#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

#89: Mercantile Library

Here's another cake that was verrrrry tricky to find. I took the Metrolink which stopped in the middle of the UMSL (University of Missouri-St. Louis) campus. I set out to get both the cakes that were located here on campus. All I had was the map with me. I didn't even know this was an indoor one. So, I was walking around the campus sidewalks looking dumb, and finally I started hitting the buildings asking staff where the cake is. Nobody knew. Finally I hit the familiar-sounding Mercantile Library, and then I hit gold. The library staff at the front desk knew right away where to guide me!

The Mercantile Library is one of the most interesting places and museums I have visited. The cake is placed in the basement, where several types of collections are held. First, you have the John W. Barringer III Railroad Library. Name explains it all, everything you want to know about railroads! Next up is a pictorial history of St. Louis, going back to the 18th century! A purported diary with Auguste Chouteau's writings is also in the library's possession. There is also a Presidential section, which features memorabilia from past U.S. President elections. With me being a Presidential trivia nerd, I was in heaven. This also featured stops from Presidential candidates when they came to St. Louis to campaign. Remember, this was all hidden in the basement!

This was a sign above the staircase leading to another basement beneath the library

Entrance upon going into the basement

The railroad part

The 'Presidential section'

• Founded in 1846, as it was located at the corner of Pine and Main Streets. (The Jefferson Expansion Memorial Park sits there now)  
• It is the oldest library west of the Mississippi River.
• It moved to a new location in 1854, where it was at Locust St.
• The library moved to its new and current place (the Thomas Jefferson Library building) in 1998.
• The St. Louis Symphony played its first concerts there.
• In 1861, a meeting was held for the Missouri Constitutional Convention to vote to stay in the Union at the beginning of the Civil War. Another meeting took place years later (1865) to vote for the abolishment of slavery.

Back and right side of the cake

Right side of the cake

The boat on the top of the cake

Back and left side of the cake

Cake is located on the campus of UMSL (address is 1 University Blvd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63121)
Cake artist: Decorated by the staff and students of UMSL and the Mercantile Library

Wikipedia link
Official website

#25: St. Louis Public Library

• The cake is located at its homebase, or the Central Library, on Olive St. near downtown.
• Library was founded in 1865 as a private/members only library.
• There are 17 St. Louis County Library branches (including this one).
• As of 2014, there are more than 4 million items in their possession.
• The current building, built in 1912, was designed by architect Cass Gilbert. Cass Avenue in St. Louis is named after him.
• Despite name similarities, it is not affiliated with the Saint Louis County Library system.

The cake, which uniquely focused on what can be found at the library: What do you want to learn today?

Low right side of the cake

Low back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

St. Louis Public Library on FB
St. Louis Public Library Wikipedia link
Official website

1301 Olive Street, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Andy Cross