Lafayette Square, St. Louis - Hardcover

Montesi, Albert J; Deposki, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1531600158 ISBN 13: 9781531600150

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Library Editions, 1999

Synopsis

Lafayette Square has always been a reflection of the life and times of St. Louis, Missouri. Originally a common land where cattle grazed and people hunted game, the area was set aside as a public park just before the Civil War. Following that era, Lafayette Square was developed into a showplace for the Victorian era, featuring fantastic gardens, gazebos, a bandstand, an aquarium, and a boathouse. On May 27, 1896, a tornado plowed through the area and destroyed most of its foliage and buildings. Following this tragedy, many homeowners fled to the Central West End, and the once elegant Lafayette Square fell into a state of decline. During the years of the Depression and World War II, the neighborhood and its surroundings became known as "Slum D." In 1945, architect and historian John Albury Bryan purchased a residence at Benton Place and began a fierce and lonely battle to renovate the Square. His dream of restoration became a reality in the 1960s and 1970s when a group of concerned citizens, determined to recapture the area's former glory, banded together to form the Lafayette Restoration Committee.

About this title

About the Author

Albert Montesi and Richard Deposki are both well-known St. Louis promoters, and have collaborated on other popular Images of America titles on the St. Louis area, including Lafayette Square, Central West End, and Soulard. Mr. Montesi is a retired English professor from St. Louis University, where Mr. Deposki graduated with a degree in communications. With seasoned insight, these two authors draw readers into the heart of downtown St. Louis, a neighborhood pulsing with color, life, and American determination.

About this edition

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Library Editions
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1531600158
• ISBN 13: 9781531600150
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 130