Lost St. Louis

“Lost St. Louis (2017, The History Press) — St. Louis has been a shining beacon on the shores of the Mississippi River for more than 250 years, and many iconic landmarks have come and gone. The city hosted the World’s Fair in 1904, with beautiful acres of buildings, gardens and fountains, nearly all of which are lost to time. Famous Busch Stadium now sits on an area that was once a vibrant community for Chinese immigrants. St. Louis Jockey Club was an expansive and popular gathering spot in the late nineteenth century until the state outlawed gambling. The Lion Gas Building was home to a unique mural featuring more than 70 shades of gray in tribute to famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. This book details the fantastic destroyed and forgotten landmarks of St. Louis.

Ready To Wear: A History of the Footwear and Garment Industries in St. Louis

“Ready To Wear: A History of the Footwear and Garment Industries in St. Louis (2021, Reedy Press) — St. Louis was founded as a fur trading village in 1764. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, it became a center of fur trading, cotton and wool distribution, footwear, and ultimately clothing production in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its position near the center of the United States and easy access to several major rivers and railroads made it a transportation crossroads. Name most any article of clothing at that time and chances are it was manufactured in St. Louis. Shoes, shirtwaists, suits, hats, undergarments, skirts, coats, uniforms, and much more were made here and shipped throughout the US.
St. Louis’s Washington Avenue is a lengthy thoroughfare located in the heart of downtown. Multiple blocks of Washington Avenue and intersecting streets once housed companies that made the shoes and clothing. It was nicknamed Shoe Street USA, The Street, and the Garment District during much of the 20th century. Ready To Wear looks at the history of these two industries in St. Louis from yesterday until today. “