Historical November–December 2016 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The history of American cities is a history of segregation.
When blacks began to move into white neighborhoods, those neighborhoods soon became all black in a few years. Even scholars took this as a given. Yet, Skinker DeBaliviere proved them wrong.
There are a number of reasons.
In 1963, black families began to purchase houses here.
The usual behaviors ensured: white flight, panic selling, redlining, realtors refusing to show houses to whites, systemic business disinvestment on the periphery. Yet, Skinker DeBaliviere did not tip. Seventy-five member families at St. Roch did not flee. Its school opened its doors to non-Catholics.
There was a solid coterie of young white homebuyers who bought our beautiful historic homes at bargain prices. But, very key to what happened here is the formation of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council (SDCC). Formed in 1966, fifty years ago, it was made up of resident organizations, Washington University, Delmar Baptist Church, Grace United Methodist Church and St. Roch.
The council and its directors and members provided critical lines of communication and staged events to bring people together in while selling the neighborhood.
The concert held at Four Corners on September17 honored the Council for its pathbreaking goal of creating stability amidst diversity. Four past directors were present. Cal Stuart served during the tumultuous seventies and though he no longer lives in the neighborhood, it remains a strong part of him. Nancy Farmer served from 1984 through 1992.
She was tireless and mastered the gift of communication.
The two most recent past directors were in attendance: David Whiteman and Liz Pund.
They worked on the master plan and many activities that continued to bring us together. Stop by the SDCC Office, meet the current staff Brandon Sterling and Karen Kelsey, and marvel at the new display of photographs of all the prior directors and presidents who have served SDCC in the past 50 years.
Original photograph caption
Former SDCC directors at the fiftieth anniversary celebration.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2016.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2016_11.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
