the community is preparing for a positive future. Arun has lived in the Botanical Heights neighborhood for only a few months of 2015.
Longitude: -90.255784000000
In this video, Mrs. McCrea describes plans for the meditation garden she plans to install on a vacant lot on the corner of Cook and Pendleton Aves.
Cynthia McCrea is a resident of the Vandeventer neighborhood, and president of Cook Ave. Block Group.
Interview conducted October 2018.
Longitude: -90.244478000000
Mrs. Foster describes the pest problem associated with an abandoned home and trash-filled yard near her house.
Mrs. Foster has lived in the Walnut Park East neighborhood for almost 20 years.
Interview conducted October 2017.
Longitude: -90.255529000000
The Missouri Botanical Gardens reflects the neighborhood's heritage due to its connection with Henry Shaw. It brings visitors and new residents to the neighborhood. Tami has lived in the neighborhood since 2006 and recently purchased a home. She prefers the neighborhood due to its social diversity. February 2016.
Longitude: -90.257029000000
Dorothy is a well known business owner in the Wellston Loop business district on Martin Luther King Blvd. Her business, "Dorothy's TV, Furniture & Appliance" has been operating since 1997 and employs local residents of the Wells Goodfellow and Hamilton Heights neighborhood. In this brief clip, and in a conversation witnessed off camera, Dorothy expresses a keen interest in direct-investment by the city of St. Louis into the business district, the creation of an "promise zone" and a return of the district as a retail hub of the black community.
Longitude: -90.283068000000
Many buildings along Martin Luther King Drive are in a state of disrepair. This condition affects the mood of people who live in the area. Antwan P was born in Wells Goodfellow and is very active in the neighborhood organzing programs to meet community needs. Recorded on June 13th 2016
Longitude: -90.280799000000
Annie Cooper recalls Martin Luther King Drive as a bustling shopping area and speaks about the importance of local commerce for community revitalization. Annie Cooper has lived in the area for over fifty years and remains very active in local politics. Recorded on June 4th 2016
Longitude: -90.285070000000
Sylvester Moore discusses his appreciation for the Monsanto YMCA on Page Blvd. On a hot day, Sylvester says this location an excellent place, and a prime place for the community to go and cool off. He also emphasizes the benefits the Y serves for physical fitness. Sylvester M moved to Wells Goodfellow with his family at the age of seven in 1965. In 2000, he moved back to the neighborhood and he now lives in the same house that he grew up in. Recorded on July 13th 2016
Longitude: -90.276769000000
A vacant lot on Shulte Avenue was once occupied by a scary-looking abandoned house. People used the strip of land alongside the house as a shortcut to the liquor store on West Florissant. The street has improved with the removal of the house.
Eltoreon Hawkins grew up in the Walnut Park West neighborhood and now owns several properties there.
Interview conducted November 2017.
Longitude: -90.250907000000
Brenda expands on her love of Tower Grove South's walkability by pointing to the Morganford business strip which includes places to eat, shop and meet friends. She appreciates the districts centrality to the neighborhood and cites it as one of the chief reasons she located to the western half of TGS.
Longitude: -90.261569000000
In this video, Ms. Pippens described the weather conditions on Shulte Ave. and in Walnut Park West, and how weather affects yards and how folks in the neighborhood respond to hot weather.
Tyanna Pippens has been a resident of Walnut Park West since the 1990’s. Her children attended Herzog Elementary and Northwest Schools. Ms. Pippens is an active member of her community in her service to St. Louis Public Schools.
Interview conducted January 2018.
Longitude: -90.253431000000
The Mound City Medical Center provided valuabe medical and social services to the neighborhood. Douglas H has lived in Wells Goodfellow since the early 1960s, when he moved from Mississippi with his family. Recorded on July 23, 2016
Longitude: -90.263645000000
Eltoreon Hawkins purchased the City's first mow-to-own property in 2016. He tells the story of the parcel and how he came to purchase it through the mow-to-own program.
Eltoreon Hawkins grew up in the Walnut Park West neighborhood and now owns several properties there.
Interview conducted November 2017.
Longitude: -90.251036000000
Sister Welker shares her disappointment in the process by which MSD has purchased and destroyed homes in the Baden community. She wonders if the problem hasn't become bigger than it was originally, due to the effect the process has had on disrupting life in the community. She feels there should have been a more inclusive and transparent plan and implementation process, but is somewhat hopeful in the projects being coordinated by Washington University to improve the MSD site landscaping.
Longitude: -90.241015000000
Vincent Nyman believes that MSD is aware of the harm that has been caused in the neighborhood. He is appreciative of their effort to engage the community in how to improve the situation through meetings, reuse plans, and engagement with Washington University.
Longitude: -90.241339000000
Mt Olive Church already operates a food pantry, but Mary L believes the community would benefit if the church provided shelter from the heat or the rain. Mary has lived here since 2005, and enjoys the quiet neighborhood.
Longitude: -90.255308000000
Mullanphy School is an older building, but it has been well-maintained. The historical building is a positive part of the neighborhood, as well as the work the school does for children with special needs. Mary has lived here since 2005, and enjoys the quiet neighborhood.
Longitude: -90.254804000000
Mrs. Foster recalls a murder that occured in a house that is now abandoned on the corner of Lillian and Robin.
Mrs. Foster has lived in the Walnut Park East neighborhood for almost 20 years.
Interview conducted October 2017.
Longitude: -90.255806000000
Robin discusses her apartment, which she describes as her sanctuary. It felt like home the moment she saw it, and it is now where she visits with friends, works, and relaxes. Robin has lived in St. Louis since 1999, but has only been in Shaw for part of 2015. She chose to come here because she has friends in the neighborhood and because of its convenient location. She specifically picked Shaw because of its sense of community.
Longitude: -90.253488000000
The triangular grassy area on North Taylor is a place where people gather with their lawn chairs to socialize. It could be converted into a formal park with benches and an entrance marker for the Lewis Place neighborhood. Mr. Willis has lived on Lewis Place since 1990 and is president of the Lewis Place Improvement Association.
Longitude: -90.252800000000
In this video, Georgia describes re-development in the Gaslight Square district. She uses her house, built on Olive Ave., to explain how the construction of new homes has promoted a sense of community on her block.
Georgia Palmer has lived in the Gaslight Square neighborhood for 4 years.
Interview conducted 2019.
Longitude: -90.247835000000
Bertha sits on her porch every morning with her coffee. She especially loves to sit outside when it’s raining, because it’s peaceful. Bertha has been living in Botanical Heights since 2014. She enjoys the quiet, peaceful neighborhood.
Longitude: -90.251864000000
The temporary memorial for Vonderrit Myers is still on the corner of Klemm and Shaw, more than a year after his death. Dave brings a Black Lives Matter sign here whenever he can, and he likes to keep track of the responses he gets. In addition, he likes to listen to the stories of the people who visit the memorial. The memorial is important to the people in the community, and important to Dave personally. Dave has lived in the Shaw neighborhood since 1996. He and his wife moved for work, and have been involved in the neighborhood ever since.
Longitude: -90.253412000000
Jacque believes the Myers Memorial is an important location in the community, because it symbolizes the brokenness of the community as well as the work to be done. She hopes that the memorial will remain a place of memory, so that it can remind the community to find the good in the area. Jacque has lived in Shaw since 1996, and is the pastor at Compton Heights Christian Church.
Longitude: -90.253412000000
Monte believes the Myers Memorial must be preserved. He explains that, as a white man, this event opened his eyes to the divide between the two communities in the Shaw neighborhood. This memorial serves as a reminder to pay attention to the separation that exists here, and he hopes it will help make the community better in the long run. Monte has lived in Shaw since 2000 because of the affordable housing, but has stayed because of the sense of community and the opportunities to be involve in multiple organizations and groups.
Longitude: -90.253412000000
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