Woodside, Maplewood’s one hundred-and-sixty-seven-year-old farmhouse/mansion, owes its continued existence to the efforts of a good many of our citizens as well as many folks not even from our town. I hesitate to try and list them all for I would definitely leave some out so I’ll leave most of them out and just mention a few.
First, the staff of the City of Maplewood and the City Council deserve a big thanks, for this project would have gotten absolutely nowhere without their commitment and support.
Next then St. Louis County historian, Esley Hamilton and our area’s Department of Natural Resources Specialist in Historic Preservation, Kris Zapalac stepped in and secured a spot for Woodside on our National Registry of Historic Places. No easy task that but necessary to validate the effort and structure.
The struggle continues, of course, with Woodside but the main reason behind this post is that one particular benefactor who I have referred to for years as the generous, anonymous, roof donor has agreed to be identified. He is Marty Fischer.
Shortly after the city acquired Woodside, it was determined that the structure would not last for much longer without a new roof. Marty volunteered to foot the bill (and it was a large one). The roof was installed at the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006. My hat is off to him. I think he should get the credit he deserves. Without his contribution Woodside wouldn’t exist today.
One other gentleman deserves much credit as well. He is Isaac Young, a local attorney with his office on Manchester for many years. Isaac made the single largest financial contribution to the effort. He said places like Woodside are not liabilities, they’re assets.
Indeed they are.
Once again, 40South News has taken me back in time. Although I certainly don’t remember the 1856 coin, we had a 1954 dog tax tag hanging from our Suzy’s collar that year. I also remember my father’s shave permit button purchased during the big 1958 50th Maplewood Anniversay events. So nice to see these things again.
I appreciate the efforts of the Woodside benefactors and am glad to know their identities. Many thanks to these wonderful people.
I didn’t get here until 1975, Diana, so I don’t remember any of that stuff. That doesn’t make it any less interesting though. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Thank you to all the people mentioned! And all the people that aren’t as well! Let’s keep up the momentum!
I love that last picture of the pool/library building! Later in the summer, as the pool season would start up, they would put frames with chickenwire in the open upper floor windows to keep the kids from throwing things onto their friends on the pool deck. You can see these frames in a picture we have hanging in the Library Reading Room!
That’s a very interesting historic detail, Terry. Kids haven’t changed much. Thanks for adding it to our knowledge of our lively community.
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