Soulard Farmers' Market: Comments from Insiders and Guide for Beginners
Good Neighbors Create Better Neighborhoods
Soulard in Literature: Stephen E. Ambrose, Tim Fox and Eric Sandweiss, Betty Pavlige, Arthur Proetz and Adolf Schultz
| Soulard Farmers' Market: Scharf Farm is now harvesting and selling its famous asparagus. Near the Scharf booth is the Baetje Farm booth, offering pure artisan farmstead goat cheeses. Regionally produced food enthusiasts will love their freshly made, delicious products. Another Saturday morning stop should be the Amish Country Bakery, with an array of baked goods brought from their ovens in Arthur, IL. Polish food enthusiasts and supporters of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in St. Louis may want to visit Krystyna's European Food stand, featuring smoked Polish sausage, Kielbasa Weselna, Slaska brand sausage, juniper berry smoked sausage, duck pate, Szynka Polish style ham, dill pickles and others. The Soulard Spice Shop offers spices, cheeses, coffees and specialty items. Additional information is found on the Happenings page and in our Market stories, including Guide for Beginners and Comments from Insiders. More up-to-the-minute info is available on a blog titled Gumbo: a Soulard Forum. Comments can be posted on the blog. |
Welcome to Soulard:
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Soulard, a City of St. Louis Historic District and on the National Register of Historic Places, is well known for its festive and sometimes boisterous Mardi Gras and Bastille Day celebrations. This near south side neighborhood also has a wonderful residential tradition.
Originally part of the common fields of the City of St. Louis, some of what is now Soulard was given to Antoine Soulard, surveyor general of Upper Louisiana, by the Spanish governor in the 1790's as payment for his services. Soulard's widow, Julia, stipulated in her will that two city blocks be given to the City of St. Louis for use as a public market. She died on May 9, 1845. Her bequest survives today in the form of the Soulard Market.
The remainder of her property was inherited by her three sons, who gradually subdivided and sold it as the city expanded to the south.
By the mid-19th century, large numbers of Germans had settled in Soulard, along with some Irish. Later would come Bohemians, Slovaks, Croatians, Lebanese and other immigrants, all intent on creating a new home in America. Each ethnic group contributed to the interesting economic and social mix. The backdrop, the Soulard architecture and street scape, which displays a spectrum of interesting detail and a robust character, added a unique texture to this mix. Through the surviving residential and commercial structures of Soulard one can trace the history of 19th century St. Louis. Modest, sturdy multi-family structures are mingled with stately Victorian townhouses and a few elegant mansions.
After World War II, Soulard, like many urban neighborhoods, fell on hard times. Flight to the suburbs, disinvestment and demolition undermined the stability of the neighborhood.
This downward trend was reversed, however, starting in the 1970's. People returned to Soulard to reclaim the unique architectural heritage and to mold the Victorian-era living spaces to meet modern needs. In the process, they created a sense of community while investing millions of dollars in the neighborhood.
As in the old days, Soulard today is a socially and economically diverse community. The century plus old homes have attracted people of all ages and from many different walks of life. Real estate prices range from $60,000 for a shell to over $450,000 for a completed home, as the neighborhood continues to build and improve. This web site offers insights into the neighborhood, its revival and its present residents.
Site designed and edited by Clark Rowley of People Productions. ©2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 All rights reserved.
This page last modified:
Wednesday, 30-Apr-2008 19:15:52 CDT
Click HERE to send e-mail to Clark Rowley, site editor.
Click HERE to send e-mail to the Soulard Homeowners Association.
Click HERE to send e-mail to the Soulard Restoration Group.
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