Historical April–May 2016 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The present day Crossroads College Preparatory School is located on a historic site on DeBaliviere. At the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, the Spanish game of Jai Alai came to America for the first time. Fairgoers could recall years later looking down what is now called art hill and seeing the “odd shaped roof” of the Jai Alai building.
The game didn’t catch on in St. Louis, and, not long after the fair ended, the building was being used for roller skating and then to showcase the new cars being manufactured right next door.
These car shows went on for many years and were resurrected in 1950 for a new Horseless Carriage Club.
In 1916, the property transformed into a combination ice plant and ice skating rink, the Wintergarden, a hugely popular venue for those who had previously had to walk to the park for skating on the ponds.
The old Jai Alai building was razed to build a “modern” supermarket called Bettendorf-Rapps in the 60’s and was later used for the Welfare offices of the State of Missouri.
The 60’s building was renovated as Crossroads School in 1981; now called Crossroads College Prep, its recent improvements have made it the first school in the Midwest to receive the Leed Platimum Certification, and the rain garden and solar panels show its continued dedication to energy efficiency. 500 DeBaliviere echoes all the phases of development through the decades on this short street with a window on the history of Skinker DeBaliviere. Note: A few clicks on our TIMES website brings you to all the “history” articles we’ve featured in recent issues. It’s also a great way to see the photographs!
A few copies of the book, published by the TIMES following our 2008 neighborhood centennial, are still available. “Celebrating Skinker DeBaliviere–History and Comeback” also includes a copy of the DVD with interviews of several neighborhood residents and leaders which was produced in cooperation with Missouri History Museum.
To order, go to sdtimes.org or contact Jo Ann Vatcha or Marj Weir.
Original photograph caption
1902 jai alai program reproduced with historical discussion.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2016.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source first U.S. jai alai in 1904 assertion and Platimum spelling retained; original 1902 program image does not independently establish first-play claim. Pinterest attribution insufficient to establish original image rights.
Original source: SD_Times2016_04.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
