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Community Corner

How Did That Get There?

Landmarks—you pass them all the time, but do you ever stop to think about their past?

Patch took a look at the history behind the area's local landmarks. Ever wonder the story behind your favorite park or building as you drive by? 

The Story Behind Bee Tree Park
The Nim Mansion at Bee Tree Park was originally owned by Southwestern Bell Telephone founder Eugene Nim. Nim built the home in 1929 as a country home for weekends.

In 1989, the 199-acre property was purchased by St. Louis County with funds from the Open Space Foundation and matching federal funds. Two men, Lindell Gordon and R. Watson Chubb, were responsible for raising most of the funds that made the purchase possible.

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Today there is a garden and fountain dedicated to Gordon and a river overlook dedicated to Chubb. These facts and much more about Bee Tree Park can be found here

Cliff Cave or Indian Cave
Cliff Cave, also known as Indian Cave, is an important Missouri archaeological site. Evidence has determined that the cave was used for human shelter during the Archaic Period (7000 to 1000 B.C.) as were many other caves in Missouri and Illinois. It is no longer open to the public, but can be explored by obtaining a permit from the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation. Learn about the complete history of Cliff Cave

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The Area's First School is Still Standing
The Mehlville School District's beginnings go back to 1842 when a local man, Greene Parke, was the collector for the district and donated an acre of his land to build a school. A small cabin on Will Avenue was constructed and became St. John's School, named after the township. In 1895, the cabin was replaced by a red brick school house that is still in use today by the district.

This information and a wealth of history about the Mehlville School District can be found on the district website.

The Old Ordnance Room Now Houses History, Not Weapons
The Old Ordnance Room, built in 1851, was the first of two powder magazines at Jefferson Barracks. It is 108 feet long and 35 feet wide and surrounded by a stone wall made from indigenous rocks. Ammunition was brought by wagon from The St. Louis Arsenal to the Ordnance Room for storage. Today the Old Ordnance Room is used for exhibits and special events at Jefferson Barracks. These facts and a complete history of Jefferson Barracks can be found here.

What's in a Name?
The area school built in the early 1900s on Lemay Ferry Road to serve as a high school was named after an area farmer, Charles Mehl. By 1925, the school had four students and two teachers. In 1930, the student body grew out of the original building and a new school was constructed, opening in 1939. Currently the building at 3100 Lemay Ferry Road serves as the Witzel Learning Center.

The New Jefferson Barracks Bridge is Actually Two Bridges
Carrying the traffic of Interstate 255 between Missouri and Illinois, the westbound bridge opened in 1984 and the eastbound bridge opened in 1992. Both were built by the American Bridge Company. Each parabolic arch has a height of 182 feet with the total length measuring 4,017.7 feet. These facts and more about the local bridge can be found on on Bridge Hunter

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