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How many of you ever rode the old fashioned streetcars in St. Louis???? My cousins and I would ride these fun modes of transportation at least once a month for our entertainment. We would ride to the end of the line, come back or transfer to another streetcar and finally, we would find our way home again. Kind of like going in circles to get where you wanted to go/get.
Great links, thanks. I used to ride what I thought were the old cars, but seeing this video I see they were the new ones (1950's - 1966). We lived in Olivette near Delmar & Price. Our family would always go to the Varsity (now Vintage Vinyl) or Tivoli theaters in the Loop, and my uncle had his office in the Loop and we'd visit him a lot. I used to see them everytime I was there and from the age of 12 -16 (1966) I would take them every Saturday to what I called work back then at the family meat manufacturing company near Vandeventor & Easton (MLK now). I would transfer at Vandeventor. Back then they would come from downtown and at the end they would turn South near what is now Leland (at Delmar) and go behind the buildings that go from Leland West to Kingsland, turn around and then go back to Delmar and head East again. Hense the name "The Loop". I remember we used to get all our Keds at Lasky's Shoes there near where Cicero's is now. Brings back the memories.
Thank you RickMG for your post. I really love reading about the parts of St. Louis that are still dear to me even tho' the changes have been rather drastic. You mention Vandeventor & Easton. I know the area well. We lived for a few years around Marcus and Easton. But that was years before your time. I went to school on Cote Brilliante, between Euclid and Kingshighway.
Shopped for my Mom at a grocery store near Vandeventor & Easton. Even worked during the Christmas season at a 'Dry Goods' store on Easton near Taylor. Yes, so many 'remembories'. Thank you again.
I know how you feel Northwoods, I love hearing the stories too. I'm wondering if the grocery you're talking about is the one that was in that island on the northeast corner. That store there became Hanlen Meat Company, and even though it was only one room, they made every McDonalds hamburger that was sold in St. Louis for the first 10 or so years McDonalds was here. Our place was actually on Aldine just one block north of Easton, between Prairie and Vandeventor. Anyway, long story to get to this long story.
My grandparents had a live-in housekeeper (five days a week) starting from the time my mother was around 12 (1937). When my older brother was born, 1946, she ended up working with my mother (same arangement) and raising me and my brother and sisters. She then worked for my sister for a few years (same arangement) but really just lived with her until she passed away. I say worked very loosly because, as long as I knew her, all my life until she passed away around 7 years ago, she has been family, not someone who worked for us. My mother & sister took care of everything personal she needed, bills, bank accounts, shopping, everything. Kaki (Katherine) never drove. We all loved her and thought of her as a second mother, and she treated us like her kids as she never had any. Her first husband passed away years before I was born. She had a three level row house on the east side of Taylor, a half block north of Delmar. I remember as a kid back in the 50's sleeping over at her house some weekends. I loved her boyfriend Bill (she called him her husband, and that's how they lived). He had a bb gun rifle and we would sit on the back deck and shoot at the electric transformer on the telephone pole to hear them hit (they couldn't do any damage). I loved her and her 'husband'. He always reminded me of Louis Armstrong, looks and voice. But what I really loved about going there was there was rowhouse just north of hers across the alley that had a little grocery store in the basement. I would go there and be able to pick up all the candy and junk I wanted. Kaki spoiled the hell out of me. I can picture it like it was yesterday.
Thank you so much for the rememborie of yours, Rick. Great story! So loving and touching.
Back to transportation..... The store my Mother sent me to was on the southside of Easton Ave. I would take the streetcar to the corner and walk to the store. It was a pretty big store. Well, to a kid it seemed that way. And then at 12 yoa, I worked in a small grocery in the 4700's of Easton Ave. after school and all day Saturdays. Had good meats there and some would ride the bus and/or streetcar to shop
Many times we, my cousins and I, would ride the streetcar to Wellston and transfer to the Hodiamont car for a ride in the 'country'. That is what it seemed like then. I'm referring to the late 40's..'47 - 49.
On the St. Louis news last night there was a short report about a streetcar at a museum now. I haven't read the whole story yet. Will have to check it our later. Again, thanks for the story.
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
Transportation in the City
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