Unseen STL Vibes August 2024
Positive STL news, events and historical tidbits
Welcome to the latest edition of Unseen STL Vibes, a new monthly feature of Unseen St. Louis that highlights the positive and unique aspects of our city. Each month, I will showcase uplifting stories, events, and hidden gems that make St. Louis special. From heartwarming community initiatives to exciting local discoveries, Unseen STL Vibes aims to spread joy and foster a deeper appreciation for our city.
A brief personal update: in July, I closed on a cute little century house in STL City (in the Bevo neighborhood). As you might imagine, it’s been a wild and frantic time, which will continue through the end of August as I move from my current rental house. Once I get settled in, I have plans for many more Unseen STL History articles and events for the Meetup, but for now, things will be a bit quieter than usual. I appreciate your patience and support!
Upbeat STL news
A handful of recent news stories worth knowing about.
Railway Exchange Building Getting New Attention
The long-vacant and decaying Railway Exchange Building in Downtown St. Louis is the focus of bold action announced this week by a public-private partnership between Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the City of St. Louis. According to First Alert 4 and Greater St. Louis Inc., this initiative, part of the STL 2030 Jobs Plan, aims to revitalize Downtown by securing and stabilizing key properties. “Bold action is necessary on these problem properties, and we are working in partnership with the City to address these challenges head-on and quickly,” said Kurt Weigle, GSL’s Chief Downtown Officer. The City has enhanced security around the Railway Exchange Building and notified its owners of an intent to acquire the property, potentially through eminent domain if negotiations fail.
For more about the history of the Railway Exchange Building, check out my article from March 2023.
Dog Rescued from Sewer in Kinloch
In Kinloch, a St. Louis County animal control officer had a heartwarming adventure rescuing a pup from a sewer. According to the Post-Dispatch, on July 21, Officer Bill Ellis heard whimpers while on patrol and followed the sound to find a curious dog peeking out from a manhole. With a pole with a loop on the end, Ellis safely lifted the pup out. Captured on video by Officer Bailey Brooks, the little dog, now named Oscar, was all smiles and wags as he received pets from the animal control team. Soon, this furry friend will be looking for his forever home through Diamonds in the Ruff Rescue in St. Peters.
Father and Son Cleaning Up
Zach Leonard and his 10-year-old son, Lincoln, are spending their summer restoring neglected headstones at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis. Motivated by the discovery of Zach's great-grandfather's grave in poor condition, they embarked on this project to preserve history. KSDK describes how, using brushes, scrapers, and a special cleaning solution, the father and son duo aim to honor all who are buried there, not just the famous. The father-son duo finds profound meaning in their work, with Lincoln recognizing the importance of knowing one's past. Through this project, they connect with history and each other and impart valuable life lessons about the impact of small acts of kindness.
STL History and Related Events
Learn about upcoming history events as well as activities hosted by friends of Unseen STL below:
Missouri State Primary Election
The Missouri State Primary Election will take place on August 6, 2024. Voters have several methods to cast their ballots, including Absentee Voting with an Excuse, Overseas Absentee Voting, In-Person Absentee Voting, Provisional Voting, Military Absentee Voting, and Polling Place Voting. If you have questions or need more information, you can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
Find your polling place:
The Work of Art: The Federal Art Project, 1935–1943
The newest free exhibition at the Saint Louis Art Museum, The Work of Art: The Federal Art Project, 1935–1943, kicks off on August 2 in galleries 234 and 235. The exhibit reflects on the outpouring of creativity spurred by the New Deal–era Federal Art Project. For an in-depth look at the work, visit during this week’s Free Friday Gallery Talk from 4-5 p.m. The exhibit will run from August 2, 2024, to April 13, 2025, at the Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive.
The Lost Neighborhood of Vandeventer Place
The August Unseen STL History Talks will take us back to the long-lost elite neighborhood of Vandeventer Place in St. Louis. Thomas Grady and Mike Boyd, authors of the newly published book Vandeventer Place – Gilded Age St. Louis: A Social, Economic, Architectural and Urban History of the Legendary Post-Civil War Enclave, will explore the neighborhood's rich history, including its architecture, notable residents, and social dynamics. Join us on August 15th at 7 pm (doors 6 pm) at Spine Bookstore and Cafe, 1982 Arsenal St. ($5 cover). For more details, view the event listing.
The Legacy of Prejudice at the 1904 World’s Fair
Examine how the persistent narratives of the 1904 World's Fair continue to affect our world today and explore ways to move forward. As part of the Thursday Nights at the Museum series, it will take place at the Missouri History Museum on Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Presented by Wash U.
The People of Pruitt-Igoe
Join a performance and panel discussion with former residents of the Pruitt-Igoe housing complex, followed by an audience Q&A. It is part of both the African American History Programs and the Thursday Nights at the Museum series. The event will be held at the Missouri History Museum on Thursday, August 29, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Presented by Wash U.
Beyond the Grave Bus Tour
On September 29th, the Unseen STL History Adventures Meetup group will be going “Beyond the Grave” with Amanda Clark of SeeSTL Tours (part of the Missouri History Museum programming). The tour is $35 and lasts 2 hours. Learn more about this tour, and for more events, join Unseen STL History Adventures.
History tidbits
Over 300,000 people are buried on the 470 acres at Calvary Cemetery. Meanwhile, on the 314 acres at Bellefontaine Cemetery, there are over 87,000 gravesites.
Did you know that 7 Up was invented in St. Louis? Charles Leiper Grigg created the lemon-lime soda in 1929. Originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Sodas," it was later rebranded as 7 Up in 1936.
St. Louis hosted the Olympics in 1904, which was also the first year that gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded for first, second, and third place.
If you have events, news, historical tidbits, or other things you think Unseen STL readers would appreciate, drop me an email at jackie@jackiedana.com and include “Unseen STL Vibes” in the subject line.
And as always, thanks for reading and supporting Unseen St. Louis. I am committed to providing informative articles and history programming to the community, and keeping all of the content on Unseen St. Louis free. However, this does take quite a bit of work, so if you would like to support my work financially, please consider a paid subscription.
Congratulations on the new home. Like this new vibe newsletter, love the tidbits of good vibes.
"Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Sodas" is a real mouthful- that's probably why it became 7 Up instead.