Maplewood History: Cora Clamorgan – Part Five

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There is still a lot of nonsense going on in the world today.  At least we can be grateful that we have transcended the sort of nonsense described in this article.  What these folks had to go through is sad. There are still more Cora Clamorgan articles to come.  If you have missed one or all of them, here is the link to Cora Clamorgan – Part Four.  From there you can link to the first three. Stunning weather out there today.  Things are starting to reopen.  I truly believe we are not out of the woods yet. Please be careful and wear your mask when you go out in the world.  There is new evidence that shows that wearing a mask is the most effective way to avoid being infected. Doug Houser      June 15, 2020

Saint Mary Magdalen Church embarks on improvements to the parish complex

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The convent that had been on the property at Saint Mary Magdalen Church in Brentwood since 1937 was in total disrepair. The cost to repair it, including — asbestos removal, lead paint removal, complete sewer replacement, complete slate roof replacement, complete electrical replacement, brittle water lines, broken HVAC systems, and mold in the second floor of the convent ceiling —  would have been enormous. To repair all of that with no specific purpose was deemed inconceivable. Again, with no specific purpose and such repair costs, the three parish boards and the parish contractors made the decision to tear down the convent and replace it with a much needed green space. A new Saint Mary Magdalen Dominican Garden/Park will be built on the location.

Richmond Heights Police officers begin using body-worn cameras

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The Richmond Heights Police Department announced on Facebook Wednesday that after nearly two years of research and testing, the department will be using body-worn cameras. The cameras were implemented on Monday. Officers will be required to activate cameras when engaging in patrol duties, such as crimes in progress, vehicle stops, searches, and arrests. Recordings will be retained for a minimum of 30 days, or longer if the recording is involved in court proceedings, investigations, departmental needs, etc. The department says body-worn cameras will aid in its mission to perform law enforcement duties fairly and impartially and to increase transparency.

Maplewood History: Cora Clamorgan – Part Four

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The Clamorgan family was one of the oldest in St. Louis. The author Julie Winch has done a magnificent job of telling their tale in her book, The Clamorgans – One Family’s History of Race in America. I am very glad that I read this book. I would highly recommend it.

Maplewood mayor reviews city’s police policies and procedures

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Maplewood Mayor Barry Greenberg said in a letter emailed to residents that he has been asked what safeguards are in place in Maplewood to ensure that the disturbing police actions we have seen around the country will not take place in Maplewood. Greenberg said he has reviewed the policies and procedures the Maplewood Police Department utilizes to serve the city. He summarizes the policies on the city’s website. He noted that in Maplewood last year the police department made 1,557 arrests and there was not a single allegation of excessive force filed against Maplewood officers.

Maplewood “March For Black Lives” planned

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A social-distancing (wear a mask), kid-friendly “March for Black Lives” is scheduled for Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in Maplewood, meeting in Sutton Loop Park. According to the event listing on Facebook: After brief remarks in Sutton Loop Park, the march will travel north on Sutton Boulevard, east on Manchester Road, north on Oakview Terrace, west on Zephyr Place, and south on Sutton back to the park. Any with limited mobility or who want to join from a distance are encouraged to participate from anywhere along the route, including on Manchester or in Ryan Hummert Park. An organizer said on Facebook that this event grew out of the “small, leaderless action that has been ongoing at Big Bend and Manchester since June 1.” See the Facebook event

 

Maplewood History: An Early View of the Intersection of Manchester and McCausland

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Perhaps this post should be titled something like Just Over the Border of Maplewood… History.  I think the intersection of Manchester and McCausland is where the Maplewood business district truly begins.  No matter that it is a block east of our actual border.  It was either within the survey of the farm of our pioneer settler, James Sutton, or right on the edge of it. This image I discovered while looking through the posts by Joe Sonderman on his Facebook page, Vintage St. Louis and Route 66.  It is a fascinating collection that he has assembled.  This is not the first time I’ve found an historic image related to Maplewood there. This particular image stopped me in my tracks.

In the press: Lots on protests, some on recent elections

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The recent protests in the area received quite a bit of coverage in the media. Call Newspapers — Three charged with assault after throwing fireworks at police officers during protests
Fredericksburg Freelance-Star — After losing loved ones to virus, Missouri woman makes her yard a lifeline for others
Fox 2 — Black-owned businesses seeing support with an influx in patrons  
Fox 2 — 3 charged with attempting to injury police officer at the Galleria
Fox 2 — Protesters hold ‘I AM George Floyd’ march in Brentwood, Richmond Heights, and Maplewood
KMOX — Police: 3 arrested for allegedly shooting fireworks at officers in St. Louis
St. Louis American — Protest energy continued throughout St. Louis region on Saturday, June 6
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Brentwood resident says proposed apartment entrance endangers home; 600-plus have signed petition

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For almost 20 years Matthew Bowman’s family has put up with the occasional flooding on Dorothy Avenue near Manchester Road in Brentwood. He’s looking forward to a solution which the city’s Brentwood Bound project might offer, but he says a change in the plan reroutes an apartment entrance down a hill, and aimed at his house. He has started an online petition to ask the Brentwood Board of Aldermen to stick with the original plan, which he says is nearly complete, safer, more economical. There are currently more than 600 signers. He has spoken at alderman meetings to explain their safety concerns but Brentwood is still only considering this plan, referred to as the Van Mark Way Dorothy plan, he said in an email to 40 South.

Maplewood car wash closes

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The self service car wash at Big Bend and James Avenue has closed permanently. The business next to it, Central Auto Body Paint Shop, bought the car wash to add stalls for its business, an employee said Saturday.

Thousands protest in Brentwood, Maplewood

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Several thousand (according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) gathered Thursday in The Promenade at Brentwood and Maplewood Commons to protest for police and criminal justice reforms. They ended up on Brentwood Boulevard, avoiding Interstate 40/64. Local photographer BB Elkin took pictures. Others posted on Instagram and Twitter. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBCJ7EADAAr/?igshid=1m6znft6pzcc6

Maplewood Schnucks employee tests positive for COVID-19

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A Maplewood Schnucks employee tested positive for COVID-19, according to an email from Schnucks sent out at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 4. The employee last worked at the store on Wednesday, June 3. The area where the employee worked was disinfected (the specific area isn’t noted), and also all common areas. The store is remaining open and will continue to follow COVID-19 guidance from local and state agencies, according to the email. Following is a screen shot of the letter.

Maplewood propositions pass, turnover in Maplewood & Brentwood

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On Tuesday Maplewood voters passed Proposition E for the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, and Proposition F for the fire department — both by large margins. Voters said yes to Prop E by over 81 percent and Prop F by over 75 percent. Also in Maplewood, Sarah Crosley defeated incumbent council member Ray Crader in Ward 2. Sandi Phillips won a second term unopposed in Ward 1 and Shawn Faulkingham also won unopposed in Ward 3. The three incumbent candidates for the MRH school board were re-elected with no challengers: Maria Langston, Kathryn Kaufman and Francis Chmelir.

Maplewood History: 4th of July Celebration – Grandpa Lemuel Price by Billy Jones

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We lived in Maplewood and this was 1936. Our Observer (local paper) had a memo and mother read, “Maplewood Police will this year fine any and all Maplewood residents $5.00 for exploding any firecrackers in the city limits”  One of my Dad’s employees had sent me a box of “cannon crackers” as a gift.  My grandmother had a large house and my aunt and her family lived at 1800 Lafayette in St. Louis.  Dad drove us to Grandma Price’s on the holiday and we had lots of hot dogs, marshmallows and treats for little kids.  When sundown came, sky rockets and sparklers were all brought out. I gave the older kids my “cannon crackers”.  I picked up all unexploded cannon crackers and my cousin shared a warning too late.  My little hand was badly burned.  All of our family worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad so I was taken to their hospital by my dad.  My little hand had a big splint and big bandages.  When I was carried out of the doctor’s office in my Dad’s arms, the whole lobby was filled

with my family!  Daddy sat me down on a bench.  A pleasant young man sat beside me and said, “Sorry about your firecracker.”  I asked him, “Did all the relatives come out because of my accident?”  He put his hand on my “well” hand and said, “No, youngster.  My uncle Lemuel Price is having a serious heart attack.” I said, “Lemuel Price is my Grandpa.”  He shook my good little hand and said, “My name is Vinnie and I guess we are cousins.  Vinnie carried me around and introduced me to his family and Washington University classmates. I asked Vinnie, “Did Grandpa Price give you a $20 gold piece when he moved back from Colorado?  Vinnie replied, “He sure did!”  I said, “I think I lost mine.  Will the marshals put me in jail if I don’t find it?”  He laughed and told his friends about my concerns.  They all laughed.

Maplewood History: Cora Clamorgan – Part Three

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As the reader may or may not recall my first two posts about this unfortunate but important tale of the Clamorgan family were copies of the articles carried in two St. Louis newspapers the day the story broke, June 9, 1911. This post is a copy of the article that appeared the next day in the St. Louis Star. It contains one of the only rays of light I’ve found in this dark tale.

Maplewood’s ‘essential’ businesses, especially Lowe’s, come through for the city

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Maplewood businesses that remained open throughout the stay-at-home order — ‘essential businesses’ — did well enough to offset losses from the closed businesses, so the city is projecting flat sales tax revenues for the remainder of the year, interim city manager, Anthony Traxler said in an email to 40 South on Wednesday. Traxler said in an online City Council budget work session meeting Tuesday that sales for Lowes were better than ever for April — “booming” even. Lowe’s sales numbers are usually higher later in the spring, he said, so it’s good to see April sales so high. Following Lowe’s, sales from other essential businesses, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Aldi and Schnucks filled in for the city. He also said in the email that the city is down seven employees but expects to slowly rehire the employees as the workload increases as things start opening again.

In the news: parade for departing MRH principal, Maplewood woman works to feed her community

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An MRH principal leaves to be assistant superintendent of the Webster Groves school system, the farmers market in Richmond Heights reopens, and more in the news. KMOV — While bike sales are up, supply remains low amid pandemic
KMOV — Maplewood-Richmond Heights principal gets big send-off before taking new job with district
KMOV — 2 of 4 Tower Grove Farmers’ markets reopened with precautions
KSDK (via MRH) — MRH seniors parade video
St. Louis Jewish Light — Treating COVID-19 patients presents myriad challenges, says ICU director
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — New schools, upgrades on the June 2 ballot in nine St. Louis area school districts
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Maplewood Library reopening schedule, Summer Reading program begins

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Maplewood Public Library will begin taking returns through its outdoor book drop today and begin conducting curbside pickup on Wednesday, June 3, after more than two months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today is also the start date for MPL’s “Imagine Your Story” Summer Reading Program. Babies through teens are asked to log 30 minutes of reading a day. Adults should simply record the title and page count of the books they read. Reading logs are available for printout on the library website.

Brentwood Election Day Food Drive

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Brentwood Ward 3 alderman, Andy Leahy is helping out with a local food drive taking place on election day, June 2, 2020. He sent this information. Brentwood voters go to the polls on June 2nd to cast votes in the recently postponed April municipal election.  The current events of the past two months have changed all our lives.  As the Brentwood Community we have an opportunity to make the “City of Warmth” an active physical example of a sharing and caring community for those in need.