This Month in St. Louis History

Missouri's first constitution;
state insect is honey bee

The anniversaries of Missouri's first constitution and naming of the state insect happened in past Julys. Jefferson Barracks was established in July, 1828, and controversial Gen. John C. Fremont died in July, 1890.

These are just some of the happenings in Missouri history during past Julys.

Each month, Young Saint Louis.com features information about St. Louis' and Missouri's colorful history. The Missouri History Museum in Forest Park compiles historical items with significant-and sometimes insignificant-anniversaries.

(For more about Missouri history, visit the museum's website at www.mohistory.org.)

Missouri's First Constitution Signed

David Barton

The signing of Missouri's first constitution was done July 19, 1820, in a small St. Louis hotel, the Mansion House, at the corner of Third and Vine.

This was the smallest of three adopted constitutions. It didn't exceed 10,000 words.

David Barton was the president of the constitutional convention. One of his first acts after the constitution was adopted was to issue election notices for sheriffs of each Missouri county. Those first state elections were held Aug. 28, 1820.

However, Missouri wasn't admitted to the union until Aug. 10, 1821.

For more on the constitutions, visit www.umsystem.edu/whmc/Mohist/july19.html.

The Missouri State Insect: The Honey Bee

U.S, Rep. Todd Akin starts his congressional website with a list that could serve as answers to a lot of Missouri trivia questions. For instance, did you know that the Missouri State Insect is the Honey Bee and its designation was on July 3, 1985.

He has information about the state flower, bird, motto, tree, fossil, song and nickname.

The honey bee was given its state designation by the 83rd General Assembly. The bee was honored for its economic importance and its role in pollinating other farm crops.

For more information, visit www.house.gov/akin/missouri.html.

St. Louis Heat Wave of 1980

Most people know that St. Louis is hot in the summer. And July is often one of the hottest months of the year. Much of the City of St. Louis' strategy for coping with hot weather was formed after the heat wave of July, 1980.

The death toll in St. Louis that year was 113.

After that, city officials set up a plan called Operation Weather Survival (OWS). The goal was to make advance plans for helping residents-primarily low-income people-to survive extended hot weather.

Included in the OWS were such things as an air-conditioner loan program, home weatherization, assistance in paying energy bills and an emergency shelter program for the homeless.

The St. Louis program became a model for other cities. For instance, St. Louis gave help when Chicago was caught unawares by its heat wave of 1995.

Jefferson Barracks established July 8, 1826

On July 8, 1826, troops from Fort Belle Fontaine helped establish a new military base south of St. Louis near the village of Carondelet. The new base was named Jefferson Barracks, after President Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson had died July 4, 1826.

In 1828, the St. Louis Arsenal was relocated fully from Fort Belle Fontaine to Jefferson Barracks.

The Arsenal figured prominently in the Civil War. U.S. Army Capt. Nathaniel Lyon was ordered in 1861 to seize the building to keep vast stores of munitions from falling into Confederate hands.

Lyon learned of a planned raid on the Arsenal by Missouri Militia troops at Camp Jackson. Lyon surrounded the base, which is on what is now the Frost campus of Saint Louis University. The Confederates gave up without a shot being fired.

Jefferson Barracks is one of the oldest military cemeteries in the country. President Lincoln signed the national cemetery legislation July 17, 1862. Under that law, Jefferson Barracks became a national cemetery in 1866.

For more on the national cemetery, visit www.cem.va.gov/nchp/jeffersonbarracks.htm

Gen. John C. Fremont died July 13, 1890

One of the more flamboyant and controversial military characters in St. Louis'-and national-history was Gen. John C. Fremont. He died on July 13, 1890

At the beginning of the Civil War, he was commander of the newly organized Western Department with headquarters in St. Louis.

After the battle of Wilson's Creek, he proclaimed martial law, arrested active secessionists and suspended newspapers charged with disloyalty.

He issued a proclamation assuming control of Missouri's government. He also announced that he was going to free the slaves of persons who fought against the Union. After he refused to withdraw the proclamation, he was relieved of his command.

But, he was given command of the Mountain Department of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Early in the war, he pursued the Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson for eight days before engaging him. However, he permitted Jackson to escape with his army intact.

Another unusual happening in his career included making a 1,700 trip to the Great Salt Lake. His report is credited with giving the Mormons their first idea of settling in Utah.

He also was nominated for president in 1864, but got little convention support. He withdrew in September.

He served as governor of Arizona in 1878-81.

The Highlands Fire of 1963

New office buildings and commercial development now fill what had been the site of The Arena, the famed sports venue of the St. Louis Blues and even an NCAA Final Four. But, before that, the 23-acre area along Oakland Ave. housed the Highlands' amusement park.

The Highlands opened in 1896 as a beer garden. But, the development continued to include a band concert venue. Also, there was a full-scale amusement park on the order of an early-day Six Flags Over Mid-America.

As many as 12,000 people would come on sunny Sunday afternoons. For just $1, a person could enjoy any of the rides or exhibits and drink free lemonade all day.

Among other events were concerts by conductor John Phillip Sousa and boxing matches with James Corbett and Jack Dempsey.

In the mid-50's, it was an entertainment center for both young and old. There was a scenic railway, a vaudeville theater, a 46-headed carousal and a Ferris wheel along with other rides.

But, that all changed on July 19, 1963.

Sometime in the early afternoon, a fire started in a restaurant on the south side of the park. That day, noted local TV hostess Charlotte Peters was filming her show. But, she stayed all day reporting on the fire.

A St. Louis Globe-Democrat's front-page banner said: "Highlands Destroyed by Fire."

For a personalized fire report, visit http://members.aol.com/Fphdoug/doug.html.

Singer Fontella Bass born July 3, 1940

Singer Fontella Bass was the daughter of gospel great Martha Bass. She also became a musical great and has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in University City.

She was born July 3, 1940.

Fontella played piano and sang with R&B stars Little Milton and Oliver Sain. She launched her solo career in 1965 with "Rescue Me," which hit No. 1 on the R&B charts and was the No. 4 pop hit.

She performed in Paris for three years with Lester Bowie and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. She returned to St. Louis in 1972 to raise her family.

Fontella was nominated for Grammy awards in 1995 and 1999.