December 23 1795 Today is the birthday of Bridgeton. In 1795, Robert Owen was granted a concession from the Spanish for the Village a Robert, which he had laid out in 1792. The French called the area Marais des Liards, literally cottonwood swamp. The Americans called it Owens Station, later Bridgeton. 1865 Sarah Breedlove was born on a plantation in Louisiana. She moved to St. Louis in 1887, and worked as a washerwoman. A scalp ailment caused her to lose much of her hair, and she sold Annie Malone’s hair care products before developing her own line in 1906. She moved to Denver, married, and changed her name to Madam C.J. Walker. Madam Walker became one of the first African-American female millionaires and a great philanthropist. 1929 Dick Weber was born in Indianapolis. He moved to Florissant in 1955 and joined the famous Budweiser bowling team. Weber went on to win 26 PBA tournaments and 6 senior titles, winning Bowler of the Year honors in 1961, 1963 and 1965. Weber was the sport’s first television star and was the first to win a PBA title in six different decades. He died on February 13, 2005 at the age of 75. 1945 Archbishop John Glennon was named to the College of Cardinals by Pope Pius the 12th. But St. Louisans never saw him as a prince of the church. After the lengthy ceremonies, 83-year-old Cardinal Glennon went to visit his native Ireland, where he caught pneumonia. He never returned home and died at the home of Irish President Sean O’Kelly in March 1946. 1965 Ceremonies marked the topping out of the new Busch Stadium. The last of the structural concrete was poured, a few days ahead of schedule. That same day, the first section of the field lights was installed. They were lit for the first time on April 22, 1966. 1982 The Centers for Disease Control and the Missouri Division of Health recommended that the town of Times Beach be evacuated. Just two months earlier, residents learned the town could be contaminated with deadly dioxin, contained in waste oil sprayed to keep the dust down on the streets years ago. A devastating flood along the Meramec River followed the news.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 11:10:00 +0000
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