#186: Carondelet Historical Society - Des Peres School

First, what is Carondelet? How do you pronounce it? Or what was it? I was having a conversation with someone the other day about it, and for many years I thought Carondelet was pronounced 'Karen delay'. Turns out there is NO right way of saying some of these French places in St. Louis. Carondelet is mostly pronounced Kuh-ron-duh-let.

Carondelet started out as a settlement in 1767 by French settler Clement Delor de Treget. Just remember, this was 3 years after the founding of St. Louis and this was before the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Louisiana Purchase. But what this current St. Louis neighborhood takes pride in is this school. If you've been to the St. Louis Walk of Fame then you've probably seen Susan Blow's name. This is where her influence comes in.

Side of the building

The front of the Des Peres school, or the Carondelet Historic Center

A closer look at the sign

The Carondelet Historical Society was founded in 1967, pretty much for the obvious reasons....to preserve the heritage. It made perfect sense to do it at the home of the first publicly funded kindergarten of the United States - at Des Peres School. Susan Blow was and still is known as the 'mother of kindergarten'. However, she was not the first to think of such idea and coin the word, as that distinction belongs to Friedrich Frobel, who came up with the theory that children, while their minds are creative and developing at an early age, should start school earlier than we think. Public schools started springing up in the late 19th century. And in this building was the first public kindergarten in the U.S.

The building closed as a school during the Depression-era. It is currently in the process of restoration, going back to its 1870s style. 

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

April Morrison has put out some great cakes, but this one's definitely gotta take the cake! Pun intended, of course. First, I really dig the Letter People on the bottom. That really takes me back to my childhood. In fact, my age decade (30-somethings) are the last to enjoy such fun, cool retro programming. Also, what's very little known is that the Letter People was actually filmed at KETC Channel 9 studios back in the 1970s. I remember doing a one-day externship at the station, shadowing their personality Patrick Murphy (you've heard his voice a lot if you watch Ch. 9) and I asked him about the Letter People. I can recall him cracking up and saying that the two guys that created the show would hang out at the station all-day and night. He even said they were absolute hippies as well.

On top of the cake is a 3-sided look at the history of Carondelet as well as the school. Very unique!

Carondelet Historical Society on FB
Official website

6303 Michigan Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63111
Cake artist: April Morrison

#184: Feasting Fox

• Specializes in German cuisine, including and German sausage and apple strudel.
• Built in 1913 by the Anheuser-Busch company as the 'Gretchen Inn'
• Architecture was styled after Tudor Revival
• Eventually it was named 'Al Smith's' and was that way for a long time, up until 1987
• The building was vacant from 1987 to 1995
• Designated as a St. Louis landmark in 2001.

Not sure about this part, but I guess at one time it was a patio or entrance. Thought it looked cool :)

Pub entrance

One of their backdoor entrances, I suppose

I usually get sick of saying this, but, I was NOT familiar with this place until this year for the cake hunt. My regret was not going in and eating at the time I took this cake, but I do want to go back and check it out. I do have German heritage (hence my last name!) so I gotta be loyal to my ancestry! My car was parked at Ted Drewes (2 doors down) so I didn't want to stay long in the area.

The Feasting Fox just happens to be located in St. Louis neighborhood Dutchtown. Dutchtown is also where Bevo Mill is located, and both of these places have a similar history as far as Anheuser-Busch and Prohibition. Those are pictures of the private-looking drive to Kingsland Court. It's got the unique symbol of Bevo Mill on top! (Notice the beer jug)

Right side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Mark Swain (who designed this cake and several more) spotlighted what made Dutchtown what it was. Among the places and organizations featured on the cake: (The Original) Crusoe's, Giuseppe's, Missouri Professional Cycling Series, Dad's Cookie Company, Merb's Candies, The Bluffs on Broadway, Urban Eats Cafe, Gus's Pretzels and the Grbic Restaurant. It also highlights the Cherokee-Lemp Historic District and the Meramec Virginia Business District.

Feasting Fox on FB
Official website

4200 Grand Blvd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63111
Cake artist: Mark Swain

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there, but is now in their back patio area.

#183: Bevo Mill

What a goofy name. I'm sorry, but in the recent years after I first heard of that area, I just thought, 'Bevo Mill? Really?' It rhymes with Devo, the popular robotic rock group. Turns out there is a reason behind the unusual name.

• Bevo Mill was started up in 1916 as a banquet hall and restaurant from the folks at Anheuser-Busch. It was also created in response to Prohibition (1916 was the year alcoholic beverages were banned).
• 'Bevo' comes from 'Pivo' which is Slavic for beer, but non-alcoholic.
• The area without doubt peaked during the 13 years of Prohibition, as it was marketed by Anheuser-Busch.
• Bevo, the brand itself peaked in 1919.
• It was August Busch, Sr.'s idea on the construction of the mill. He wanted it similar to the Dutch way of making it. 
• The location was also his idea (Morganford and Gravois), as it was between the brewery and his home, which was Grant's Farm.

Check out Bevo Mill's official website for more great historical information about the city's iconic treasure.

Taken right across from the Mill, this Miniature Museum lies at the corner

Front view of the Mill

A view of the Mill from far away

European architecture shines well in the neighborhood!

Left side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Here's a photo of Gonz Jove and his son, Alex, at Better Family Life St. Louis (taken 6/4/2015):

Bevo Mill on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

749 Gravois Road, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63116
Cake artist: Gonz Jove

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The whereabouts of this cake are unknown.

#143: Off Broadway

• One of St. Louis' greatest concert venues has been in business for more than 30 years.
• Many different genres of music have been played here, including jazz, electronica and rock.
• Besides the floor seating, there is also a balcony.
• Among the nation-wide famous performers that have performed here include Mumford & Sons and the Carolina Chocolate Drops

Front of the building

Off Broadway from across the street

The cake, as decorated by Kris Mosby:

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Off Broadway StL on FB
Off Broadway StL on Twitter
Official website

3509 Lemp Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63118
Cake artist: Kris Mosby

The cake was sold on 1/1/2015 for $485 to the Cakelovers in the biddingforgood auction. It has been placed in various places around Maplewood and Cherokee area since. As of now, it is on private property.

#130: Ted Drewes

*PUBLIC VOTE WINNER*

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis is like what cheese steak sandwiches are to Philadelphia. Or Chicago and its hot dog and pizza casserole. But you get the idea! Ted Drewes is one of St. Louis' longtime icons. They say you are a true St. Louisan if you take visiting out-of-town relatives to Ted Drewes. 

Some of you probably know that Ted Drewes first rejected a cake. No joke. It is said by stl250 director Erin Budde that she did an interview with KMOX and other organizations and mentioned the whole Ted Drewes thing. STLToday.com did a story, and a local radio host talked about it....and the rest is history. Several St. Louis and Ted Drewes fans questioned the whole thing, especially since it was one of the 50 Public Vote winners.

The cake, which of course spotlights its green, yellow and white colors. The concretes are usually handed to the patron upside down, which you'll see on the cake! Christmas trees are also represented on here too.

NOW: The cake is now on private property of one of the cake's biggest admirers!

Ted Drewes (this location) on FB
Official website

6726 Chippewa St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63109
Cake artist: Mary Hessler