Martin Schweig sent photos of ads from a January-February, 1959 issue of Near By, a neighborhood newspaper published by former CWE resident Mary Lehman. The four-page newspaper was "published in and for this neighborhood (Kingshighway to Boyle, Washington/Olive to Lindell), its self-awareness and future design."
Some of you may remember the shops that advertised then—the Vassia Shop, Josephine Scullin, Hirschfeld Antiques, Draper Antiques, and W. J. Polk Gift Shop. What I found particularly interesting is where a few were located, i.e. a watch and clock repair at 4252 Olive.
Later, Martin gave me several issues of the newspaper Mary Lehman sent to him from her home in Austin, Texas. I snapped the photo above from the same January, February 1959 issue. This featured Mary's eyewitness account of the tornado that ripped through "Antique Row." It was following the devastation caused by the tornado that the area was reborn as Gaslight Square.
The March, 1959 issue of Near By features a follow-up story by "Inquiring Reporter" Marge Kennedy that asked property owners what their plans were for rebuilding. Richard Mutrux (see first photo above) said he planned to open a French-Italian restaurant in the Musical Arts Building, called "La Tosca." Mutrux added that his building sustained $200,000 of damage. In the tornado the Sisters of the Sacred Heart (City House) at Taylor and Maryland lost two large stained glass windows in the chapel. The spokesperson for City House said that "they were terribly sorry to lose the windows and didn't know if insurance would cover replacing them. We know it would cost much more to replace them now than it cost in 1914 when the chapel was built," she said. The Sacred Heart Order eventually closed City House, and sensing a need for a new school, a group of neighborhood families started New City School which opened its doors at the Unitarian Church at Waterman and Kingshighway in 1969.
Thanks to Martin for bringing this newspaper to my attention. If anyone has a suggestion of what to do with the copies I have, let me know. There is a line drawing of Hortense Place that I'll photograph and post soon, but how to scan and post an entire four-page issue is beyond my capabilities.
Nancy: Thanks for the suggestion. The Missouri History Museum is a great resource. I understand from Ellie Chapman that they have copies of the West End Word, so these will be a nice addition to their collection.
I would call the Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center (located on S. Skinker) and ask them if they are interested in the newspapers. If you have not been to this library, I would suggest visiting it just to see beauty of this renovated building.
Such fun to see the old ads from the paper. What a vibrant neighborhood!