#163: Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine

One of two cakes in Florissant, this one connects more to the historical, downtown part of it. Florissant translates to 'valley of the flowers'. It is one of the largest suburban areas in St. Louis, and it is the 12th largest city in Missouri (as of the 2010 census). Believed to be founded the same time as St. Louis, Florissant is also considered one of the oldest settlements in Missouri. So its no surprise, I guess, that the Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine is also celebrating a grand milestone birthday this year as well.

Facts about the Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine:

• Consists of four buildings that are in their original locations: the 1819 Convent, the 1821 Church, 1840 Rectory and the 1888 Schoolhouse.
• It has been preserved by the Friends of Old St. Ferdinand since 1958. The buildings were transferred to them in 1979 from Cardinal John Carberry.
• The 1821 church is the oldest Catholic church west of the Mississippi.
• The cornerstone was a gift from Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne, who is credited for stabilizing the area, as well as starting the first school in Florissant. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988, several decades after her death.
• Tours are regularly given here, and the buildings also host special events including weddings.

There is a lot to tell about the formation of the buildings. Check out their official website for more detailed information.

As you can see on the cake, St. Ferdinand is celebrating its 225th anniversary in 2014!:

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Wikipedia link
Official website

#1 Rue St. Francois, FLORISSANT, MO, 63031
Cake artist: Old St. Ferdinand Shrine

The cake is now on private property.

#155: Taille de Noyer

I used to work for the City of Florissant as an intern for their television station back in 2007. I didn't know or have heard of a house called 'Taille de Noyer'. So, I went over to the house, which was closed, since it was on a holiday. Again, I turned to Google for information. There's a lot of hidden history about this less-talked about place. It's hard to imagine the area that is currently surrounding this house was once considered rural, especially when you glance over at St. Louis' largest Nascar track, or I-270. The house was (and still is) to serve as a reminder of country life in Florissant.

• The house dates back to the 1790s. 
• The house was actually moved from 200 yards away in the early 1960s, as it now sits on the property of McCluer High School.
• Noted by paranormal enthusiasts as being one of the most haunted places in the St. Louis area. 
• One of the first owners of the house was St. Louis's first millionaire, John Mullanphy, whose heirs occupied the house for 160 years.
• It has been referred to as 'Walnut Grove' by some of Mullanphy's children, due to all of the oak and walnut trees that once surrounded it. 
• Mullanphy, by the way, contributed a lot to St. Louis, including the first hospital of the West.

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Taille de Noyer on Florissant's city website

1896 S. Florissant Rd., FLORISSANT, MO, 63031
Cake artist: Courtney Veszi

#105: Payne Gentry House

• Missouri's only historic-registered 19th century house that has a doctor's office inside.
• Built in 1870, William Payne started his doctor's office in 1880.
• Located next to the Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex.
• The house still contains items that were in the possession of the family that lived there (Mary Elizabeth and her daughter).
• It is noted by paranormal groups that it is one of the most haunted places in North County.

The sign

I didn't know what this was about, but I assumed this was for house visitors and/or cake-hunters. I signed it anyway!

Front part of the house (and cake)

As the only cake located in Bridgeton (to date), here are some facts about Bridgeton:

• Bridgeton was founded in 1794. 
• In 1950, Bridgeton's population was 250. Today in 2014, that number is now over 11,000. 
• Parts of the Lambert St. Louis Airport are in the city limits.
• Fee Fee Cemetary, founded in 1814, has markings of soldiers from every war (includes Revolutionary)
• Other historical buildings in Bridgeton include the Fee Fee Baptist Church (1807) and the Mizpah Presbyterian (1842).

Here's some more shots of the cake, as beautifully done by Genevieve Esson:

Top of the cake

Back side of the cake

Payne-Gentry House on Bridgeton, MO's city website
National Historic Places nomination form (PDF file)

4211 Fee Fee Road, BRIDGETON, MO, 63044
Cake artist: Genevieve Esson

#88: Lambert St. Louis International Airport

Cake artist: Henryk Ptasiewicz

#57: Fort Belle Fontaine

I've been to North County many times...well, actually 'driven through' is more like it. But I never knew this place existed until 2014. For one, there are no signs off of I-270 that bring attention to it. It's a simple drive from the Bellefontaine Road exist, just going straight north and you'll eventually see signs. Once you're there, you meet with a guard and they'll give you a temporary parking pass. Then its time to enjoy the views! And the cake!

• The Fort Belle Fontaine park is located just 3 miles west of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
• It was the site of the first United States military installation west of the Mississippi River. Jefferson Barracks would eventually replace it.
• This was the location of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, where the explorers camped out in 1806 before their famous journeys to the Pacific.
• Other expeditions to the west started here up until 1819.
• The park shares an entrance with the Missouri Hills Campus of the Missouri Division of Youth Services.
• The park is 305.6 acres, and consists of four different parts: Coldwater Creek, Belle Fontaine Spring, the Missouri River and a 50-acre prairie.
• The park opened in 1986.

The Missouri River in the background

A stone commemorating its bi-centennial

Looking down from the top

Missouri Division of Youth Services building

The cake sides. I do not know what the '9' stands for on the cake:

Fort Belle Fontaine on FB
Official website from St. Louis County's Parks page

13300 Bellefontaine Road, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63138
Cake artist: Screwed Arts Collective

#56: General Daniel Bissell House

bissell bellefontaine

the cake

General Daniel Bissell House on FB

10225 Bellefontaine Road, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63137
Cake artist: April Morrison

#55: Old Chain Of Rocks Bridge

St. Louis sometimes takes pride in the fact that 'the mother road' U.S. Route 66 once passed through the city. For those not familiar with the now-defunct highway, Route 66 was the first multi-state highway and it originated in the 1920s. The route started in downtown Chicago and ended in Los Angeles. Route 66 passed through several cities and small towns, including Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Springfield (IL and MO), among many others. It has several pop-culture references, including the hit song (made famous by Nat 'King' Cole), as well as the 1960s TV show of the same name. In short, it was 'the road that built America'. Several historical landmarks and signs are still visible along the road, and many photographers/authors have kept their memories alive in books. Route 66 has been replaced with interstates and state highways in most parts of the road.

The bridge that was spotlighted with a cake ran for nearly 40 years, starting in 1929. People had to pay a toll fee to cross it, but to most people...it was worth it! After all, it helped Illinois travelers get to North County quick without having to worry about the hustle and bustle of the city. My dad recalls driving on it at one time during his teenage/college days. He still thinks, after all these years, that its weird how the bridge wasn't straight. (You'll see what I mean in the following pictures) The bridge closed in 1965, and it was eventually replaced with the current bridge (I-270). The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was rehabbed and restored in the 1990s, and today it serves as a cornerstone of memories featuring Route 66 artifacts. One of the world's longest pedestrian/bicycle only bridges welcome both bike riders and walkers for recreational purposes.

 

There are two ways to get to the bridge. Actually, two different 'sides': the Missouri and/or Illinois. The Missouri side is plain and simple. Just park your car in front of the abandoned lot off of Riverview. It's not even 1/4 of a mile from I-270. However, you should always lock your car and not leave valuables in sight. This is not coming from me; the official website states that. On the Illinois side, take the first exit (IL 3), and go south until you get to the first stoplight. Turn right, and keep going straight. You will be going over a one-lane bridge (over the Chain of Rocks canal). After that, keep going until you reach the parking lot. The bridge and park's hours are available on the website. 

What I really like about this cake is that this is probably the only one that pays tribute to Route 66. There are, though, three other cakes with the Route 66 logo/symbol on it. I've always been obsessed with highways and maps all through my life, and every now and then I collect Route 66 merchandise. Here are the other sides of the cake:

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Wikipedia link

10500 Riverview Drive, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63137
Cake artist: Katie Lucas