Maplewood History: The Legacy of the Dancing Schwartzmans

By
Doug Houser
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10
91

If you wonder how the Dancing Schwartzmans could possibly be connected to a large North American mammal, read on.

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, the building at 3100 Sutton was most likely built in 1917 by Albert Schwartzman and his wife Rosie.  They were granted a permit for a building 51 by 80 feet long.  It probably cost them in excess of $8,000 to construct.

Amber Sky now occupies 3100 Sutton. Read about it.

This photo appeared earlier on the City of Maplewood's Facebook page.
This photo appeared earlier on the City of Maplewood's Facebook page.

Early in their occupancy at 3100 Sutton, the industrious couple operated a variety store and had as tenants, a shoe store, a tailor, and a store selling gentleman’s furnishings.

Ditto. First shown on the City of Maplewood's Facebook page.

 

Doug Houser/Maplewood Public Library

Ditto. First shown on the City of Maplewood’s Facebook page.

Sometime between 1917 and 1925, the Schwartzman’s added a second floor to their building to be used as a dance hall which was called fittingly, if not creatively, Schwartzman’s Dance Hall.

If the concept of the Schwartzman’s Dance Hall doesn’t make you want to move your bones, apparently it didn’t make many others want to either.  On Oct. 1, 1925 the building was sold to Oscar Kasday who turned around and sold it to the Loyal Order of Moose #1086, Maplewood Lodge in July of 1927.

I used a piece of promotional material to hide the utility wires. Wouldn't you like to see all those wires underground?
I used a piece of promotional material to hide the utility wires. Wouldn't you like to see all those wires underground?
Here is the aforementioned piece of promotional material given to me by prominent local architect Doug Kassabaum and now in the collection of the Maplewood Public Library.
Here is the aforementioned piece of promotional material given to me by prominent local architect Doug Kassabaum and now in the collection of the Maplewood Public Library. The "Believes in sunshine and flowers." seems attractive.
Prior to moving across the street to their newer building, the Schwartzmans operated a grocery and meat market at 3101 Sutton in one of Maplewood’s most distinctive commercial buildings.
Prior to moving across the street to their newer building, the Schwartzmans operated a grocery and meat market at 3101 Sutton in one of Maplewood’s most distinctive commercial buildings.
The parapet with the original iron intact.
The parapet with the original iron intact.
A superb terra cotta capital.
A superb terra cotta capital. I suspect the lips are after market.
A dramatic view of a beautiful building on a beautiful day.
A dramatic view of a beautiful building on a beautiful day.
The original quarter round iron railing casts a nice shadow. These are just a few of the visual treats that reward the careful observer in our fair city.
The original quarter round iron railing casts a nice shadow. These are just a few of the visual treats that reward the careful observer in our fair city.

10 COMMENTS

    • There is no connection to our former Moose Hall with the Maplewood business, Moosylvania as far as I know. If I’m wrong I welcome a representative of their company to provide us with information to the contrary.

  2. Always enjoy these, Doug! Wonder if you’d consider reaching back to the original land grant (I think it was from Spain to Mr. Sutton…?). I’d lie to know more about the origins of what ultimately became our favorite community.

    • Hey Ralf, Thanks for the kind words. I don’t have much info going back that far. It went from Spain to Charles Gratiot, to his heirs, to James Sutton. I’ve never found any evidence that there was anything here at all before Sutton except trees and rocks and an intersection, what became Manchester and Big Bend. You might want to take a look at my first post on this site, “From Nuthin” to Sutton” and also at my posts that can still be found on the Maplewood Patch website particularly the first one about Sutton.

  3. Wonderful terra cotta and wrought iron.
    We have some great old building ornamentations in Maplewood.

  5. I love these little snippets of Maplewood history! My mom and aunts were ‘Women of the Moose’ and attended many social events in that building. Thanks for keeping Maplewood’s history alive.

    • Thanks for your memory, Cathy. The Women of the Moose has a funny sound to it to those of us unfamiliar with the organization.

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