Historical Fall 2006 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Congratulations to the families with new babies: Angie and Sean Meara of 59xxPershing welcomed a lovely daughter, Olive, weighing 10 lb., 2 oz, on August 11. And Marj and Brad Weir, longtime residents of the 6100 block of Westminster, are now proud grandparents of Ethan, born on August 15 to parents Greg and Diana Weir. Welcome to the neighborhood, a bit belatedly, to Tim Woodcock and his wife, Katherine Gordon, of the 6000 block of Westminster.
If Tim’s name sounds familiar, it’s because of his frequent byline in the West End Word, including a fascinating article in the August 16-22 issue about his “dreary, terrorist-harboring hometown” of High Wycombe, England. Katie grew up in the much closer University City.
We met the couple at a political getacquainted event at the home of other neighbors new to the neighborhood, Harry and Virginia Imster, of the 6200 block of Westminster. Welcome to all!
The tremendous storm on July 19, which caused the power outrage affecting more than 500,000 in the St. Louis area, definitely came to Skinker-DeBaliviere. Many blocks were totally dark for an entire week; others had electricity on only one side of the street.
If ever Skinker-DeBaliviere seemed like a small town, it was the evening of the storm, when so many people poured out to help each other, all over the neighborhood.
In Parkview, Chanaya Jacobs noted “how quickly everyone came together” on the 6200 block of Washington, where a large tree was uprooted and fell toward Girards’ home at the same time that three other trees came down, wrecking both of Joe and Carrie Steinbachs’ cars.
A contractor named Colorado, working at Kathleen Cook’s, was dispatched to help clear the street for cars and people to pass. Neighbor B.J. Clutter helped, and Mark Jacobs, Larry Barker, and others starred in supporting roles! East of Skinker, on the 6100 block of Kingsbury, Joan Bender reported that when a huge limb blocked Newshams’ driveway, Jon Dahl and his sons, who live across the alley on McPherson, Erick Mason and his sons, and Mike Ornsby and his son, all worked to cut the tree apart, so a path was cleared for Newsham’s.
Then Joe Shaunessey of BSI sent a generator so that Betty, who has been ill, could stay at home, but still get to the doctor. Bob Wiltenburg helped clean up the branches for pick up by our valiant City foresters. And further east, on the 5900 block of Pershing, Lana Stein appreciated the assistance of her neighbor across the street, Derrick Redd, who helped her remove branches from her backyard after the Wed. and Fri. storms. Then, when the Saturday storm dislodged a major branch, which dangled its tentacles over the power line, another neighbor came to the rescue. Jim Flynn, a forester with St. Louis County, cleared the branches away from the power line, saving Lana and her animals. Many, many neighbors helped each other get through the hot days by offering a cool spot to go and a bite to eat. No doubt there are many other such stories.
From east to west, our residents really came through for each other. Did you know that the “oldest neighborhood newspaper in St. Louis” is featured as the “jewel of the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood” on City TV 10’s current feature? City Life Neighbor to Neighbor introduces folks to its very diverse neighborhoods.
In this episode of City Life Neighbor to Neighbor, Ivy Hartman visits the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood, and Steve Potter introduces us to the oldest neighborhood newspaper in St. Louis.
If you haven’t seen it yet, tune in at 6:30 a.m. most days or at 8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday evenings. You’ll see Rachael Boxdorfer giving a wonderful interview about growing up in the neighborhood, Lana is interviewed about the TIMES, Dan Schesch talks about the council, Joe Edwards talks about Delmar, and much more. Hope you get a chance to see it.
If you don’t have cable, let me or Lana know.
They gave us DVDs, so we can share!
To see the clips online, go to: http://stlouis. missouri.org/citygov/citytv10/ programs/citylife.htm After seeing Rachael’s interview, we have chatted by email about doing a feature on folks who grew up in the neighborhood and have stayed or come back to live here as adults. Rachael, Rachelle L’Ecuyer, and Norb Hart are working on a list – now numbering about 35 – that meet this description of being second or third generation now living in the neighborhood. We’re planning a feature and possibly group photo this fall. They’re asking that you contact one of them with other names. You can also email me at vatchaj@stlouiscity.com.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Fall 2006.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2006_09.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
