Unseen STL History Talks March 2024
A journey through St. Louis's Irish heritage
This March, join us for an enlightening evening as we delve into lesser-known aspects of St. Louis's Irish history. On March 21st, enjoy our slightly belated St. Patrick's Day celebrations with two talks about St. Louis’s rich Irish heritage.
The talks will take place at Spine Bookstore and Cafe, located at 1976-82 Arsenal St. Doors open at 6 pm, with the talks commencing at 7 pm. There will be a $5 cover.
The Talks
Chris Naffziger will guide us through a historical journey of Irish parishes in St. Louis. This talk offers an insight into the city's Irish Catholic roots, as seen through the history of its parishes. From the early St. Patrick’s parish to St. James the Greater in Dogtown, Chris will describe the immigrant narratives represented within the construction of these churches. Attendees will learn about the rise and fall of numerous parishes, like St. Bridget of Erin and St. Leo’s, and how the memories of these churches persist through the communities they once served.
Jackie Dana will explore the captivating life of Bryan Mullanphy, a prominent St. Louis figure renowned for his political influence, philanthropy, and a life filled with eccentricity and humor. Mullanphy, an Irish Catholic and the 10th mayor of St. Louis, personally assisted Irish immigrants to the city after the 1845 famine and, in his will, bequeathed one-third of his sizable estate to the city to help future immigrants. Despite being a controversial figure through much of his life, his legacy lives on through his image in the Cathedral Basilica mosaics and his name on city landmarks. This talk will take you on an engaging journey through Mullanphy's colorful life, shedding light on humorous anecdotes, familial disputes, and his profound impact on early St. Louis.
The Speakers
Chris Naffziger: A scholar for the past fifteen years, Chris Naffziger has extensively researched St. Louis, Missouri, and the Midwest's history and architecture. His focus includes the German American brewing industry of the 19th century. His findings have graced publications across America and Europe, and his recent work involves the history of the Lemp Brewery.
Jackie Dana: A native St. Louisan, Jackie Dana is a historian, freelance writer, and fiction writer. Holding an MA in history from the University of Missouri-Columbia, her return to St. Louis in 2019 rekindled her passion for the city's history. This passion led to the creation of Unseen St. Louis, along with the associated Unseen STL History talks and meetups.
Cassilly & Cassilly Studio update
For those who were following along with the pending demolition permit for the former Cassilly & Cassilly studio on Lafayette, the developer pulled their request to appear before the city’s Preservation Board in February. Don’t let them think they can fly below the radar by waiting until the media attention dies down!
We anticipate this issue may come before the Board in March, so please continue to contact Preservation Board Secretary Bennett Anderson at (314) 657-3865, andersonb@stlouis-mo.gov, and mark your calendar for the next meeting at 4 pm on March 25th. I will be keeping an eye on the agenda and will let everyone know on Facebook if there are any updates.
I'm looking forward to this tomorrow night!