This Month in St. Louis History

Gini Laurie and Hub Pruett
are part of state history

Activist Gini Laurie and St. Louis Browns pitcher Hub Pruett aren't household names these days. They were not born in St. Louis but did memorable work here.

The St. Louis Cathedral Basilica was consecrated in June, 1926. And the Missouri State Lottery and U.S. Interstate Highway Act were enacted in past Junes.

These are some of the people and actions that fit well into Missouri's rich history.

(Each month, the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park provides Young Saint Louis.com with information about people and/or events that shaped the state's history. These items are ones that have an anniversary in the current month.

(If you'd like to know more about the museum's offerings, visit www.mohistory.org.)

The items with June anniversaries:

Activist Gini Laurie

In the 1900s, the childhood poliomyelitis (polio) left thousands of American children paralyzed. One of the most vocal spokesmen urging polio rehabilitation was Gini Laurie, who was a childhood victim.

And she did some of her best work while living in St. Louis.

She started her work in Cleveland, Ohio, with publication of a mimeographed newsletter for the Toomey Pavilion. That was a respiratory center for polio victims.

In 1971, Ms. Laurie moved to St. Louis.

Gini Laurie at work in her office

In 1976, she wrote the book, "Housing and Home Services for the Disabled, Elderly and Retarded." It was published by Harper & Rowe. In 1981, she coordinated the first conference on the plight of polio victim, "Whatever Happened to the Polio Patient?"

The second International Post-Polio Conference and Symposium on Living Independently with Severe Disability was held in St. Louis two years later.

Of course, the development of a polio vaccine for children by Dr. Jonas Salk was instrumental in breaking the disease. But, living victims still needed help.

Ms. Laurie's work in promoting rehabilitation for victims of paralyzing illnesses continues even today. She died in 1989 but a Gini Laurie Endowment was established during the 5th International Conference.

For more on the history of polio, visit the Smithsonian Institution's website at: http://americanhistory.si.edu/polio/howpolio/rehab.htm. The website includes a picture of Ms. Laurie at work in her office.

Pitcher Hub Pruett

Pitcher Hub Pruett wasn't the St. Louis Brown's winningest pitcher. But, the Malden, Missouri native did know one thing; he knew how to get slugger Babe Ruth out.

On June 12, 1922, rookie Pruett was the winning pitcher as the Browns beat the New York Yankees, 7-1. In the game, Pruett struck out Babe Ruth three consecutive times.

His success with Ruth wasn't a one-time fluke.

Pruett struck out Ruth 10 of the first 13 times he faced him. In his seven-year career, Pruett ended with 15 strikeouts in the 30 times he faced Ruth.

Pruett didn't do as well with other hitters. He won only 29 games against 48 losses.

But, his "fadeaway" delivery certainly had Ruth's number.

After he finished pitching, Pruett enrolled in the Saint Louis University's School of Medicine. After earning his degree in eight years, Pruett became a practicing physician.

St. Louis Cathedral Basilica

The St. Louis Cathedral Basilica was consecrated on June 20, 1926. That was the 100th anniversary of the St. Louis Diocese.

But, church building wasn't designated officially as a basilica until Pope John Paul II's visit to St. Louis in 1997.

One of the most unusual features of the gigantic church is the tile mosaics on the interior.

The mosaics contain 41,500,000 glass tesserae pieces with over 7,000 different colors. The mosaics cover 83,000 square feet and is the largest mosaic collection in the world.

A total of 29 different artists worked on the installation that ran from 1912 to 1988.

There are several websites where you can get more information about the basilica. They include www.explorestlouis.com/factSheets/fact_newCath.asp?PageType=4, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Basilica_of_St._Louis.

Missouri State Lottery

The Missouri State Lottery was established in 1985. The lottery came into being with passage of Missouri Senate bill passed on June 11.

That was less than a year after a 70% majority amended the state constitution to allow for establishment of the lottery.

The first game was an instant one called "Jackpot 86." One Feb. 13, 1986, a retired butcher from Kansas City, Kan, was the first lottery millionaire when he won $2.1 million.

Lotteries have a long history in the U.S., extending back to the Revolutionary War. For a history of American lotteries, visit: www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/03/Chapt2.html.

 

U.S. Interstate System

One of the biggest improvements in Missouri transportation history came when the U.S. Congress enacted the Federal-Aid Highway Act on June 29, 1956. That is the legislation that authorized the building of the country's interstate highway system.

For Missouri, it brought some order to the state's piecemeal highway construction efforts.

 

For a history of the Interstate in Missouri, visit www.modot.org/interstate/MissourisInterstateHistory.htm