By Traci Angel
Photograph by Peter Newcomb
The southwest pocket of St. Louis City known as St. Louis Hills exudes pride. It is evident in the established rows of sturdy brick houses and in the neighborhood’s 12-page quarterly newsletter, complete with a calendar of events and sale of T-shirts for ’hood supporters who want to wear their love on their sleeves.
Although the price-per-square-foot may seem high for these compact homes and yards, it’s the sense of community and safety that have driven home values into the $200,000s.
Until it was developed in the 1930s, St. Louis Hills was a remote, wooded area. One of the neighborhood’s biggest influences was Cyrus Crane Willmore. A park bears the name of this visionary developer who helped shape the 700-acre neighborhood. He wanted to keep tree-lined streets for the residential area, place businesses on three sides and save enough green space for parks. Influenced by Willmore’s English heritage, the streets bear names such as Nottingham and Devonshire.
The neighborhood’s two parks are clearly the oases among the tiny yards and narrow streets. Willmore Park, at Jamieson and Gravois, is bordered by the River Des Peres and is a long, narrow stretch of green that is home to running trails, tennis courts and the area’s recycling bins. Francis Park, bounded by Nottingham on the north, Tamm on the east, Eichelberger on the south and Donovan on the west, was almost the site for the 1904 World’s Fair. Because of transportation and construction problems, Forest Park was chosen as the better site. The park is named after David Rowland Francis, who served as Missouri’s governor from 1889-1893 and brought the 1904 fair to St. Louis.
As in any tight community, churches and schools are the keystones. St. Raphael, the Archangel (6047 Bishops Place, 314-352-8100), off Jamieson, is one of the most prominent landmarks, as is Word of Life Lutheran School (6535 Eichelberger, 314-832-1244). St. Gabriel, the Archangel (6303 Nottingham, 314-353-6303) also heavily influences the community. St. Louis’ large Catholic population flocks to the Catholic Supply Store (6759 Chippewa, 314-644-0643) for supplies, furnishings and inspirational gifts.
Independent grocer LeGrand’s St. Louis Hills Tomboy Market (4414 Donovan, 314-353-6128) is a neighborhood favorite. On the northern edge is the great Italian cuisine of Trattoria Marcella (3600 Watson, 314-352-7706) and Spanish-influenced meals of Bastante (3315 Watson, 314-783-4000). But no evening would be complete without a stop for the famous frozen custard at Ted Drewes (6726 Chippewa, 314-481-2652).
