Yeatman High School - Yeatman Life Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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g 1- .- 1. E -as -ta s, - .-',,, -1-'r'5'.i'.- -g.j.,.i :iii T, tif 52:1-2.2zzi.Ez1,?'i:.fc1i:fi, if as as - 1 . .4 , ,.. s . ., . .. ... - .. L , , V , . 4.-.aa -34.3, E. 7-that-:.,:., 5 .2225 -is i ,. 4-41 is A 1 rr' . , ,,,, . .,,., .. A J gi f t .. 7, f 6, ----2 . at a -ai... J ,- . , at 'Q 3 if, s l x ' 1 my -sa viz, - -i 't ' U Lit- f- wrazart . -,..,- 1 1, ,.,.. , ,,. .1 , . 1 - is 5 ,- 1, -W , . .i J il . l ,mins 1: .... .::-gif'--4 iE:3::.::..,...............,........,......-,.,....a- ....... .....,.....,........,..-..,.,,...,... ..... .,,,....a ,...... W--. ...,,. 5 g- , ' .,.........,...........,.............,,,.-..,............................a.,.....,...............,.......................--......... ......-........e ,JW :Q-.e. f.,--......,...... L W-, --51:1 -- - -, .,..,.Y..-,.------.W - -- .. .. . -. , 1 ----- ..... . - WHERE MR. YEATMAN LIVED W'1r.L.xno F.xRN1t.xM-June, 1908 INCE the facts of Mr. james E. Yeat1nan's life are pretty generally known, most people realize that he is best associated with our own city. St. Louis, although he was born in the South. Much has been written about his philanthropies and his good deeds, but when and where he has lived in St. Louis make just as interesting a story. Many of his houses. which he built after his own plans, are still standing with little or no alteration except the changes wrought by time. Mr. Yeatnian arrived in St. Louis from Nashville, Tennessee, in 1842, with a very large fortune in his possession. The first house where he took .up his residence was on Broadway, then.known as Fifth street, between Olive and Piiie. At that time, this was considered the most fashionable resi- dence section of town, and many of the old- est and most aristocratic families were living in that same block. However, Mr. Yeatman soon tired of liv- ing on Fifth street, and thought that he could build himself a better home. It was at this time that he undertook the building of three handsome stone houses, adjoining each other on Olive street between Eleventh and Twelfth. This affords a good illustration of how a city like St. Louis will grow in a few years, for then this situation was thought to be out in the country. These houses were known as Yeatrnan's Row, but they have long since been destroyed. To the center house of the Row, Mr. Yeatman moved his family from the house on Fifth street. This house was larger and better built than the other two, and had a fine parlor on the second floor with a large Hight of stairs leading up to it. There was also a peculiar thing about the yard of this house. He liked a large lawn and as living in Yeatman's Row would necessarily limit the yard, he annexed half of the back yard on each side of his own, thus making his lawn twice as large. VVith his large fortune he now proceeded to build and lit up one of the grandest resi- dences in St. Louis, his noted home, Bel- mont. When there were any distinguished visitors in St. Louis, they always wished to see Belmont. Since it was so widely noted, it merits considerable attention. It stands at 4111 North Eleventh street, then the old Bellefontaine Road, and is now occupied by Mrs. Eddy, who, although she is not related to the Yeatman family is on intimate terms with its members. It goes without saying that the house it- self was as beautiful as money and genius could make it. for Mr. Yeatman was famous for his open-handed use of money in build- ing his houses. But the way the surround- ings were arranged is interesting. The house is situated on a hill with a crescent-shaped driveway leading up to the front and out to the road again. VV hen visitors came to see Mr. Yeatman, they entered the first gate, pressing a bell which rang at the house. Wlieii they arrived at the house they were hospitably served with refreshments, and after their visit had been concluded, they d1'ove out by the other gate. The space bounded by the driveway and the road was a fine lawn shaded by a number of large old trees. Mr. Yeatman placed at intervals on the lawn pieces of Statuary which he had collected. Indeed, it is said that whenever he saw a fine piece of statu- ary, he could not resist buying it. The climax to this. beauty was the Hang- ing Gardens, an invention which Mr. Yeat- man worked out himself, and made possible by a natural depression in the land on one side of the property. This at first was ,Nine