Central High School - Red and Black Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

Page 31 text:

+ . X 1 -M xW I'I'IE mm am ,amass m. mt drummer boy in his teens to the graybearded veteran who had served in the Prussian or other German armies, these loyal citizens fought to save their republic. Not only in our city but everywhere. they sacrificed their homes and lives for the benefit of all. 1865 marks the opening of the central branch of the St. Louis Public School Library now the Public Library on the block from Thirteenth to Fourteenth Street and was erected at the cost of 81,650,000 The building was designed by Cass Gilbert and is of gray granite, the style of architecture being that of the early period of the Italian Renaissance. In connection with this library, there are branch libraries located in various parts of the city. In 1885, with the breaking of ground for the first great fireproof office building in St. Louis, began the 'Asky-scraper era of architectural construction which has transformed the physical appearance of the business section of our city. Lofty buildings succeeded one another with an almost bewildering rapidity. Coincidentally, there was a marked increase in the number of large industrial plants in St. Louis. There was also a vast increase in the capitaliza- tion and influence in local banks, and the organization of trust companies was an accompanying feature of the time. ' I . u - b. .6 ' 1 if 9 . 'A t N5 9 gl My-n 'in 'V' ln' A -v 1975, S at sr 4 P d 9 -.L .P '- 1 31 I e up ,Q ui I 'A ,L I ' I' ' I Ca 6, 6 wg 60 +.,,' an A qi ,J 'm 0.4. . .,, - ., 40' N v G' F v -. -L I o 'I 5- A A . v I f . , 4' . f ' '49 lor 1 'H ' ii '0 0 ' Y . lg Q' ' 9 X' Nw ir on 41. - Q . .9 0 a' 4 I ' ' U 'L ' fb, .' if J' 3 1 .1 6 0-J 3 nw.- ,,,,,,, SA, x5'l A -va. 1, -1,12 5, S h 4 . NT 3 OUIS X Q gg 2 1. l Q 1- c. X wry ,ww clrrun-ln-,,,, S 5 2 5' Sl 5 :. Q v 3. ' tm'- 'lu--i S 5 H '4 3 : f' .., .,, . . - ' Q r h 6. ,4 X ' 5 SAW ss: 5 -viii 6' Q' gif 5 5' -1' 1 now' I X 5 T ,,, , . 5 il, 5 v a Q Y 0. e B 4- 173 . .4 A A .1 , I H , ,, A F .X 5 fs., 4- w + .N 1 Low? f 5- 'bbw + .Q e N ' . 5 -I ui 3 Wi Q' R gf 5 5 It Mflrq 5 5 Z: 4-' Q ,. ul , N al 5 DE: 5 v I8 Q Q Q gf- f X UTY ilor sr L 5 E 70 ,uf 64 W' X - OUIS D' 5. Jlf' X 1574 Savane 1-111.4-lass as A Z ' A Z G ' .X 0 4 N r , 2 R-' , The building of the Missouri Historical Society at 1600 Locust Street was purchased the next year. Among the collections can be found many of the original manuscripts of the French and Spanish days in Missouri. These include a great number of the original petitions of early settlers of Missouri for land grants, petitions for the incorporation of St. Louis as a town in 1808, Twenty-seven

Page 30 text:

K -gwevwwvr fr'-r- vw,-S1 . ,..,. I WW Awww: MM A K M Mm K D N 5 f ', 1 L-A- ., .: f1 'f' -- . I . . .Y . A . 5 1 fEZII'.., ,- .-.,.4.. ,,,.,. XEBTHEHZ E221 ag, ,515 Ea 1 -Q E.N,,N,W My Y- Grund and Olive, 1850 until morning. When it was finally overcome, it had destroyed steamboats and buildings to a total value of from three to six million dollars. As though the city had not yet suffered enough, a terrible epidemic of cholera soon descended upon it. There were many deaths caused by this dreaded disease which baffled some of St. Louis's best physicians. The business of the city, already crippled by fire, was for some time completely paralyzed by the plague. Following hard upon the horrid effects of fire and disease, came the great overland movement of people from the East. The discovery of gold in California brought about one of the most wonderful migrations known in history. St. Louis became a center for equipping the caravans bound westward. As we have seen, St. Louis was distinctly a French village. After the cession to the United States, the emigration from the east changed the language and customs of the community. St. Louis became an American city speaking the English tongue. But the German immigration, following the revolutionary movements in Western Europe during 1848 and 1849 brought thousands of Germans to Missouri. As a result, many of the inhabitants of St. Louis assumed German customs. During the Civil War period, our city was a very hotbed of political struggle, with the Unionists and Confederate sympathizers in daily antagonism at close range, and its intimate history is peculiarly colorful and romantic in consequence. St. Lous lives in the larger annals of the time as the American city which held its state in the Union against the will of the majority of the people of the state. The first four regiments that went into the field from this state to fight for the preservation of the Union were composed entirely of Germans. From the ,I-LL'f'l7ll.l Asia'

Page 32 text:

early marriage contracts, personal letters of early commandants and governors, suits, and sales contracts. Most of these are more than a century old. Noti:eY In l87l there appeared an article in the Missouri Democrat which stated that the skirts worn by the fashionable ladies were too long. Three years after this important notice appeared. St. Louis was ready for action. No! not ready to shorten the ladies' skirts, but ready to progress as a city. Changes and improvements were taking place. The Eads Bridge was 9 Eads Bridge opened! After ten years of work, this bridge was ready for use. The cost of this structure was approximately fBl0,000,000, and it is classed as one of the best bridges in the world. The Four Courts and Jail Buildings, of cream-colored stone, were completed in l87l. The jail is very well lighted and ventilated. QA break for the jail- birds. I The year 1871 is also outstanding for the completion of the waterworks system. This system was greatly improved seventeen years later. The waters of the Muddy Mississippi are now purified by means of a great system of connected reservoirs at the Chain of Rocks. The purpose of this system is to purify the water supply by settling. The great advantage of having pure water has attracted many people to our dear old city. About this time most business of St. Louis was carried on around Fourth Street. The Hrst to move west were the jobbing and wholesale merchants. Other establishments followed their example, and, slowly, our business district moves westward, block by block, until its present destination was reached. November 30, 1875, marks the day when our present State Constitution became effective. Eighteen amendments to this Constitution have been adopted. The powers of the government in Missouri are divided between the central 71LL'L'f7ltlft'1-Qhl