Unseen STL History Talks January 2024
Revisiting the Crossroads of History: The Civil War in St. Louis and the lost neighborhood of Kosciusko
As we usher in 2024, we are excited to invite all local history enthusiasts to the Unseen STL History talks. This month, the talks will take place on January 18th at 7:00 pm at Spine Bookstore and Cafe, located at 1976-82 Arsenal St. in St. Louis, next to Benton Park. This event is a unique opportunity to dive into the untold stories of St. Louis's past. Doors open at 6:00 pm, and seating is limited, so you’re encouraged to come early and relax with a coffee, tea, or refreshing adult beverage.
Starting in 2024, Spine will charge a $5 cover to support the cafe and events like these.
The Talks
The Untold Civil War Stories of St. Louis: St. Louis was at the center of many of the movements and events that fueled the debate over slavery that led to the Civil War. In this evening’s talk, Peter Downs will tell the story of a gruesome lynching that became a touchstone for the abolitionist movement nationwide and describe a culture of legal challenges to slavery that paved the way for Dred and Harriet Scott's suits for freedom. This includes the story of an unusual mass attempt to escape slavery followed by harsh state political leaders and local judges that foreshadowed the language of the US Supreme Court decision in the Scott case that upheld slavery and lit the fuse to the Civil War.
Mary Meachum was among the African Americans connected to many of those events and to efforts to desegregate St. Louis during and immediately after the Civil War. However, her role has been erased from many histories, just as homes, the business her husband John built, and the church they founded were erased from the city's landscape without any marker of their importance. This talk will pull back the modern landscape to reveal hidden sites in the struggles for freedom in St. Louis that changed the course of a nation.
The Lost Neighborhood of Kosciusko: In his presentation, Nathan will take a look into the rich history of one of the earliest neighborhoods in St. Louis and its eventual demolition. Today, the neighborhood is mostly an industrial area with few surviving buildings of any historical significance. At one time, however, this was a thriving neighborhood with one of the busiest shopping districts in the city, and it also included many homes, churches, breweries, as well as industrial businesses. As St. Louis expanded south, this was one of the first areas to be developed.
In this talk, you will learn about this once-vibrant neighborhood and what we lost when it was all torn down in the name of “progress.”
The Speakers
Peter Downs: Peter is a seasoned journalist and a dedicated resident of the historic Soulard neighborhood in St. Louis. His notable tenure as the St. Louis Board of Education president speaks volumes of his commitment to the community. He is the author of the 2022 book, St. Louis Civil War Sites and the Fight for Freedom, which is available at Spine Bookstore and through Arcadia Publishing.
Nathan Jackson: Nathan, a history student at UMSL, has a deep-rooted passion for St. Louis's local history, nurtured through his childhood explorations of places like Soulard and Laclede's Landing. Following a stint in Pennsylvania, he returned to St. Louis and established St. Louis History and Architecture. He specializes in 19th-century urban neighborhoods, seamlessly weaving together the narratives of history, architecture, and urban planning. His contributions also extend to YouTube, where he shares his knowledge in "Nathan's Neighborhood History" and continues to expand his online presence. You can learn more about Nathan on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.