St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association (SLHNA)

We encourage active participation in all aspects of community living in our St. Louis Hills neighborhood.

History

Overview

St. Louis Hills is rich in its architecture, strategic location, and its history. “Country living in the City” was the phrase used to market St. Louis Hills in the 1930’s, since St. Louis Hills was so far west of any other residential or commercial buildings located within the City limits.

Some 90 years later, the rich history and tradition of St. Louis Hills lives on, and the St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association is formally trying to improve its historical focus on what is considered by many to be the most desirable neighborhood in the City of St. Louis.

St. Louis Hills History

Vintage construction scene STL Hills

The history of St. Louis Hills, developed from 1930-1950’s, is relatively short by the city’s beginnings in 1763. The land which became St. Louis Hills dates back to deeds granted to pioneer French colonists Madame Ann Camp and Anton Reihle in 1768 by one founder of the Village of St. Louis, Pierre Laclede. At the time, the land included 2,471 acres. Camp and Reihl’s heirs sold the land to George C. Clarke, who gave it to two sons. When the Village was chartered as the City of St. Louis in 1836, St. Louis Hills was still remote, open and forested land, and essentially remained so until the early 1930’s. In 1876, when the county and city of St. Louis divided responsibilities, the western boundary of St. Louis City was set just west of the River des Peres (River of the Fathers). Even then, what is now St. Louis Hills, was still open land.

David Rowland Francis, Governor of the state from 1889-1893, became owner of part of the property in 1884 on which he established his vast farm. At the turn of the century, David R. Francis was President of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition from 1889 until its opening in 1904. Francis originally considered use of his farmland as a site for the World’s Fair, but logistics of transportation and construction to Francis’ land persuaded use of Forest Park as the now famous 1904 World’s Fair site. Francis was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Russia in 1916. The next year, Francis made a gift of the land to the city, and so it was named Francis Park. David Rowland Francis died January 15, 1927.

Francis Park Plans
 

Cyrus Crane Willmore, for whom the neighborhood’s second park is named, became the visionary developer of the St. Louis Hills 700 acre neighborhood. He came to St. Louis in 1912 after graduation from the University of Illinois law school, and worked for a realty firm until 1922 when he formed his own company. Willmore’s intentions for the area were clear from the beginning: tree lined residential streets for families and single persons, churches and schools throughout, bordered on three sides by developing businesses, and open green spaces in parks. (See Architecture and Parks for more information.)

Vintage photo of a resident STL Hills

Names of streets within the neighborhood, as well as early development architecture, reflect Willmore’s English heritage—Nottingham Avenue, Devonshire Avenue, Tamm Avenue to name a few. Eichelberger Street, a main east-west roadway through the center of St. Louis Hills, was originally named Clarke Road for George C. Clarke. Mature trees lining streets throughout the area are predominantly oak, maple, poplar, with birch trees along Francis Park.

Historical Publications (Originals) – The SLHNA History Committee is seeking contributions for the St. Louis Hills archives. Any historical publications or artifacts would be most welcomed, and would be under the ownership and control of the Association. All donors will be permanently recognized for their contributions.

Click here to see all donations and donors.

Ted Drewes

The Ted Drewes Interview
This interview of Ted Drewes was done by Ron Elz (better known as Johnny Rabbitt), a long-time and famous resident of St. Louis Hills. The interview was conducted in early 2015.

The History Committee is open to suggestions for other notable current or past residents of St. Louis Hills to be interviewed. Please contact Rick Palank at rpalank@gmail.com.

Got History?

If you or someone you know has in their possession any Hills historical documents or artifacts, please contact Nancy Vordtriede at (314) 616-6468. Donors will be permanently acknowledged for their donations.

Resources/References

  • Click here to view/purchase St. Louis Hills, a book written by Ann Zanaboni in 2008
  • Click here to read The History of St. Louis Neighborhoods (27 Historical Neighborhoods) by Norbury L. Wagman
  • Click here to read the St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Profile
  • Click here to read about St. Marks Episcopal Church, a St. Louis City Landmark located in St. Louis Hills

History Committee

The SLHNA History Committee is dedicated to preserving the rich history of St. Louis Hills. Any questions or comments from Hills’ residents and business owners are encouraged. The current members are:

Questions, Comments, Additional Information

Please call or email any of the History Committee members listed above.