Historical February–March 2016 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
With all the excitement of the rails being installed for the Loop Trolley, it’s easy to miss the work being done at the corner of Delmar and Hamilton. Soon after the construction started on DeBaliviere last year, I was aware that something was happening around those building, and I found out from the construction workers that they were using it for parking and storage.
They also told me that it was to become the maintenance building for the trolleys. More recently I’ve noticed a lot of work being done, so I stopped to check out what was happening.
While much of the front of the building is being retained and restored, inside major demolition and restoration is underway.
The old “Delmar High School” sign has been removed, historic windows added on the second floor, and a new, large, entrance way created in the front of the building.
To one side there are new steel support beams, and at the rear of the building, excavation was underway.
I was fortunate enough to meet with Joe Edwards recently and I was keen to find out about the plans for the building.
As well as being the hub for day-to-day operations, it will also house a visitor center, and from what I hear it will certainly be somewhere that I will want to visit.
There will be an exhibition area, and Joe is hoping to be able to display enlargements of old pictures of trolley operation in St Louis.
He is also looking to put on an attractive display of anything trolley related, although details have not yet been worked out. Visitors will also be able to watch day-to-day maintenance and preparation of the trolleys through a large glass partition into the service area. Joe is hoping to also have an area set aside for community meetings, receptions and so on, but that is awaiting final decisions on space and budget.
When talking to Joe, I asked what the new building was to be called.
The official title is the “Loop Trolley Maintenance & Storage Building,” but that sounds a bit of a mouthful to use on a regular basis.
The terms Trolley Barn and Trolley Shed have been suggested, but nothing has been set in stone as yet.
My vote went for “Shed”, as this is traditionally what I associate with things rail-related. Those of us that use DeBaliviere regularly are particularly keen to see the completion of this stretch of the route, along with the continuation of the Greenway link into Forest Park.
When I mentioned this, Joe was keen to tell me about the plans for the planting of something like 125 new trees and over 3,500 shrubs along the route, which will positively transform the look of this thoroughfare. Looking to the future, I speculated about a trolley being reintroduced into Forest Park, and Joe agreed that this would be something to hope for. For the time being, I watch the Loop Trolley construction with interest and I’m looking forward to being one of the first to ride the new Loop Trolley.
Original photograph caption
Loop Trolley maintenance and storage building under renovation. Descriptive caption supplied.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2016.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2016_02.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
