Maplewood History: The Fathmans of 7310 Vine

By
Doug Houser
-
13
65

According to the researcher, Judy Kusnierkiewicz, John Fathman purchased the lot at 7310 Vine in 1905. He was a manager of the Phoenix Planing Mill (I’ve no idea where that was). The home stayed in the family until 1977. Linda Fathman Schulze and Irene Fathman Blood were the last members of the family to live there.

One thing you can bet on is that none of them ever dreamed that you would be looking at these personal photos and documents of theirs especially in this manner. We have one of the current residents of 7310 Vine to thank for this.  That would be the architect and well-known, man-about-town, Patrick Jugo.

John Fathman? Maybe.
John Fathman? Maybe.
Looks like a very nice Fathman car in the driveway. It's easy to date this photo. 1921. Looks like a special occasion, possibly 4th of July.
Looks like a very nice Fathman car in the driveway. It’s easy to date this photo. 1921. Looks like a special occasion, possibly 4th of July.
I think this sort of ephemera gives us a better idea of life in those past years.
I think this sort of ephemera gives us a better idea of life in those past years.

Meier Bos 1924 LR

Kalb Electric...still in business.
Kalb Electric…still in business.
William Koester...remember them?
William Koester…remember them?

Dahlberg 1928 LRHollowell 1928 LR

Got to be the Fathman dog. why else would they have taken a picture of him?her?
Got to be the Fathman dog. Why else would they have taken a picture of him/her?
Here's a better look at the car behind the dog. Looks to me like a mid-to-late 1930's model.
Here’s a better look at the car behind the dog. Looks to me like a mid-to-late 1930’s model.
we'll finish up with the dog playing with a friend...a monkey? You know as much as we do.
We’ll finish up with the dog playing with a friend…a monkey? You know as much as we do.
Kudos goes to snherman shewmaker for locating this photo of the Phoenix planing Mill at 12th and spruce in the 1875 Pictorial Atlas of St. Louis. DH 9/7/15
Kudos goes to Sherman Shewmaker for locating this photo of the Phoenix Planing Mill at 12th and Spruce in the 1875 Pictorial Atlas of St. Louis. DH 9/7/15

 

13 COMMENTS

  1. Very interesting stuff…always feel like I’m peeking into someone”s treasure box that I’m not privy to…but it’s fun to explore these valuable pieces of information. I am going to forward this info. to my sister and husband. My brother in law (Ken and Mary Berkel) owns BERKEL SHEET METAL company on Manchester Road; going toward Kingshighway, across from the old Schullen and Steel company site. His great, great grandfather, from Germany, started the company doing heating. Now they are one of the few shops just doing copper work in St. Louis. He loves old history like this…and will enjoy your newsletters. Thanks much.

    • Thank you, Nora for all the interesting info. I’d love to see some of the projects that I imagine your brother-in-law must work on.

  3. Doug, there is an old (1875?) photo of the Phoenix Planing Mill on this (currently down) website of old prints, George Breckenridge, proprietor:

    http://stlouis.genealogyvillage.com/1875-2.htm

    I haven’t seen the photo, but when the site comes back online it could be examined for clues to its location. You could also check the 1870 & 1880 Census of St Louis County for this family name and see if he is living near to the Fathman family.

  4. Doug, Mrs Blood and Mrs Schultze were the owners of 7320 Vine – my childhood home. They were the ladies my mother and father purchased from in the 1960’s. It was built in 1904. The Kennedys owned 7320 Vine until my mom sold it in 1996. There was a Mr Hollowell who lived in the middle house directly across from our house when I was growing up. He was an older gentleman and he road a motorcycle.

    • Thanks for this info, Wanda. I can’t explain the address change for the two ladies. Perhaps they decided that the house next door would suit them better and moved? A family made a similar move in my neighborhood.

  5. I am fairly certain that the negs of the dog and car were originally printed through the wrong side of the negative and therefore flipped left to right.

  6. There is what looks like a crack going across the dog/monkey photo. Possibly a glass plate negative, but seems unlikely for what would appear to be a hand held camera shot.

  7. These photos are terrific, I think, especially the friendly dog. Of course I’d like to know what’s up with that monkey. Is there to be a follow-up post with a thumbnail history of the family? I hope so.

Comments are closed.