Sappington-Concord Historical Society sponsors a variety of events for its members and the public. Some are held on a regular basis and some are special one time events. SCHS has several types of programs. The one program with a set schedule that never changes is the SCHS general meetings held on the fourth Wednesday of January, April, July and October. The following is a list of all up-coming events in chronological order.

The list of events on this page is for the year 2015. To see a list of past SCHS events for previous years, go to the:  page page  page

To see a list of events in the SCHS area that are sponsored by other organizations go to the page, . Again, the events on the Related Events page are not SCHS events, but may be of interest to SCHS members and the general public living in the Sappington-Concord area.

SCHS Events for 2015 – listed chronologically

December 31 and January 1, 2015 – Please note that this event is over. Membership dues are due. When you are feeling in a holiday mood, thinking about the past year and the new year to come, take a few moments to go to your desk and write that check to SCHS for $10, single membership, or $15, couple membership, for your 2015 dues. Send it to:

Sue Steinnerd Sappington-Concord Historical Society 4474 Gemini Dr St. Louis, Mo 63128

Or bring your check to the January 28, 2015 general meeting. Thanks, your continued membership is important to you and to the Society. Happy New Year from Sappington-Concord Historical Society! See the for more info if you need it.

January 22, 2015 Thursday, 2:30 pm – Please note that this event is over. SCHS at Friendship Village Sunset Hills Tom Nagel from CityArchRiver 2015 will talk about the improvements to the Gateway Arch grounds and the expanded Jefferson National Expansion Memorial museum space that are coming soon. See more about the . Parking note: Be aware that parking is extremely limited due to construction. Be prepared to park in the staff parking area down the road and walk to the main building, about a 10 minute walk. See directions to .

January 28, 2015, Wednesday, 7:00 pm – Please note that this event is over. General Membership meeting at Lindbergh High School in Anne Morrow Lindbergh Room “The Majesty of the Osage” by Jim Duncan, historian, educator, and past director of the Missouri State Museum “The Majesty of the Osage” This presentation discusses the early migration of the Osage people and how the structure of their clan system reflects their view of the cosmos. Their fascinating origin myths are explored in relationship to the environment, subsistence, procreation, and the artifact record. Audience members will learn how these proud, independent people, forced to move from their homeland beginning in the 1820s, have managed to surmount the hardships of forced acculturation to retain their identity. See directions to See more at:

The Heartlands Conservancy made a brief presentation about the Mounds Initiative at the meeting on Jan 28. See more about it at: .

February, 2015 – all month – Please note that this display is over. See the SCHS exhibit in the Tesson Ferry library display case. “Valentines Through the Years” SCHS display at Tesson Ferry Library. The theme is Valentine’s Day, or more specifically, Valentine cards. See more about . Get directions to .

February 11, 2015, Wednesday. – Please note that this event is over. Note that this is two weeks after the general meeting instead of the usual one week. Meet-at-the-Site Tour to Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis ( The New Cathedral ). Meet at the Basilica at 10:00 am, or for car pool from St Lucas UCC meeting at 9:00 am, leaving at 9:15 am. Car pool will meet on the east parking lot at St Lucas at the far end, the north end of the lot. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is one of the architectural and spiritual jewels of St. Louis. This fabulous cathedral of the Byzantine Revival architectural style is covered with mosaics in its side chapels and sanctuary walls, domes. Entrance fee is a $2.00 donation per person. See page about . See for car pool location.

March 5, 2015, Thursday, 3:00 pm – Please note that this event is over. Winter day time presentation at Tesson Ferry Library “The Power of Place: The Forgotten, Nearly Forgotten, and Rescued Landscape of St. Louis” Presented by Andrew Wanko, Public Historian at Missouri History Museum. St. Louis is undeniably the home of gems of architecture, fascinating historic sites, and lively neighborhoods. As we admire these sites, however, it is easy to forget that so many others have long since been erased from our landscape (or have come dangerously close). We’ll explore significant landscapes, buildings, neighborhoods, and even an entire island that have disappeared from St. Louis, and discuss the factors leading to their demise. We’ll look at iconic St. Louis places that were nearly destroyed at one point in their lives, and some that have made a successful return. See more about the presentation at: Get directions to .

A pril 22, 2015, Wednesday, 7:00 pm – Please note that this event is over. General Membership meeting at Lindbergh High School in old board room “Courageous and Faithful – The U.S. Cavalry at Jefferson Barracks” Presented by Dan Gonzalez, Curator at Jefferson Barracks Historic site. See . Lindbergh High School in old board room – Please note that this is a venue change from the usual meeting place. See .

April 29, 2015, Wednesday, 10:00 am – Please note that this event is over. Meet-at-the-Site tour to Jefferson Barracks Historic Site Visiting the exhibit “Courageous and Faithful – The U.S. Cavalry at Jefferson Barracks.” Come to the April 22 meeting to get an information sheet with all the information about the tour destination and to sign up for this free tour. See  for car pool location.

April 30, 2015 Thursday, 2:30 pm – Please note that this event is over. SCHS at Friendship Village Sunset Hills “Cahokia Mounds: rising again as capital of the Mississippian culture?” by Suzanne Kutterer-Siburt Like the story of the blues or jazz, Americans are little aware of the Cahokia Mounds in their own backyard. Cahokia Mounds is a United Nations World Heritage site just like the Colosseum in Rome or the Taj Majal in India.  Hundreds of mounds, besides those at Cahokia used to dot the whole bi-state area. Galen Gritts will describe these mounds and their relationship to Cahokia Mounds. He will talk of the Heartland Conservancy’s effort to connect the mounds with trails and to get all the mounds recognized within the National Park system. Galen Gritts is part Cherokee, is on several non-profit boards advocating for Indians in the midwest and west, and is a member of the Heartland Conservancy’s Strategic Advisory Committee. The HeartLands Conservancy web site is:  . Parkingnote: Be aware that parking is extremely limited due to construction. Be prepared to park in the staff parking area down the road and walk to the main building, about a 10 minute walk. See directions to .

May 7, 2015 Thursday, 2:30 pm – Please note that this event is over. SCHS at Friendship Village Sunset Hills “Oysters to Angus: Three Generations of the St. Louis Faust Family” by Elizabeth Terry See more about . Parking note: Be aware that parking is extremely limited due to construction. Be prepared to park in the staff parking area down the road and walk to the main building, about a 10 minute walk. See directions to .

May 25, 2015, Monday, 10:00 am – Please note that this event is over. Annual SCHS Memorial Day service on “the green” at St. Lucas, the large lawn east of St. Lucas church along Denny Road. The ceremony is usually at Sappington-Concord Memorial Park, but this year we will have a venue change to “the green” at St Lucas UCC church due to possible construction at the former Johnny’s Market property and not having access to parking there. See map to . See more information about the ceremony at . Reception follows at St Lucas UCC church, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm where refreshments will be served. See  at St Lucas welcoming the SCHS annual Memorial Day service to “the green” at St Lucas.

July 22, 2015 Wednesday, 7:00 pm – Please note that this event is over. General Membership meeting at Lindbergh High School in rooms, PD North and South in the administration building. See . “Colonial America Night for Kids,” or “Daddy, What is a Patriot?” with Mark Breckenridge. This will be SCHS’s “second bring your kids and grand kids night.” Last year Mark’s presentation was so interesting and fun for both kids and adults, that he is coming back. See more about .

Before the meeting and presentation starting at 7:00 pm, there will be a  by re-enactor, Dale Thielker, an historic interpretive volunteer at the Daniel Boone home in Defiance, Missouri.

July 29,  2015 Wednesday, 10:00 am – Please note that this event is over. Summer Meet-at-the-Site tour – Faust Park Historic Village.   Register and pay at July 22 meeting. Entrance fee is $4.00  Ten people minimum number needed for the 90 minute guided tour. Please register and pay at the July 22 general meeting listed above. Car pool from St Lucas east parking lot at the north end. Meeting time is 9:00, cars start out at 9:15 am. See  for car pool location.

August 20, 2015 Thursday, 2:30 pm – Please note that this event is over. SCHS at Friendship Village Sunset Hills – “Native American Religion and Spirituality” presentation by Galen Gritts on Native American ministry, healing and spirituality. Galen is a Cherokee Indian living in South St. Louis County and works with Lutheran Indian Ministries among other organizations related to Native-American causes. Parking note: Be aware that parking is extremely limited due to construction. Be prepared to park in the staff parking area down the road and then use the shuttle. See directions to .

September, 2015 – all month See the SCHS exhibit in the Oak Bend library display case featuring the Missouri History Museum exhibit, “A Walk in 1875 St. Louis.” In the display are some of the famous Compton and Dry 1875 pictorial maps of St. Louis, a reprint of the original book the maps were published in, and photos of some of the graphics in the exhibit describing life in 1875 St. Louis. The library closes at 5:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and holidays. See more about . See more about . Get directions to .

September 9, 2015 Wednesday – Please note that this event is over. Meet-at-the-Site Tour to Missouri History Museum to see the exhibit, “A Walk in 1875 St. Louis.”  Entrance fee is free. Learn more on page,

September 17, 2015 Thursday, 2:30 pm – Please note that this event is over. SCHS at Friendship Village Sunset Hills – “Noteworthy and Notorious Women at Bellefontaine Cemetery” by Richard Lay of the Bellefontaine Cemetery Association The program highlights some of the ‘Noteworthy and Notorious Women’ laid to rest at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. Depending on a time period one can be both noteworthy and notorious. Virginia Minor who today is noteworthy for her effects to secure the right to vote for her gender, was considered so notorious in her day that no clergy could be secured for her funeral. Getty Cori had few job options in her day, so she took a position which labeled her an assistant to her husband at Washington University. She would go on to become the third women and the first American women in history to win the Nobel Prize in science. Come and learn about many other women who left their mark on history and then made their final rest at . Parking note: Be aware thatparking is extremely limited due to construction. Be prepared to park in the staff parking area down the road and then use the shuttle. See directions to .

September 19, 2015 Saturday. Yes, that really is S-a-t-u-r-d-a-y, different from the usual Wednesday tours. – Please note that this event is over. A repeat Meet-at-the-Site Tour to Missouri History Museum to see the exhibit, “A Walk in 1875 St. Louis,” for those members who could not attend on Wednesday the 9th.  Entrance fee is free. Car pool from St Lucas east parking lot at the north end. Meeting time is 9:00, cars start out at 9:15 am. Learn more on page, See 

October 15, 2015 Thursday at 2:30 pm SCHS at Friendship Village Sunset Hills “19th Century Mourning Practices and Superstitions” by Michaela (Micha for short) Kornblum who works as an educator at the Governor Frederick Bates’ home in Faust Park. Micha has a special program perfect for the spookiest time of the year – mourning practices and superstitions which makes a very interesting combination. Watch out for bats, owls and butterflies… and don’t forget to wear black! Remember that parking at Friendship Village is tight. Be prepared to use the shuttle. The presentations are generally held in the Rhineland Room in the Crossings building. Follow the signs to employee parking and then call for the shuttle to pick you up; 314-270-7200. Get more specifics on the page:  .

October 28, 2015 Wednesday, 7:00 pm Early admittance starting at 6:30 to browse displays and other offerings. General Membership meeting at Lindbergh High School in Anne Morrow Lindbergh Room Former St Louis County Historian and preservationist, Esley Hamilton, will speak on “St Louis County Parks.” From only two parks in 1950, St. Louis County has created one of the outstanding park systems in the country.  Esley Hamilton, longtime preservation historian for the county, tells this surprising story using pictures from his 2012 book with NiNi Harris, “St. Louis Parks.” See more about . See directions to  Note that if you were expecting the originally scheduled talk on “The History of Missouri Botanical Garden” by Jack Lane of the St Louis Master Gardeners organization has been changed and hopefully will be rescheduled for a later date. 

November 7, 2015 Saturday, 10:00 am Meet-at-the-Site Tour to the Griot Museum of Black History & Culture to explore Missouri’s rich and enduring African-American heritage. Please get the tour information sheet at the October 28 general meeting at Lindbergh High School and sign up for the tour. Entrance fee: $7.50 for adults paid at the door.

November 8, 2015, Sunday at 1:00 pm Simple wreathe laying ceremony at Sappington-Concord Memorial Park in front of the former Johnny’s Market. See more about the park at .

November, 2015  Fall daytime presentation at Tesson Ferry library The fall day time presentation that SCHS and the Tesson Ferry library hold together each fall (and winter, too) will not be held this year. The library will be moving from its Tesson Ferry location to its new building at Grant View. Our next daytime presentation there will be in their beautiful new building on February 26, 2016. See page.

December, after Christmas, think of making a tax deductible charitable contribution to SCHS, a 501-c organization doing important working preserving history and passing t on to the next generation. Also, remember to send in your which are so important to SCHS.

January 1, 2016 Dues are due Thank you for your membership in SCHS in 2015. In addition to receiving this fine newsletter four times a year and helping make possible the annual Memorial Day ceremony and many history-related presentations and tours, you know that understanding more about our history makes for better understanding of ourselves and stronger communities. Besides that, history is interesting and fun, as you know from attending our events. Please continue your support of SCHS by renewing your dues for 2016. Welcome to the new year and may it be a happy and prosperous one for you and your family. See the  for more info on dues, how to make out the check and where to send it.

If you are not a member, have not attended any SCHS events, or feel “history” is not for you, come try us out. You may be surprised to find history is much closer to your heart than it ever was in your school days! History is our lives as we live them and it couldn’t be any more up close and personal. Furthermore, if you think the name of an organization that includes “historical society” sounds tiring and stuffy, that is the name, not the atmosphere or people you find when you attend our events. Please join us, and we will make fun, relevant history together!

To see more events in 2016, see the page .

SCHS board meeting dates

The second Wednesday of the month

2015 January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9,

2016 January 13, February 10, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9, December 14

Sappington-Concord Historical Society…

                        …join us and we’ll make history together!

Go to  page.