Historical February 1985 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The first SDCC Board meeting of 1985 was held on January 14 at the Council office at 6008 Kingsbury.
This report on the Council is intended to update residents on recent activities and decisions which affect the entire Skinker-DeBaliviere area. RESIGNATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ann FitzGibbons, who has served as the Council’s executive director for the past two years, has resigned effective March 1. Ann, husband-sculptor Bill, and son Sean are moving to Anchorage, Alaska, where Bill will become Director of Sculpture with the Visual Arts Center of Alaska.
At the Jan. 14 meeting of the Council, Board President Karleen Hoerr noted the “fabulous job” that Ann has done, and the Council voted unanimously to commend her for the high level of professional service she has rendered the Council. OFFICE MOVING The building housing SDCC has recently been sold to and will soon become the home of McPherson Management Co., owned by Cal and Gee Stuart.
The Council has begun the search for a new office location within the neighborhood and will be effecting a move within the next two months. NEW COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES A change in SDCC Bylaws to enlarge the Council and ensure coverage of the entire neighborhood has resulted in two new At-Large Members being added to the Board of SDCC.
These positions have terms of one year and are selected by the Board at its December meeting from names proposed in November.
The Bylaw amendment, proposed in October 1984, states that the number of At-Large members shall be at least one less than the number of members from neighborhood organizations and institutions.
The new At-Large Members are Eddie Sanders of the 5900 block of DeGiverville and Neville Vatcha of the 6100 block of Westminster, both of whom have been active in many different facets of neighborhood activity for several years.
HISTORIC ANGELS
The SDCC Board voted at the meeting (after a lively discussion of “aesthetic value”) to accept the donation of four terra cotta angels from the Title Guaranty Building which was demolished for the Gateway Mall.
These architectural elements are from the terra cotta frieze which crowned the twelve story building. Considered by architectural historians as one of the finest terra cotta office buildings in the country, the lower two floors and the dramatic cornice were decorated in Renaissance Revival style ornamentation.
The terra cotta—made from carefully selected clays, then hard baked in kilns—was manufactured by the Winkle Terra Cotta Company of St. Louis.
Each figure was individually hand sculpted and then finished by master craftsmen, at the Winkle Company.
The Title Guaranty was designed by the nationally prominent St. Louis architectural firm of Eames & Young.
The prototype for this building, as well as many others in St. Louis and the country, was Louis Sullivan’s Wainwright at Eighth and Chestnut—a building which revolutionized office building architecture throughout the world as the first functional skyscraper.
The “angels,” which are full figures, nearly 7 feet high, could be utilized in some appropriate setting in the neighborhood or sold after two years with proceeds to benefit SDCC. Among the suggestions so far is Ann FitzGibbons’ idea to use them as an entrance to the neighborhood, Skinker and Waterman, perhaps.
The Council will be considering ideas for use, as well as storage needs, insurance, and appraisals during the coming months.
CRIME STATISTICS Sgt. Charles Metzner of the St. Louis Police Department and liaison to Operation SafeStreet gave a report to the Council on crime statistics and the current status of Operation SafeStreet in this neighborhood: • The overall crime rate for Skinker-DeBaliviere decreased 16% in November and is down 12.8% for the year. • Project Home Security has officially ended in Phase 1 areas, including Skinker-DeBaliviere. Houses east of DeBaliviere and in Parkview will now be eligible for the security measures. • An ongoing Crime Committee for Skinker-DeBaliviere is presently being set up. Anyone interested in serving on the standing committee should contact Board President Karleen Hoerr. • Operation SafeStreet has distributed nearly 15,000 smoke detectors in the City so far this year. including those installed as a part of the Project Home Security. Sgt. Metzner noted that there has been a tremendous response to the smoke detector offer, as well as other parts of the SafeStreet program in this area.
In response to a council member’s question concerning the part barricades may have played in the effectiveness of the program, Sgt. Metzner said that in neighboring Fountain Park, where barricades have also been placed, there has been an even larger decrease in crime (down 22%) including violent crimes.
He said that police believe the barricades play their most important role in combatting violent crimes such as assault and rape. SDCC/STEINBERG RINK FUND RAISER A 5:00-7:00 p.m. Ice Skating Party will be held Feb. 9 at the rink in Forest Park. Chaired by Bob Dowgwillo, this fund raiser will benefit both SDCC and the newly founded Friends of Steinberg Rink. Part of the admission includes hot dogs at fireside.
The Council voted to share proceeds 50/50 with the rink. See additional information in this issue.
Original photograph caption
Terra-cotta ornament from the Title Guaranty Building, accompanying the Historic Angels Council report. Courtesy Landmarks Assn. The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1985, page 5.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1985.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Council report gives ice-skating fundraiser February 9, 5–7 p.m.; cover notice and calendar give February 16, 5:15–7:15. Historical discrepancy retained.
Original source: SD_Times1985_02.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
