#240: Bonhomme Old Stone Church

• This historical church is the second oldest Presbyterian church west of the Mississippi River.
• While the church was founded in 1816, this old restored building was built in 1841.
• This location had a school on the first floor, and it had a place of worship on the top floor
• The church was used up until the Civil War when it was shut down by the military. After the war, many of its members moved out of the St. Louis area
• Special tours can be held here, and some events are held here, including weddings
• The 'newer church' is half a mile west off of Conway Road, and it was built in 1959.

The cake, which is not any relation to the church or religion, but rather a 'St. Louis party theme:

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Alissa Shoults posing with her cake! Photo from Francine Case

The cake was removed and now as part of the Cakewalk. It has been seen in many places, including I Scream Cakes on Cherokee Street.


Wikipedia link

14699 Conway Road at the intersection of White Road, CHESTERFIELD, MO, 63017
Cake artist: Alissa Shoults

#222: Black Madonna Shrine and Grottos

One of the most 'far out there' places lies outside the historic Route 66 community of Pacific, Missouri. I had to drive nearly 15 miles from I-44. But it was worth the drive to explore this unique outdoor gallery. If you're in for something breathtaking and a bit offbeat, this is for you.

When you look around the place, you can't help but notice several rock sculptures and grottos. And now here's the kicker: it was all put together by one man. That person was Brother Bronislaus, who was a single Franciscan monk from Poland. He did all this in more than 20 years. 100 years ago it was all forestry and woods. It was all torn down and by 1938 Bronislaus went to work and used the tiff rock to create his masterpieces.

I took several photos while I was there, but here are some:

The Shrine Chapel

The entrance sign

The cake,

UPDATE: The cake is reportedly still there as of 1/25/2016. It was reportedly removed for awhile in 2015, but brought back in public view.

Wikipedia link
Official website

100 Saint Joseph's Hill Road, PACIFIC, MO, 63069
Cake artist: Craig Downs  (he also decorated the Fort San Carlos/Ballpark Hilton cake)

#221: United Hebrew Congregation

• First Jewish congregation established west of the Mississippi River
• There is no known year when this was organized (their Facebook page says 1837), although historians debate on it
• Like most religious organizations and groups, they have moved around quite a bit since their inception. They started on 5th St. and Broadway in 1848.
• This facility consists of a Religious School, Hebrew School, Early Childhood Center and Youth Camp.
• The current location at Conway Road opened its doors in 1977.

The cake, decorated by Henryk Ptasiewicz, which focuses on the location:

UPDATE (1/25/2016): The cake still stands outside the place. It was at the front entrance for a long time, but it is now located in the back in the middle of a circle drive. Here is a photo:

Behind the building on 1/23/2016

United Hebrew Congregation on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

13788 Conway Road, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63141
Cake artist: Henryk Ptasiewicz

#216: Our Lady of the Rivers

This was my second attempt to get the cake. During the first week of July, I took a drive along the Missouri river road on Hwy. 94 from West Alton to Portage des Sioux, ready to get the cake and see the location. As I got there, I didn't see the cake so I kept looking...and looking. I accessed the stl250 site through my phone and I saw that they listed this cake location as 'Temporarily Unavailable due to high water'. Of course, I was bummed. It was my understanding that it was a vulnerable place because it is prone to flood waters and its closeness to the Mississippi River. But I did get to take some shots of the statue and the walkway.

I returned later that month, when the cake was placed back. (I don't know where it was during its hiatus, possibly in a nearby government building).

The cake, which has quite a pet theme to it, from what I understand artist Lindsay Harmon likes:  (This was also one of two cakes that I recall seeing 'tied down' to something. The other one was later Manchester City Hall)

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Located at the end of LeSeurre Street, PORTAGE DES SIOUX, MO, 63373
Cake artist: Lindsay Harmon

#211: Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

And the last part of downtown St. Charles which has a cake location is right on the Lewis & Clark Trail, or Highway 94. This one is at the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.

Left side of the cake

Right side of the cake

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Wikipedia link

619 North Second St., ST. CHARLES, MO, 63301
Cake artist: Megan Rieke

#193: Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France (Old Cathedral)

Within a walk from the Gateway Arch through the Jefferson Memorial Expansion park is this old church, or rather, cathedral. And it's not just any other cathedral: it is one of the oldest in the United States.

• Given the name Old Cathedral, after Pope John Paul II designated the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis located in Central West End in 1999.
• Built between 1831 and 1834.
• Designated as a basilica by Pope John XXIII in 1961.
• Renovated in 1963.
• While it is one of the city's buildings, it is also the sole surviving building of demolished 40 city blocks. 
• Many Catholic marriages are still performed here.

A view of the Cathedral from the Gateway Arch

At the moment, parts of the building are being covered due to the construction of the expansion of the Arch grounds.

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Wikipedia link


209 Walnut St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63102
Cake artist: Vince Sciaroni  (He also decorated the Jay International/South Grand cake)

#179: Concordia Seminary

 I'm not gonna lie, this was a bit challenging to find, driving through Clayton. But I found it :) I will warn you, if you're taking the streets and not the road, you will be driving 10 mph on those watched streets. The cake is not hard to find though, once you get to the site. Just drive through the area and park in 'visitors' on the left, and it should be easy to see on the plaza.

• Concordia Seminary is the second oldest Lutheran seminary in the United States (the oldest is in Gettysburg, PA, dedicated in 1826). 
• Founded in 1839, it is celebrating its 175 anniversary in 2014.
• It was originally located in Perry County, MO (south of St. Louis), but was moved to St. Louis/Clayton in 1849.
• Offers an array of advanced master degree programs, such as the Master of Divinity.
• A statue of Martin Luther is located on the site, which is similar to the one in Worms, Germany.
• The radio station KFUO-AM 850 operates on the campus with religious programming.

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Top of the cake

Concordia Seminary on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

801 Seminary Place, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63105
Cake artist: Janice Schoultz Mudd

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