Notebook on Central West End, St. Louis, Missouri

• History
  
• Famous People & Street
  Names of the CWE

• Historic Sites
  
• CWE Addresses and Architects

  History

      The Central West End (CWE) includes most of the city's private streets and luxury apartment buildings along with some of the finest commercial and religious architecture. While there is neither one prevalent style nor dominant building type, an overall richness of detail and quality of construction create a strong sense of prosperity in the district.

      Although a few buildings date to the 1880's, the first construction boom began in the 1890's as the upper and middle classes continued their cyclical moves to the edge of the developing city. The District's first generation of residents belonged to elite clubs, owned automobiles, advocated public playgrounds for the less fortunate and worked politely for women's suffrage. Their children attended Mary Institute, Smith Academy and City House; families spent vacations on the east coast or in Michigan. Home to most members of the "Big Cinch," the men who made big money and controlled city policy, the Central West End epitomized the reality of the American Dream in the Midwest.

Information courtesy of Missouri Historical Society (City District: June 19, 1974)

  People & Street Names of CWE: Interesting Facts  *

BOYLE AVENUE- Named to honor Rev. Joseph Boyle, a friend of Peter Lindell. Originally called Virginia Avenue.

EUCLID AVENUE - Named for a street in Cleveland, Ohio, which was named for the Greek mathematician.

KINGSHIGHWAY - Named for roads separating the common fields from the King's land. Some of Kingshighway was East Street, East of Forest Park while Skinker was known at West Street.

LINDELL BOULEVARD - To honor Peter Lindell, a landowner.

MC PHERSON AVENUE -To honor William M. McPherson

NEWSTEAD AVENUE - Home of Lord Byron, the favorite poet of Nathaniel Pendleton Taylor, who named the street. Was called Cornelia, White, and at one point Mount Vernon.

PENDLETON AVENUE - Named after Nathaniel Pendleton Taylor.

PERSHING AVENUE - To honor Gen. John J. Pershing. Changed from Berlin Avenue during World War I.

TAYLOR AVENUE - In honor of Nathaniel Pendleton Taylor.

WALTON AVENUE - Named after Izaak Walton, a British author.

WESTMINSTER PLACE- Named after Westminster, England. Originally a private street.

Famous People lived here  *

4446 Westminster Place -
Originally, parent's home of  writer, playwright, and poet T.S. Eliot.

4629/23 Westminster Place - Originally, home of Tennesee Williams.

4297 Mc Pherson - Home of Kate Chopin, the author of The Awakening.

 *  Reference - The Streets of St. Louis, by William B. and Marcella C. Magnan

Historic Sites

In the Central West End, St. Louis

Gaslight Square
More to come...!

Architects and the neighborhood homes they designed

Go to:

           Boyle    Euclid       Hortense     Kingshighway     Lenox Place     Lindell Boulevard    Maryland Avenue      

         Maryland Plaza    McPherson     Newstead      Olive Boulevard     Pershing      Taylor    Walton Avenue

                      Walton Row                       Washington Avenue                 Westminster Place      

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