As we investigated our topic, we found information about new plans being made, "Supporting St. Louis 2004." The one hundred year time difference between these activities turned-on our curiosity. Bridging events of two centuries in St. Louis and Forest Park became our topic. We are excited about witnessing the new millennium and participating in the 2004 activities just as our teacher's Great Aunt and Great Uncle participated in the 1904 activities. |
A colorful wooden box was found in our teacher's attic. The box contained historical artifacts. Two admission tickets to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair were buried below numerous pictures. The pictures were of people, animals, buildings, statutes, lakes, boats and activities at the Fair. The pictures were taken by a Great Aunt who is no longer living. Family stories provide us limited information about the aunt. We do know that the Aunt's hobby was photography. She personally took the pictures of the Fair with her camera. Aunt was a young widow. She shared a home with a bachelor brother. The Aunt and Uncle's home was located on Lindell Boulevard across from Forest Park. The box also contained pictures of their home. When our group viewed the box and its contents, we started to ask questions. We wondered how a large fair could have happened in 1904. How could something so big and grand be built so long ago? We have visited the Forest Park area many times, but trying to imagine how a huge fair could have taken place there was puzzling. The topic engaged our curiosity. |
 The history of Great Aunt and Great Uncle is ambiguous. We do know, they jointly paid to have a home built on Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri. The home was standing during the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The home is no longer standing. Another picture shows us the music room. This picture displays different types of musical instruments. Aunt and Uncle were prepared to supply instruments to their musically artistic guests. Maybe, Aunt and Uncle were musically talented!
Billiard rooms in 1904 were usually used by gentlemen. It was a place where they could smoke their cigars and play a game of billiards.
Family stories tell us that Great Aunt was a modern woman for the early twentieth century. The picture of the billiard room illustrates this point. Great Aunt joins the gentlemen for a game of billiards. Besides a game of pool, Aunt pursued her hobby of photography with great enthusiasm. She must of visited the Fair many times carrying her camera with glass slides because of the many pictures we found. Carrying all her supplies must of been an awesome task! Great Aunt and Uncle's home no longer stands. In the present, 1999, there are still beautiful homes on Lindell Blvd. The homes grandly face Forest Park. After the Fair was dismantled, Lindell Boulevard was extended further west and more homes were built on this street. This area was some of the extra property leased for the Fair. It was not part of Forest Park. |
The Lindell home was large and had many rooms. There was a breakfast room (informal dining room) located on the first floor and was probably near the kitchen. The huge crystal bowl shown in the picture was filled with fresh fruit of the season. Possibly, the fruit was there to feed house guests visiting St. Louis to see the Fair.
Great Uncle was a salesman. He sold photography equipment and often traveled throughout the Midwest for business. He was an active man. His hobby was boating on the Mississippi River with his friends. Great Uncle owned a large boat with an indoor cabin. He was a licensed navigator for certain areas of the Mississippi River. Also in the box was a picture of the automobile Uncle owned. The year and make of the automobile we couldn't identify.
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