#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.

#134: Old North St. Louis

Not many people know that there was an independent village just north of St. Louis, simply known as North St. Louis. Established in 1816, this was to separate itself from the busy part of the city at that time. It was annexed into the city of St. Louis in 1841. Its status went from village to neighborhood.

The north St. Louis neighborhood was a densely populated area for quite some time. History, at the moment, does not record the period of time, but the area suffered for several decades as people moved out of the area and businesses and buildings were becoming deteriorated. Crime was happening. Things got so bad that in 1977, the business district was in redevelopment but all it did was 'welcome crime'. Needless to say it was a failed project.

It wasn't until 1981 that a group of people from that neighborhood banded together to form the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group. They would re-build each other's homes while cleaning up the area at the same time. The group continued to move forward by giving the Crown Square, the area just across from Crown Candy Kitchen, a complete facelift. After several years, the experiment worked and the pedestrian mall opened in 2010. This would only be the beginning of several current and future redevelopments in the area that brought us its classic red-brick buildings and its award-winning community gardens.

Here are some of the 'dummies' (or whatever you prefer to call them) that I believe are to help re-live the past of North St. Louis:

Right side of the cake

An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to Old North

Old North St. Louis Restoration Group on FB 

Old North St. Louis Restoration Group Official website 

2700 North 14th Street, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63106

Cake artist: Jack Bowe

UPDATE (9/4/2016): The cake is still there.

#133: Crown Candy Kitchen

 *PUBLIC VOTE WINNER*

Here's a place that takes you back in TIME. No matter what era, you'll be transported. While its great to come hungry, you may have to wait for a bit to come into Crown Candy Kitchen. Not only is this known to be one of St. Louis' iconic restaurants, it is also known for its long line outside the place. While it has limited seating, customers are never let down when they get their food. It's not just the food, but the candy and anything that's sweet that makes Crown Candy Kitchen an old North cornerstone.

• CCK was established in 1913 by Macedonian immigrants. 
• One of the oldest operating soda fountains in the country, and the oldest in the St. Louis area
• Even though the place is known for its desserts, it is also well-known for their huge sandwiches. The most notable one is their 'Heart Stopping BLT'. 
• Several different sundaes are on the menu, including one of their signature ones, the Newport.
• Several different chocolates are made in the back of the kitchen.

Crown Candy has been featured on the popular Travel Channel show Man vs. Food, in which host Adam Richman tried to take the restaurant's popular challenge. That is to drink 5 malts within 30 minutes. (He only got to four). For the 'record', the record-setter for this challenge is Randy Santel, who did this in less than 3 minutes (there's a video of this on Youtube!). CCK would make another appearance on another show hosted by Adam Richman, Best Sandwich in America, where he ate their ever-popular 'Heart Stopping BLT'.

Another celebrity sighting at Crown Candy Kitchen was Jimmy Fallon, who visited the place (St. Louis was a stop on his stand-up tour) in October 2013.

And the cake sides, well put by April Morrison:

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

SOURCE:  http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/gutcheck/2013/10/jimmy_fallon_visits_crown_candy_kitchen.php

Crown Candy Kitchen on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

1401 St. Louis Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63106
Cake artist: April Morrison

#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

#112: Bellefontaine Cemetery

The only cemetery in St. Louis that has a cake is located in the northern part of the city. But it's not just a cemetery. It was the premiere cemetery of St. Louis, and today it is considered one of its most famous landmarks. More than 42,000 people are buried here, and some of them have special markings, including mausoleums, statues and architectural gems. In fact, some parts of the cemetery are registered on the National Register of Historic Places in the US.

In the early 19th century, city cemeteries as well as large ones were very uncommon. At that time, the deceased were buried in church graveyards, on family plantations, or in unmarked places. Cities began to prosper, and St. Louis was one of them. In 1849, Bellefontaine Cemetery was founded on, at that time, farmland. It followed the rural model of city graveyards, by having it far away from the downtown part of the city. Bellefontaine was intended to be non-denominational, as opposed to most religious graveyards.

This is the final resting place of several historical and well-known figures in Missouri and St. Louis. There's a lot, but I'll list a few:

• Adolphus Busch - beer baron; founder of Anheuser Busch
• William Clark - the 'Clark' of the Lewis & Clark team. Explored the Midwestern United States.
• James Eads - the famed architect for, of course, the Eads Bridge. 
• Susan Blow - known to be 'the mother of kindergarten'
• Irma Rombauer - author of the famous The Joy of Cooking cookbook

Also, eleven Medal of Honor recepients are buried here - more than any Missouri cemetery!

Other notable cemeteries in St. Louis include:

Calvary Cemetery - a Roman Catholic cemetery also located on West Florissant Avenue; famous people buried here include Kate Chopin, Dred Scott, William Tecumseh Sherman and Tennessee Williams

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery - a military cemetery located south of the Jefferson Barracks area. Of the over 188,000 interments, all wars are represented here. Jack Buck and Johnnie Johnston are buried here, as well as those who died in notable battles.

The cake, which features small paintings of people buried here, in tribute:

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Left side of the cake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4K1pJiWjBg

Bellefontaine Cemetery on Findagrave.com. (I like to use this website when researching deceased people. You may find this useful in checking out the history of the cemetery.)

Bellefontaine Cemetery on FB

Official website

4947 W. Florissant Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63115
Cake artist: Lindsey Sciaroni

#111: Mathews-Dickey Boy's & Girl's Club

• Founded in 1960, the Mathews-Dickey Boy's & Girl's Club is a non-profit organization that was started by baseball coaches Martin L. Mathews and the late Hubert 'Dickey' Ballantine. Mathews continues to serve as the club's president and CEO.
• The club currently serves over 40,000 young males and females (ages 7-18) from the St. Louis area.
• It serves as a meeting center for different outside organizations and as an outreach center for troubled youths.
• Provides several activities for city youths, including baseball, football, cheerleading, among many others.
• The club's mission is to promote personal strength and confidence and to build self-esteem for those who have had major personal issues and problems.
• While the organization has a paid staff, it is also the many volunteers that help make things happen
• It has been nationally recognized by Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, as well as Vice-Presidents Dan Quayle and Joe Biden. 
• When NBC's The Today Show spent a week in St. Louis (in 1994), Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel shed some spotlight on the club for its diversity.

A close look at the sign

Outside look of the building

The Jack Buck footprints Walk of Fame located outside the entrance

Sign that is located in the front yard off the highway. Yes, the 'S' in Girls is missing as is part of the 'W' and 'I'

The Jack Buck footprints Walk of Fame spotlights the organization's sponsors, including Ameren, as well as various foundations.

Mathews-Dickey Boys' & Girl's Club on FB
Official website

4245 N. Kingshighway Boulevard, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63115
Cake artist: Dail Chambers  (also decorated the Katherine Dunham Museum cake)

#110: Fairground Park

 

Another place on my 'places that I never existed' is Fairground Park, which is located in North City. And not to biased, but....it is also located in a bad neighborhood. This is by no means for me to pick on any class or race. As little as I go out there, I stay the most careful. If you do go there, you will probably believe the place looks more imposing than inviting. However, many family get-togethers and reunions are held here during the nice days of the year. The place has such a rich history that its a perfect example to tell a curious person what its like when things go to bad. See, this was once the site of the annual Agricultural and Mechanical Fair (held from 1856 to 1902). People came from all around the country to be at this place. Remember, this was before St. Louis' peak at the World's Fair. Speaking of which, it closed down for that reason as the park was probably going to be used for other purposes. 

Today, there are many enjoyable things to do at the park. Trails for walking and biking, basketball courts, and ball fields.  

• The park goes way back to 1856 as a privately-owned unit by the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association. It was used
• During the Civil War, the park was used as a Union encampment, which was known as Benton Barracks. 
• By the 1880s, it was converted into a horse-racing track (The St. Louis Fair and Jockey Club), which of course, was used for gambling. The track was closed in 1905 as an anti-gambling politician, Joseph W. Folk, was elected Mayor of St. Louis. 
• Became a public park 
• A zoo was also once here, as a bear pit that once existed is still visible today.
• Once considered a site for the Saint Louis Zoo.
• Neighborhoods O'Fallon, Fairground, Greater Ville and Vandeventer surround the area. 
• Fairground Park is 132 acres.

Right side of the cake

Fairground Park on FB
Wikipedia link
Park on St. Louis city website

3700 Fair Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63107
Cake artist: Dan Jaboor

#109: Grand Avenue Water Tower

In the way northern part of the city lies the oldest water tower standing in St. Louis. The Grand Avenue water tower was built by architect George Barnett in 1871. It had quite a short life as it was used for fighting fires and providing water supply. There was a 5 feet standpipe as well as spiral staircase inside the tower; those have both been removed. In 1912, the tower was decommissioned. After that time, the tower was used by putting beacons on top of the tower as navigational aids for Lambert airport. Legend has it that Charles Lindbergh found the tower very useful as he was trying to land in foggy weather. The tower has been saved numerous times from demolition. It wasn't until 1998 that the tower was lit with floodlights and restored.

Also called the 'Old White' Water Tower. This is only one of seven historic standpipe water towers left in the United States. Three of them are in St. Louis: Grand Avenue, Bissell and the Compton Hill.

And now, the tower...

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Close look at the bottom of the tower

Advice for getting the cake: this one was quite a challenge as well as a safety issue. Around the water tower is a turnabout and it is hard to tell where cars are going to turn. I strongly suggest using caution when getting this cake. The cake is right on the road in front of a fence, so...hope for careful drivers! I parked at Dollar General, which wasn't far.

Wikipedia link


2001 East Grand, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63107
Cake artist: Gina Harmon