#164: Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

This was my second attempt to get the Urban League cake, as the last time I was in Midtown/Grand area was over a month ago. That's when I got all the cakes in Fox Theatre, Powell Hall, SLU, etc. But I was a half hour late in getting this indoor cake, which left me a bit bummed. This time around I got it around 4:30, a half hour before they closed. I'm glad I wasn't alone in this though, as I've heard several other people try to get this one as well.

The Urban League location at Grandel Square

The front desk

What is the Urban League, you ask? It is an organization that was inter racially founded in 1917 after the deadly East St. Louis riots. It can be compared well to the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). I asked the receptionist her definition of the Urban League. She said it is similar to the NAACP but it is to engage minorities into a wildly array of programs. The Urban League of St. Louis currently serves 80,000 residents with meeting basic needs and educational quality, among other things.

Musicians featured on this side are Henry Townsend (top), Robert McFerrin, Sr. (bottom left) and Willie Mae Ford Smith (center)

A close look at Clark Terry and Ike & Tina Turner

Close look at Helen Traubel and Johnnie Johnston

Helen Traubel

John Hartford (top), Grace Burns (bottom left) and Miles Davis (bottom right)

Official website

3701 Grandel Square, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63108
Cake artist: Lynsi Sciaroni
Cake sponsored by Bank of America

The cake was sold on 1/1/2015 for $907 in the biddingforgood auction.

#161: Katherine Dunham Museum

I stopped by here on the Fourth of July, as I was headed to Fair St. Louis. Regretfully I didn't go in (hey, it was closed that day!). However, I do hope to make it back sometime soon. The place is not hard to find if you get off the Memorial Ave. exit off of I-55/70 as there are signs that point how to get here.

In college (at SIUE), I was a History minor. I took a couple black history in America courses, and in one of them we talked a lot about Katherine Dunham. Dunham, by the way, is the namesake of SIUE's Dunham Hall, which hosts the music, theatre and communications departments. In my opinion, history hasn't been that kind as she has gone underlooked. Dunham should be known for the way she revolutionized the dance culture, and how she went out of her way and opened doors for several people. Ever heard of Eartha Kitt and Alvin Ailey? Without Dunham, they probably would not have gained notice in the entertainment world.

For the record, Dunham was not really from East St. Louis, or from the St. Louis area. In fact, she didn't come here until her 50s! She was originally from the Chicago area, but she did move around. She did open up the Katherine Dunham School of Dance in New York City and operated it for several years. While in East St. Louis, she collaborated with people from numerous professions to create a liberal arts program at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (or SIUE).

What? There's bars on the door?

An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to Katherine Dunham

Katherine Dunham Wikipedia link
Official website

1005 Pennsylvania Ave., EAST ST. LOUIS, IL, 62201
Cake artist: Dail Chambers

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#158: Sumner High School

The cake was at one time an 'indoor cake', but I believe because of high demand from cake-hunters that this was moved outside. The reason may have been because of the school being closed during the summer (when obviously not in session). Placed in the middle of the staircase, the cake was a bit hard for me to get my typical center shot, but this was better than nothing. Still, this was a thrill to stand in such an institution, which has some rich history.

Sumner High School was established in 1875, as the first high school for African-Americans west of the Mississippi River. It was one of two schools (other being Vashon) that was racially segregated in St. Louis. In 1928, Sumner moved to its current location. Today, classes are still in session...and last year's (2012-13) enrollment was 576 students. The school was named after abolitionist Charles Sumner.

The school boasts several famous alumni (see below).

Notable alumni listed on the cake:
On Bottom: William 'Pop' Beckett, Lester Bowie, Alvin Cash, William Clay, Billy Davis, Jr., Robert Guillaume, Luther Bogan, Robert McFerrin (Sr.), Marshall Rogers, R. Robinson, Jr., Wendell Pruitt, Oliver Lake, Julius Hunter, Lucye Belue, Baikida Carroll and Harry Rogers

Entrance behind the building

Wikipedia link
Official website (from St. Louis Public Schools)

4248 Cottage Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63113
Cake artist: Theresa Hopkins

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#157: Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center

Located in 'The Ville' neighborhood in St. Louis, the Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center serves as an orphanage.

Annie Malone, born in 1869, was one of the first African-American female entrepreneurs. She rose from poverty in Southern Illinois (she grew up in Metropolis, IL) to building an empire for her hair-care products. The business proved to be revolutionary, with sales of her products as well as Malone's marketing techniques. Malone was a multi-millionaire by the 1920s, but by that time she was donating her wealth to different African-American organizations and programs that helped people of that race.

It was in 1922 that she helped the St. Louis Colored Orphans Home build a facility which stands in the Ville, which also carries her name (along with the street it is on). In 1888 the St. Louis COH was first organized, as a non-profit organization. It was and still is a way for neglected, abused and street-wise kids to be provided with education and certain programs. Malone later had to deal with personal and business issues the last 30 years of her life, while moving to Chicago's south side. She passed away in 1957 at age 87.

The place is also known as 'The Annie Malone Mansion'.

Left side of the cake

An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to Annie Malone

Annie Malone (person) Wikipedia link
Official website

2612 Annie Malone Drive, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63113
Cake artist: Theresa Hopkins

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#135: Griot Museum of Black History

The museum

• The Griot (pronounced 'gree-oh') Museum of Black History is only the second of its kind in the United States.
• It is the first African-American wax museum that is west of the Mississippi.
• Opened as the Black World History Wax Museum in 1997, but in 2007 changed to its current name.
• Griot is a meaning of a highly respected individual (mostly West African) who collects artifacts, and is traditional to the African community, mostly connecting to American history.
• The museum hosts traveling exhibitions, as well as sponsor community projects.
• In addition to life-size models of slave ships and slavery-related statues, there is also sections of the museum devoted to African-Americans who have positively contributed to America, including Madam Walker.

The cake:

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Griot Museum of Black History on FB
Official website

2505 Saint Louis Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63106
Cake artist: Keith Cotton

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#132: Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing

A view of the Mississippi River from the crossing and cake

Of all the cakes that I've so far hunted, this one may take the cake (pun intended!) of being the one most difficult to find, but not to get. I think as of now the Edward Jones Dome cake is the one hardest to get! The first time I attempted to get this cake was on a Sunday afternoon, before I was to get the North City cakes. Well, as I was driving on the battered roads, looking for the right road (East Prairie Avenue), I finally came across the entrance. I wasn't aware that it was at the time, since there were no signs that read anything about 'Mary Meachum'. On the map, it looked confusing too.

A view of the trail (facing north) from the cake

So who was Mary Meachum? She led a small group of slaves (women and children) who crossed the Mississippi River to the free-state of Illinois. Meachum was a widow of John Berry Meachum, who ministered at the First African Baptist Church of St. Louis. She had already been free, but she wanted to help others. Around the time this happened, there were homes that they fled from that existed. They are long gone, but an 1855 newspaper article documented that the place was not far from the Merchant's Bridge, which is three miles north of St. Louis.

The Freedom Crossing consists of nine acres. It was Missouri's first official Underground Railroad site. Since the marking's dedication in 2001, the site has hosted celebrations every year since. It typically has historic re-enactments. For example, there is an Abraham Lincoln impersonator. Speakers who specialize in African-American and Civil War history often speak at the event. At the 2013 event, there were many speakers and choirs that day, as well as a 19th century medicine show. In 2014, a woman dressed up as a slave named 'Lila' gave a moving talk.

The entrance in order to get to the cake and the MM Freedom Crossing. The colorful part was decorated by students of Logos School.

The cake, in which Rich Brooks focuses on 'walking'. Since this is literally off the trail, close to the mid-point, this kind of gives the person utilizing this trail a feel of it. Notice the lines "I'm Walking", "Walking a Thin Line", "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and "Walking in the Rain". You'll also see a lot of feet-related material too.

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

There is no official website or anything related from government websites, but here is the VisitMo page for MMFC.
Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing (Celebration) on FB

28 East Prairie Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63147
Cake artist: Rich Brooks