Due to an eagle-eyed reader, I learned recently that the historic freedmen’s settlement of Westland Acres recently sold for a substantial amount of money. Inhabited by the descendants of freed slaves for generations, I suspect that property tax pressures finally… Continue Reading
There are still remnants of the economic powerhouse that was once Crestwood Mall, such as the office building and strip mall across Watson Road, former Route 66, from the now vacant lot.
Sorry about the bad picture, but I was just thinking about this: in America, these trees would be toast, cut down and burned or thrown into a shredder so the road could be widened and people could speed recklessly. But… Continue Reading
The view from Bellerive Park, which I visited back in 2009, continues to provide one of the most enjoyable and easily accessible location to view the Mississippi River. It looks like there is a sunken barge in the middle… Continue Reading
Once described as an old-fashioned interstate, Forest Park Parkway seems almost an afterthought after the construction of Interstate Highway System. Its curves cut through Forest Park, before ending unceremoniously at I-170. The century old bridges that carry surface streets over… Continue Reading
I continued on Lincoln Trail westbound, and the signs started saying St. Clair Avenue; I figured that the road must continue all the way to East St. Louis. I passed the standard signs of late Twentieth Century abandonment: the destroyed… Continue Reading
The so-called Lincoln Trail is no longer a trail, but more akin to your standard strip mall artery. I saw traces of interesting roadside motels and drive-ups, but like so much of America, it’s all just sort of looking the… Continue Reading
Yesterday, on an on-line chat at the Post-Dispatch, Todd Waeltermann confirmed that Manchester Avenue between Kingshighway and Vandeventer is being reduced from four lanes to two. Due to the increased pedestrian activity, this is a great step towards making the… Continue Reading
As we headed south on I-55, my father pointed a stretch of Route 66 that he and my mother used to drive on before the interstate system had completed I-55. Originally, it was actually four lanes divided in Illinois, and… Continue Reading