Community: Neighborhoods
The Ville
Originally known as Elleardsville after a prominent original resident of the area, George Elleards, “The Ville” became part of Saint Louis City in 1876. Early inhabitants were German and Irish immigrants as well as African American enslaved persons who worked on the local farmland.
In the early Twentieth century, with the introduction of race-based covenants across Saint Louis that barred Black families from living in many sections of the city, The Ville, quickly grew as a hub of African American life and culture. From 1910-1950, The Ville experienced a thriving culture and strong residency. After the Supreme Court struck down restrictive covenants in 1948, the population began to decline as Black families had more residential options across the city.
Location
The Ville Neighborhood is bounded by Taylor Avenue on the West, St. Louis Avenue on the North, Sarah Street on the East, and Martin Luther King Drive on the South.
Landmarks
The Ville showcased the resiliency of the African American community in Saint Louis as they created thriving schools, businesses, and medical facilities.
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The Homer G. Phillips Hospital (HGPH) remained open from 1937-1979 serving the African American community of St. Louis and training Black physicians who would eventually practice medicine locally and across the country. After Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ended the legal doctrine of “separate but equal” both Homer G. Phillips in St. Louis City Hospital #1 officially integrated, though the integration had little practical effect upon the patient demographics of Homer G. Phillips, “because it was located in an almost exclusively African-American neighborhood.”
Read more here: https://www.thesaintlouisstory.org/history-1/1919-segregated-medical-care-amp-the-homer-g-phillips-hospital
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A part of the Black University, Lincoln University, the Law School provided legal education to Black students from 1939-1955. It was eventually absorbed into the University of Missouri Law School.
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Started by Black entrepreneur, Annie Malone, this building complex not only housed her beauty school but also other offices of important Black businesses and organizations.
Read more here: https://www.anniemalonehistoricalsociety.org/poro-college.html
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Served as the segregated school for Black children in Saint Louis from 1898-1930. It served as the Stowe Teachers College from 1930-1940.
In 1999, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Stowe Teachers College served Black students desiring to become educators in Saint Louis. It began in 1890 and officially adopted the name of Stowe Teacher College in 1939. In 1954, it merged with the white teachers college in Saint Louis - Harris Teachers College. In 1979, the college became part of the state system of higher education as Harris-Stowe College.
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The first high school for Black students west of the Mississippi River. The school was named after the abolitionist Senator, Charles H. Sumner.
Famous Saint Louis attendees of Sumner High are: Chuck Berry and Tina Turner.
Sumner is still in operation today.
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Constructed in 1937 as a project under the Public Work Administration, Tandy Recreation Center (or PWA Project No. 8483). The art-deco styled building was designed by the same architect who designed the Homer G. Phillips Hospital. It has been registered on the National Register of Historic Places since 1999.
Famous People from The Ville
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Wendell O. Pruitt
June 20, 1920 – April 15, 1945
Attended Sumner High School and Lincoln University (in Jefferson City).
Tuskegee Airman who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic actions during World War II (WWII). During WWII, Pruitt flew seventy combat missions, was credited with three enemy kills, and reached the rank of captain.
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Walthall Moore, Sr.
May 1, 1886 - April 8, 1960
Moved to Saint Louis as a boy.
Helped incorporate Missouri’s first African American–owned steam laundry. Through election in 1920, he represented the Sixth District of Missouri (a part of the city of St. Louis) and became the first African American to serve in the Missouri General Assembly.
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Charles "Chuck" Edward Anderson Berry
October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017
He was born and raised in Saint Louis and attended Sumner High School.
Rock and Roll & Rhythm and Blues artist. Known as the “Father of Rock and Roll.”
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Tina Turner
November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023
Born Anna Mae Bullock, Tina moved to Saint Louis at age 16 to live with her mother. She graduated from Sumner High School in 1958.
She is known as the “Queen Rock and Roll,” but also was an actress and songwriter.
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Ron Townson and The Fifth Dimension
January 29, 1933 – August 2, 2001
Born and raised Saint Louis, he attende Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
He was a vocalist, choir director, and actor. He was part of the original group, The Fifth Dimension.
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Maudelle Brown Bousfield
June 1, 1885 – October 14, 1971
First African American woman to graduate from the University of Illinois and the first African American school principal for the Chicago Public School System.
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Margaret B. Wilson
January 30, 1919 – August 11, 2009
She was an American lawyer and activist. Wilson was only one of two women who graduated from the Lincoln University School of Law in 1943.
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Robert McFerrin
March 19, 1921 – November 24, 2006
McFerrin’s parents sent him to live with his aunt and uncle in Saint Louis when he was in 8th grade so he could attend Sumner High School.
McFerrin was an American operatic baritone and the first African-American man to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
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Robert Guillaume
November 30, 1927 – October 24, 2017
He was raised by his grandmother in Saint Louis and attended both Saint Louis University and Washington University of Saint Louis.
Born Robert Peter Williams, Robert Guillaume was an American actor and singer. He won two Emmy awards and was the first Black actor to portray the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.