#131: Greenville Public Library

The sole cake of Bond County is here in its county seat, Greenville. The question on a lot of people's minds in the cake-hunters: Why is there a cake here? Yes, this is a question by those Missourian cake-hunters. As an Illinoisan, I ask the same question about some of their other far-away towns. See, a lot of people don't really get the point of making the drive all the way to Greenville. It is about 50 miles from downtown St. Louis.

While I'm at it, I'll share what I know about Bond County. First, it was named after an Illinois' first governor, Shadrach Bond. Several ordinary small towns are located in Bond County. Country superstar Gretchen Wilson grew up in Pocahontas (or 'Pokey'), as she has made several references to the village in her songs and interviews. Sorento, surrounded by cornfields, was once the home to In-N-Out Burger co-founder, Esther Snyder (Say....when is St. Louis going to get an In-N-Out Burger???). Keyesport is a popular boating place for people who love to chill at Carlyle Lake. The list goes on and on.

As for Greenville, the city was founded in 1815 (remember, that was 3 years before Illinois became a state). It is the home of Greenville College, a popular religious educational institution. Christian rock band Jars of Clay recorded most of their first album there.

The library

The library was built in 1904, and opened in 1905. At the request of then-Illinois lieutenant governor W.A. Northcott, it received massive funding from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. It is one of the few Carnegie libraries that is still being used as a hometown library.

Looks like next year (2015) will be Greenville's bi-centennial! Missed with the coincide of this cake by a hair....

NOW: The cake was removed in mid-January 2015. According to a caker (from Greenville), library workers said that the cake may be re-painted for the city's bi-centennial celebration in 2015. The festivities will take place in September. We shall see....

Greenville, IL's Official website

415 W. Main St., GREENVILLE, IL, 62246
Cake artist: Linda Thompson

#98: Harris-Stowe State University

Just within a walking distance from the Grand Central Arts district and Saint Louis University sits this historically black educational institution. Here are some interesting facts about the university:

• Motto: Inspiring change
• Founded in 1857, it was the first public teacher institution west of the Mississippi River.
• It was founded as a 'normal school' (name for a college that trains high school graduates to be teachers) for whites, and was named Harris Teachers College, after William Torrey Harris.
• In 1890, a black 'normal school' was founded and was named after author Harriet Beecher Stowe (famous for Uncle Tom's Cabin)
• The Harris and Stowe schools were merged as a result from the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling
• In 2005, the school attained university status, and the name was changed to Harris-Stowe State University.
• Harris Teachers College was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
• It is one of only two historically black colleges in Missouri.
• Notable alumni include former St. Louis television news anchor Julius Hunter, and Bobby Wilks, the first African-American promoted to Captain of the United States Coast Guard

Harris-Stowe State University on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website


3026 Laclede Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Linda Thompson

#61: Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center

It makes perfect sense to have one of the most popular female athletes in the last 30 years have something named after her. Jackie Joyner-Kersee was born in East St. Louis in 1962. She won six Olympic medals.

Facts about the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center:

• Opened in 2000.
• $12 million was raised for the building, including donations from Anheuser-Busch and Monsanto
• Unfortunately due to mismanagement and money matters, the JJK Center was closed for a short time from 2010 to 2012, as it is back in operation.
• Joyner-Kersee herself is on the board, serving as President.
• Building contains indoor basketball courts, computer rooms and a cafeteria. Also there are football, softball and baseball fields that are spread across 37 acres.

An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/joyner-kersee-isn-t-giving-up-on-center-bearing-her/article_249ce674-4601-5eff-9ba3-0696c405f1a2.html

101 Jackie Joyner-Kersee Circle, EAST ST. LOUIS, IL, 62204
Cake artist: Linda Thompson