Maplewood History: The Ghost Sign at Sutton and Manchester

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Letters. I get letters.  Well, mostly I get emails and texts but I do occasionally get a letter as well.  Recently I heard from my old friend and fellow Maplewood history aficionado, Tom Bakersmith by email.  Tom had this to say. Hi Doug,  As I think you know, I am interested in the old “Ghost Signs”. One’s painted on building walls years ago.  There are quite a few in Maplewood.  This one is on the Sutton side of the building that houses Rich’s Hair Salon and Tiffany’s Diner.  I can make out NAILS TOOLS CUTLERY. at the top.  I wonder what hardware store it was.

Deer Creek Bar and Grill floods, plans to rebuild

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Deer Creek Bar and Grill, at 3233 Laclede Station Road, was flooded about four feet high throughout the restaurant in Tuesday’s historic rainfall, the owners reported in social media. They plan on rebuilding. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been organized to help the employees. https://twitter.com/kzieff/status/1552251098362253313?s=20&t=dVxEuE8p1ARJX1IgM7hiSQ

Also in the news:

Fox 2 — Richmond Heights Community Center welcomes flood victims – FOX 2

KMOV — Emergency shelters open across St. Louis region following flash floods – KMOV

St.

Joke of the day is one family’s contribution to getting through the pandemic

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–How does Darth Vader like his toast? A: On the dark side. That’s a joke of the day seen in Maplewood. In March 2020, when in-person school ended due to the pandemic, Maplewood couple Shelly Strickfaden and Joe Simonis began clipping a joke to a lawn chair in their front yard at the corner of Marshall and Myrtle avenues. They wanted to do something to support their neighbors.

Maplewood police officers to be walking the neighborhoods

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If you live in Maplewood, on Wednesday mornings don’t be surprised to see a police officer walking down your street. Maplewood Acting Chief of Police Matt Neighbor told block leaders in an email it’s for the officers’ “health and wellness,” and to give residents a chance to get to say hi. The walks began on Wednesday, July 20. The officers will be walking through neighborhoods beginning at 8 a.m.

Neighbor’s letter is below:

New owner rehabs former Stone Spiral building, plans new café

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A new café is planned for the location of the recently closed Stone Spiral Coffee and Curios (2500 Sutton Boulevard in Maplewood). The building has also been sold. Doug Kassabaum sold the building to Dan Slavin, who owns other commercial properties in Maplewood. Maplewood City Council approved the café, Sweet Peaz, in its May 2 meeting. Salvin called the building iconic, and said he imagines the new shop to be similar to Kaldi’s Coffee in the Demun neighborhood, a neighborhood shop that is also a destination spot.

New candidate on the ballot in August in Maplewood, Brentwood, Richmond Heights due to redistricting

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Sarah Unsicker, the state rep in Shrewsbury and to the south, will be the rep for Maplewood, Brentwood and Richmond Heights if she wins re-election in November.  She will be on the ballot here instead of Jo Doll in the August 2 primary elections. It’s because of redistricting due to the 2020 census. The 83rd district’s representative changed from Jo Doll to Sarah Unsicker when the boundaries of the 83rd and the 91st changed. Unsicker lives in Shrewsbury, putting her in the new 83rd, along with residents of Maplewood, Brentwood, Richmond Heights and Shrewsbury. Doll lives in Webster Groves, which will put her in the new 91st.

Maplewood History: Let’s Bring Back the Great Old Signs of Maplewood!

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I’m dusting off another old post.  Blame the long hours of day light.  This one first ran about 6 1/2 years ago.   We had some wonderful old signs in Maplewood.  Perhaps this post can spark some interest in their return. The Great Old Signs of Maplewood

I hope you are enjoying the summer.  The Maplewood Pool has been the place to be. Doug Houser       July 13, 2022

Electric vehicle charger ready to be used

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Maplewood Community Development Director Laura Miller reports that the electric vehicle charger, at two spaces at the west end of the Marietta lot, are now operational. The spaces will be lined with green paint later this week. The spaces are reserved for electric vehicles, with a two-hour parking limit. Update: It was reported that both ports are not functioning, and the city is working to fix that.

Maplewood History: Let Them Eat Art Is 16 Today!

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The 16th annual Let Them Eat Art Event in Maplewood is today, July 8, from 6 to 10PM.  I had a lot to say about this last year but this year…well… I’ve been busy. Here is the link to last year’s Let Them Eat Art article.  Keep in mind that the information within is from last year. Let Them Eat Art #1

These are always a lot of fun so don’t miss it! Doug Houser   July 8, 2022

Maplewood History: Another Batch of Vintage Photographs from Some of the Earliest Photography Studios in St. Louis

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More images from the collection of Emma Beauvais Thomas Grumley. This is the thirteenth post in this series. For those of you who are just coming on board, all of these images are part of a collection that once belonged to young Emma Thomas, daughter of William Lyman and Catherine (Kate) Sutton Thomas.  I assume all were friends, acquaintances or family of Emma’s.  She wrote her name on the back of many of them to identify her as the owner but many have no information to identify the subjects. Vintage images such as these found in a tag sale or antique store would have only a small amount of value.  These are important because they all belonged to Emma and are a good record of the many people in her life.  She was born on land that once belonged to her grandfather, James C. Sutton.  It is land that would one day become Maplewood.  Emma lived here her entire life. From these images of Emma’s people we can all have a good look at the populous of our neighborhoods many years before any of us came along.

Eastbound Manchester to close in Maplewood for 2 months: MoDOT press release

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ST. LOUIS – Drivers who use Route 100 (Manchester Road) through Brentwood and Maplewood will have to negotiate another Manchester Road closure for the next two months for upcoming sewer work. Crews will close the eastbound lanes of Manchester Road, between Hanley and Laclede Station Road, before morning rush hour on Tuesday, July 5. This will allow the Metropolitan Sewer District to complete sewer system updates in the area. During the closure of eastbound Route 100, drivers can use Hanley Road, West Bruno Avenue and Laclede Station Road as a detour around the closure.

In the news: Brentwood clock shop owner to retire; obituaries

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Brentwood’s clock shop’s owner is calling it quits after July. Fox 2 — Why helicopters are landing in Maplewood this week
KMOV — Tiffany’s Diner in Maplewood: Camaraderie, tall tales & good eats
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — With no one left to run the shop, a Brentwood clockmaster calls it quits
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Shirley Brady, obituary
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Eugene “Gene” Moore, obituary
Jay B. Smith Funeral Home — Christopher “Chris” Kelly, obituary

 

Saint Louis Closet Co. donates to Ready Readers, helping children in need: press release

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MAPLEWOOD, Mo. – Saint Louis Closet Co. donated $3,715.93 to Ready Readers, through their giveback initiative, Closets for a Cause. The money from this donation will enable the organization to purchase and distribute more resources to children in need. Some of these materials include books, supplies for teachers, children, and classrooms, and resources for parents and caregivers.

Maplewood History: “A Good Corn Broom” Can Be Yours at Scheidt Hardware

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It must have been some time in the late 1970s when my neighbor, Mrs. Mahler, who was probably around 90 years old, told me she was fed up with cheap plastic brooms.  She found what she wanted at Kroger, “A good corn broom.”  Her new broom looked good to me.  The handle was a one inch dowel rod as opposed to a ¾ inch one on the lesser corn brooms.  Very sturdy.  I bought one for myself and haven’t been without one since. Today I have three.  One on the back porch, another one in the garage and one in the kid’s house.  All of these I bought at Scheidt Hardware at 7320 Manchester (True Value to you new folks). You can get yourself a good corn broom there too.  While you’re there take a look at their wide selection of hoses and yard care equipment.  I bought a new sprayer there the other day and I swear it is the best one I have ever owned.  It has made watering the yard and flower beds a pleasure.  I’m including a photo of it so you’ll know what to look for. As for blog posts,  I am having a hard time focusing on them with the long summer days.  So please take another look at this previous one about Scheidt Hardware.  

And, as most of you already know, both of my books on Maplewood History are still available at Scheidt.  They make wonderful gifts and I have received several reports of individuals actually reading them.

Manchester just west of Hanley Road to remain closed for next three months: MODOT update

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Andrew Gates, Missouri Department of Transportation communications specialist, has shared an update of what to expect for approximately spring and summer 2022 along the Manchester Road project between Big Bend and Lindbergh. According to Gates:

The full closure on Manchester just west of Hanley Road is still underway for the next three months as crews replace the Black Creek bridge. You can see some photos of the work underway on MoDOT’s Flickr album: 2022-06-02 Route 100 at Black Creek | Flickr

The around-the-clock lane closures in Rock Hill for the Deer Creek bridge should be wrapping up in the coming week, while the lane closure in each direction in Brentwood at Mary Avenue continues for about another four months. Although not directly associated with our project, Metropolitan Sewer District crews will close eastbound Manchester east of Hanley Road, just east of our Black Creek closure.  At this time, we anticipate the two-month closure to start before morning rush hour on June 20. Drivers can use Hanley, West Bruno Avenue and Laclede Station Road to detour around the closure.

The Legacy of the Dancing Schwartzmans (again)

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What follows was my fourteenth post on the website, 40 South News.  It first appeared on January  6, 2014.  In the first few lines, I was worrying about running out of material.  I shouldn’t have.  This is post number 386 and I’m not done yet. DH

For a bit longer than 4 ½ years, I have posted articles and photos about the history of Maplewood on three different websites.  Posting once or twice a month, more here lately, I usually include anywhere from 3 to 10 photos.  I’ve not repeated myself much but I’m getting ready to. It’s not that I’m running out of material on what might seem to some a narrow subject.  Far from it.  It’s just that there are folks asking me about subjects I’ve already posted.  This is the easiest way to answer them.  Some of the photos in this post were originally shown on the Facebook page of the City of Maplewood. According to the research of St. Louis County historian, Esley Hamilton, County directories show that Albert Schwartzman and his wife Rosie lived and worked in one of Maplewood’s finest commercial buildings at 3101 Sutton at least as early as 1909.  They operated a grocery and a meat market there.

Maplewood Police Department enhances community policing

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Maplewood Police Department Acting Chief of Police, Major Matt Nighbor emailed to Maplewood block leaders last week that a reorganization of the Maplewood Police Department will go into effect this week designed to enhance community policing by adding an additional community resource officer, going from two to three community resource officers. 

Nighbor said this unit will also be responsible for addressing code and housing violations. They will work with community members and residents to address these matters in an efficient way, Nighbor said. A new email address (CommunityPolice @cityofmaplewood.com) has been assigned for these officers (Corporal Kristen Prest, Officer Dustin Hoskins, and Officer Jason Schuster) for messages or concerns.  

Maplewood History: Still More Vintage Photographs from Some of the Earliest Photography Studios in St. Louis

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More images from the collection of Emma Beauvais Thomas Grumley. This is the twelfth post in this series. For those of you who are just coming on board, all of these images are part of a collection that once belonged to young Emma Thomas, daughter of William Lyman and Catherine (Kate) Sutton Thomas.  I assume all were friends, acquaintances or family of Emma’s.  She wrote her name on the back of many of them to identify her as the owner but many have no information to identify the subjects. Vintage images such as these found in a tag sale or antique store would have only a small amount of value.  These are important because they all belonged to Emma and are a good record of the many people in her life.  She was born on land that once belonged to her grandfather, James C. Sutton.  It is land that would one day become Maplewood.  Emma lived here her entire life. From these images of Emma’s people we can all have a good look at the populous of our neighborhoods many years before any of us came along.

Maplewood History: A Rare Image of William Koester Comes to Light

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Recently I was pleased to renew a friendship with a man who I once had as an instructor of digital photography, John Nagel.  In the spring of 2007, I was enrolled in my second semester of Photoshop at St. Louis Community College – Meramec. It was the last semester that John taught before retiring.  I was very lucky to have gotten there before he left. John is well known in his field.  For 30 years he was a professor of fine art photography at STLCC – Meramec.  More recently he retired as the executive director of the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum.  He was instrumental in bringing the museum to St. Louis.

Attorney general again sues MRH over mask mandate, district responds

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Maplewood Richmond Heights School District is one of six districts that reinstated a mask mandate recently, and as a result was sued, again, by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who claimed they had no authority to do so, as reported by KSDK and other sources. MRH was the only one that supplied KSDK with a substantive  response:

“The Maplewood Richmond Heights School District is committed to ensuring the safety of our students, staff and community. We feel these new lawsuits do not recognize the obligation of school boards to address the transmission of communicable diseases in schools and their responsibility to maintain a safe school environment. We believe these lawsuits continue to be a distraction to school leaders regionally who are already taxed with efforts to keep school doors open and students safe. The lawsuits filed by the Attorney General do not reflect a prudent use of taxpayer funds nor the human resources required to address them.