All Entries Tagged With: "Florissant"
Time Capsule: remembering Loretto Academy
Among my collection of old postcards and other memorabilia related to North County’s history, perhaps nothing has intrigued me more than this image. The first time I saw it, I thought it was some grand European building….maybe a French government center or an English university. But no, what this postcard depicts is actually Loretto Academy, a stately Catholic girls school built in 1880 in the heart of old Florissant.
For 39 years, Loretto Academy stood near the historic St. Ferdinand Shrine, housing around 50 girls between the ages of five and 15. But on January 4, 1919 – exactly 93 years ago today – disaster struck.
In the early hours of a frigid morning, fire broke out in the building, forcing 75 Loretto nuns and dozens of students to flee in the bitter cold. At the time, the still-rural town of Florissant didn’t have a professional fire department, so all the nuns could do is ring the church bell and pray that help would arrive. Numerous volunteers showed up, and fire engines were even dispatched from St. Louis and University City, but it was too late. Loretto Academy was lost in the flames.
Still, some good did result from this tragedy. Two months later, local citizens came together and organized the Florissant Valley Volunteer Fire Department, which later became the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District, whose services we still enjoy today. In 1966, when another fire broke out on the shrine grounds, this time threatening the church itself, Florissant was better prepared.
Although Loretto Academy could not be saved decades before, firefighters did manage to preserve St. Ferdinand, which was heavily damaged but salvageable and ultimately restored. To this day, it remains the oldest American Catholic Church west of the Mississippi, pre-dating St. Louis’ “Old Cathedral” by 14 years.
Many thanks to good folks @ Flo Valley FPD for serving the community and providing much of the info in this post. Be sure to check out their recent news update about two sweet old dogs that were saved in a December fire.
Photo Essay: Dave Naumann’s Native NoCo
An adventurer at heart, local attorney Dave Naumann likes going off the beaten path to explore the hidden natural areas of North County.
As the year closes out and I look back at all the reasons I’ve had to be grateful in 2011, I can’t help but think of you, dear NOCO readers. Since I launched this blog two years ago, I’ve gotten to meet so many amazing people, both here in North County and throughout St. Louis. Hundreds of you have emailed with story ideas or insightful comments, and quite a few have even offered to help. Thank you!
One of those generous “helpers” is David Naumann, a Florissant attorney and lifelong NoCo resident whose passion is hiking and biking North County’s many unspoiled pockets of wilderness. Dave knows the area’s trails and hidden pathways probably better than anyone, and lucky for us, he always brings a camera along.
He has been offering to share his images for months now, and I finally got a chance to pull them all together. I have to admit, some of them are so gorgeous, they even made me wonder if they’re really in North County. But of course they are!
Many thanks to Dave Naumann for these beautiful photos, and to everyone who read NOCO and supported North County this year! You are truly appreciated!! Enjoy…
The Gardens of NoCo: Barclay & Kelly Compton
Florissant resident Barclay Compton, owner of the landscape design firm Landworks, Inc., is an expert at designing & building unique water gardens.
The trees may be bare and the temperatures plummeting, but at the Florissant home of Barclay and Kelly Compton, water features create a delightful atmosphere even in the winter months. NOCO contributor Jo Batzer visited there in the fall and now takes us on a tour of this unique North County garden…
It’s a garden you hear before you see…the sound of water cascading over large rocks, water bubbling out of stones, water flowing and winding through boulders and under trees. Approaching the front of this home, you find yourself stepping over a flowing stream bridged by a large stone to reach the front door. Water is everywhere here, from the ponds and waterfalls all around the home to the Missouri River in the distance. This water garden paradise in northwest Florissant is home to Barclay and Kelly Compton, who run their landscape and water garden business, Landworks, Inc., from their home.
Growing up in NoCo, both Compton and Kelly wanted a large piece of property to run the business from. In 1997, they found 20 acres that overlooks the Missouri River and built the first water garden just outside the front door in 1999. The 3000 gallon front water feature uses an 8000 gallons per hour pump to keep things moving.
Around the side of the house and again crossing a stream, you reach a large patio with a seating area, bar and hot tub surrounding an impressive freestanding, stone fireplace. Cedar log piers support the hearth above the stream that flows underneath as it winds along the length of the patio, leading to the main water feature in back.
This amazing large 6000 gallon pond has two 10,000 gph pumps that allow water to cascade down the rocky bluff into a large pond full of koi and goldfish. Among the large boulders are spruce, and assorted native trees creating a perfect, natural backdrop. “Water art” here and there give an unique look. The Comptons like to add tropical plants including banana trees (Musa sp.) and elephant ears (Colocasia sp.) in the warm seasons. In the fall, the changing colors along the bluff highlight the bright colors of the koi and goldfish down below.
It would be hard for anyone’s inner child to miss the 60-foot slide coming down the side of the bluff and ending in the swimming pool. Another 100-foot slide takes you down from the pool area to the field below. The Compton kids, Kyle (10) and Courtney (8) are also lucky enough to have a creative playground built by dad just beyond the pool area. For the adults, a tiki bar and outdoor grilling and dining area offer all the comforts of inside, but with an unequaled view of the waterfalls and the river under the stars or sunny skies.
Despite having all the large water features, maintenance is only 15 minutes per pond per week according to Barclay. Water gardening like regular gardening, does have its own unique challenges and problems. Like many other metro area water gardeners are finding, minks are becoming a problem and can help themselves to fish as has happened with a few of the Compton’s unfortunate koi last year. Herons and egrets can also feast on fish if precautions aren’t taken.
Still, water gardening is a great way to enjoy nature and can be very low maintenance. For anyone considering a water feature, Barclay recommends visiting local pond stores for knowledgeable staff to answer questions (such as Chalily on Manchester, where Barclay installed the front landscape displays).
Another great resource in the area is the St. Louis Water Garden Society. The SLWGS host an amazing Pond-O-Rama pond tour every summer. The Comptons are regulars on the tour which can be very rewarding, but also stressful. According to Barclay, one year the front ponds were scheduled to be on the tour. A month before, they decided to add the backyard pond which wasn’t complete yet.
“Working day and night while still running the business during the day was a huge challenge for us. The last rock was placed at 10:00 pm the night before the tour and the pond finished filling up just hours before the tour started. Talk about cutting it too close!”
Running a business from home can be difficult at times, but it can also save time to have office and home all in one place according to the Comptons. (Even the entrance to the office has its own ‘Bubbler’ water feature just outside the door!) Living among all the creative inspiration at home has no doubt helped this family owned business create unique outdoor living spaces for clients for more than 20 years.
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Jo Batzer has lived in North County most of her life and is excited to be a part of the NOCO team. She has worked in the horticulture and florist industries for over 25 years and is the garden leader at Twillman House Community Garden. Jo lives and gardens in the Spanish Lake area with her husband, two sons and two dogs. She is also available for private garden consultations through her new company, JB Design.
Laissez les bon temps rouler! FloTown goes Creole
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
The Old St. Ferdinand Shrine is proud to kick-off the Florissant Christmas Walk with a benefit concert Saturday, December 3rd at 1:30 P.M. featuring authentic French Creole music. Admission is free but donations will be accepted. All proceeds from the event will be used on badly needed restoration projects at the Shrine.
Our performer, Dennis Stroughmatt, is the only artist in the world that tours and plays the music of the French Creoles that settled in the Midwest. This music makes your soul jump, your head spin, and your heart at its happiest. Anyone listening can’t help but get up and dance along.
The performance includes the up-tempo music, language, stories and culture secreted away in Missouri that became part of the American fabric at the time of the Louisiana Purchase. The French Creoles, both of French and Spanish descent, were Roman Catholics who were born in the colonies and created their own unique social customs and celebrations.
As a special treat, Dennis will be performing La Guillanee. La Guillanee is the Celtic festival of sharing food and bounty throughout the community during the winter. In France it brought the community together to celebrate the New Year and joie de vivre (joy of life). Share the joy of life and happiness at the Shrine!
There would be no better place to hear this brilliant musical story than at the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine. The Shrine, built in 1821, is the site of one of the earliest French settlements west of the Mississippi. The convent was home to St. Rose Phillipine Duchesne in 1819 when Mass was said for the first time that Christmas Eve. Our Creole Christmas concert includes songs in both French and English not unlike the songs sung and performed at the Shrine during past holidays.
After the performance, the Shrine will have chili and drinks for sale as well as gently used Christmas items and special book-fair event pricing of $4 per bag. Come have a fantastic time, and support this significant historic landmark. For additional information call 314/837-2110; or visit www.oldstferdinandshrine.com.
