The working library of noted railroad executive John W. Barriger III (1899-1976) was acquired in 1982, the generous donation of his family. Widely recognized as one of the twentieth century's best-known and most distinguished railroad executives, Mr. Barriger was also an avid scholar, book collector, and photographer. His collection of books, papers, photographs, and memorabilia - collected over an active career of 50 years - forms the nucleus of the Library's railroad collections, one of the largest rail transportation collections in the world.
This map, plotted out by Norbury Wayman, shows the various locations of steamboat lines and related companies on the St. Louis levee, detailing three periods of time; before 1865; 1865 - 1900; and 1900 - 1953. Lines and companies are donated by name, location and years of operation. Nearby streets are mapped as well, for easy frame of reference. Scale in feet: 100 ft. = 1 inch.
"Grave of Don Lewis Lorimer, founder of Cape Girardeau, 1793. Wife died in 1808. First white person to be buried in this Lorimier Cemetery. Both he and his wife are buried here. He died in 1812. This pavilion was built over their grave. Mrs. Lorimer was the daughter of an Indian - he had great influence with the Indians. There was no trouble in known history of trouble with the Indians in Cape Girardeau."
St. Louis on a Busy Day- in 1870. You may not believe it, but this was the way Fourth and Chestnut looked to the country gentlemen who drove into town in their buggies and contemplated a trip to Louisville over the "Vandalia Route,"... street car going in the opposite direction.
St. Louis Then and Now: The photo at left was taken at Fourth and Chestnut streets in 1870, six years before the city divorced the County on grounds of incompatibility and non-support. In that horse-drawn era, St. Louisans did not foresee the tremendous growth and development of city (right photo) and choked off future expansion by voting to go it alone.
A Bustling St. Louis in 1870 became fourth largest city in the nation, according to the census of that year. The race with Chicago was hot and St. Louis still clung to ideas of becoming the dominant city of the Midwest and possibly the nation's capital. But 10 years later Chicago forged ahead and St. Louis subsequently was passed by five other cities.
Place: Broadway and Chestnut street. Time: The gay nineties [(1890s)], when this arch of gas lamps bridged Broadway.
Oldtimers say this old print looks north on Broadway. A Broadway cable car is in the foreground and a Pine street trolley car has just crossed (to the right) behind it. The horse (left) is waiting in front of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway ticket office, now a parking lot. The buildings on the right are the Clifton House, a furniture store; Mills & Averill, tailors, and, beyond Pine street, the old Post-Dispatch building and the American Central Building. The Telegraphers' National Bank now stands on the site of Mills & Averill. The gas-lamp arch bears portraits of all the Presidents up to and including Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland...
Away "out in the country" at the time this picture was taken some 25 years ago, the scene looks like one along the old ox road. Even though 25 years is not so far back, most of you probably can't even recall this thoroughfare, which today is one of the most traveled in the city. It's a view of Kingshighway, looking north from Easton. Courtesy City Plan Commission.