Cleveland High School - Beacon Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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of Memories In the late sixties Prichard sold his home to a young man by the name of John Byrne, Jr. Many years Byrne lived in the old house with his wife and children who were all born there, and there they grew to Woman- hood and manhood enjoying the proud aristocratic air of the old mansion. As Byrne's children were enjoying the freedom of the estate a gallant Frenchman, Dr. Francis Haydel, was departing from his home state of Louisiana in search of new adventures farther north. It was only a matter of fate that threw the charming Elizabeth Byrne and the handsome Dr. Haydel together. They were married in the famed old chapel in the Byrne's home, a beautiful place of worship. The young Haydel and his wife lived for some time with her father. It was long before another story was added to the beautiful home, making twenty-three spacious rooms. The years passed on: children were born to Francis and Elizabeth, all possessing the same cultured air of their father and mother. On cold winter evenings the family would sit around the quaint fireplace in the spacious parlor and tell riddles or perhaps Dr. Haydel and his father-in-law would have a game of chess, for that was Haydel's favorite pastime. This hap- piness lasted for many years and was at last broken with the death of John Byrne at the age of eighty-two. The country between the two towns was now the scene of many large estates. Among the most noted were the Blows, the Flevins, the Milten- bergers, the Mauntels, the Imbs, and the Withnels, all owning stately mansions and retaining all the old southern customs and airs. This lasted until Forest Park was developedg then many old families moved westward. Dr. Haydel was older now, his hair was snow white, but he was still the tall slender gentleman of past years. His eyes could see the city of St. Louis creeping nearer and nearer. At last his was the only home re- maining, a tall stately old fashioned residence among hundreds of modern brick structures. The Virginia reel, the round dance, and the chess were gone, instead jazz and bridge. Horseless carriages had replaced the gilded carriages drawn by beast. The telephone was now the errand boy. Finally Dr. Haydel breathed his last. The historic mansion was sold to Charles Prunty, who resided there for twenty-four years, beautifying the grounds even more and growing to love the old place. Six years ago Charles Prunty too passed away and the mansion became the property of his sister, for he had never married. But Fate did not decree that any of Page Fifteen

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Twenty-Five Years Bardenheier bought the property he tore down the quarters which had been occupied by the slaves of the Miltenberger family, and erected barns and housing for live stock. About seven acres of the estate were devoted to vineyards. About 1902 Anheuser-Busch bought the property, together with that for miles around, for railroad purposes, Later, the estate was acquired by the Board of Education for the erection of our Cleveland High School. Ellen Kern Class of June 1940 FAMOUS LANDMARK MAKES WAY FOR EDUCATION Time alone can obliterate the memories of yesteryear. With each decade are torn away old scenes and beloved landmarks. The past twenty- five years have witnessed the destruction of many old familiar places in and about St. Louis. The most recent landmark of St. Louis to disappear was the stately mansion to the north of Cleveland High School. Once a great house on a magnificent site, neighboring with other famous estates, it was located only a short distance from the city of St. Louis and not quite in the village of Carondelet. The city slowly crept nearer and nearer to its beautiful grounds. The great farm lands around were sub-divided and Within a decade a new and less fascinating South St. Louis grew up. The cry for greater educational facilities grew louder and Grover Cleveland High School was constructed next door. Even this did not cause any great alarm to the old house until the city grew even greater and it was necessary at last to tear down its time-worn walls and haul its lumber away for the Board of Education to establish more classrooms for the students of the new city. The history of the house begins some seventy years ago when Abraham Lincoln had just taken his seat in the White House. It was an exciting time for the entire country, and the majority shared in the turmoil. One man, however, took little part in the spreading propaganda. He was a Mr. Prichard, who had arrived in St. Louis from an eastern state with a large sum of money. He was now building his home, some miles south of the city, and so paid little attention to the thought of war. It was an elegant home when completed, two stories high with many rooms, in fact it was one of the finest homes west of the Mississippi River. Page Fourteen

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W Twenty-Five Years his immediate family should see the destruction of their home, for within two years she too died. The land and the house were divided among the heirs, who later sold it to the St. Louis Board of Education for Cleveland's new portables. By Gregory Lucy-From an Orange and Blue. THE PRUNTY HOUSE Miss Prunty, spinster, lived alone In the largest house I have ever known. Full twenty rooms it had, or more, And a stepping-stone outside the door. F lowered carpets were on the floors, And fireplaces it had in scores. Somehow, I was invited in- Donft ask me how it happened sog I must have worn my welcome thin For l was ten.- And little old .Miss Prunty, even then., Was rare-with hat-pins and a cameo. Never a care in. the world had she, But sat and stroked her tabby cat, Or listlcss, slept from pale cnnui, And I was free to wander through The solemn halls for treasure trove. Miss Prunty's bedroom had a stoveg Beside the high four-poster hed A pitcher stood in bowl of red 5 A clock to chime the hour at nightg And speaking tubes of porcelain white, Set in the walls of faded roseg A nd sailorls ancient chests for clothes Held secrets of her furbelows. The parlor and the sitting room Downstairs were chill and sparsely hare. How quaint the horsehair sofas there- The walnut and the cherry wood,- The portraits that on easels stood, The frosted globes of chandeliers- The Lincoln with two damaged ears. Like old m.useuni's was the air, As heavy as the silverware. Pcxqe Sixteen