BOB CORBETT'S DOGTOWN HOMEPAGE
DOGTOWN, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Special note: I am using the name "Dogtown" loosely to
refer to the large geographical area from Oakland to Hwy 44 and McCausland to Macklind. This
includes neighborhoods which are also called, or have been in the past: Cheltenham, Hi-Pointe,
Franz Park, Benton, and Ellendale.
See discussion of this topic of the name Dogtown and boundaries
JOIN THE DOGTOWN HISTORY E-MAIL LIST. This list will exchange notes on what is going on in the research
and on the building of this site. To join just send an e-mail note to:
Bob Corbett
corbetre@webster.edu
Last update October 6, 2007
THE WHOLE SITE: NESTED INDEXES
Here you will fine information on history, bibliography, oral history, recorded history and photographs. I invite anyone with materials, stories or photographs which might enrich this page to please contact me at my e-mail address or just by calling me at: 314-647-6704.
- Oral histories, Interviews and Biographies of Dogtowners There are many great tales and memories to be had and recorded. I urge any of you who can to talk to folks who know the neighborhood and record their stories to send to me. If you can't get it done yourself and know people whom I should interview, please let me know. In this area you will find these stories.
- Recorded history and its interpretation. Using whatever printed sources I can locate, and getting whatever help as I can from others, I hope to present a bit of Dogtown history. You will find those stories here.
- The photographic record and accompanying stories In my own collection and that of many other Dogtowners there must be a phenomenal story in pictures. I will begin scanning my own photos and storing them here. I invite any of you to do the same and send them to me on disc. If not, I would love to arrange a specific time to borrow photos for just a few hours while I hurry out to make digital copies for this record. You will find the photos here.
- An open forum for YOU. Write to
Bob Corbett
corbetre@webster.edu
I will then place you on the Dogtown e-mail discussion list. This is an active place
for discussion of all sorts of Dogtown-related topics as well as inquiries of all sorts.
- Guided Historical Walking of Bicycle Tour of Dogtown I had planned
to begin offering both walking and bike tours by the summer of 2003, but things have gotten
in the way. Howerver, personalized tours are possible, and then two rather strange options
are offered on this page. If you are daring and different, have a look
See below for links to related sites on the internet
Dogtown is the place of my birth. While I lived away from Dogtown for more than 30 years,
1962-1993, I never left it in spirit, and since my parents lived here, I was often present physically!. In those days as a visitor I seldom missed
a St. James Homecoming or St. Patrick's Day celebration if I was in St. Louis. I returned to live here in 1993 and in 1994 after my father's death following only 9 months upon my mother's death, I moved back into the family home at 1419 Tamm Ave.
I dedicate this page to this neighborhood my parents loved so very much. My father was born just down the street on Brockschmidt, off Tamm just a block from Manchester. He was raised at 6410 Wade in the house whose back yard meets my own on Tamm. Mom and Dad seldom ever left Dogtown in their whole lives and while they dreamed often of a trip to Ireland, place of my greatgrand father's birth, they were never able to make a trip so very far from Dogtown. I think the idea of this site would have pleased them. It does motivate me to try to flush out the history and spirit of this neighborhood to present to others. I do it in their honor.
- Links to other sites that have Dogtown or related materials.
- Dogtown Resident Explores Neighhood's Lore, Legends This story,
published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch January 31, 2002 is about the work of Bob Corbett in Dogtown history and about this web site.
- The Oakland
Neighborhood. This document put up by St. Louis Community Development department has
some great information on streets and early settlements in the Dogtown area.
- Dogtown or Clayton/Tamm Neighborhood
Another site from the St. Louis City. There are some interesting data on demographics of the neighbood, including economic
and race data.
- Official Clayton Tamm Community Association homepage
A very useful site a calendar of events, volunteer opportunities, lots on the businesses and restaurants of the neighborhood and
other information.
- Clifton Neighborhood
- Franz Park Neighborhood
- Hi-point Neighborhood
Another site from St. Louis City, including democraphics for this northwestern portion of Dogtown.
- Cheltenham
This is another site provided by the City of St. Louis. Cheltenham may be official beyond the borders of
Dogtown, but I've always tended to think of it as part of the neighborhood. There is some interesting
historical data on this site.
- The Forest Park Highlands Doug Garner has put up an exciting site
of photos and text about the Forest Park Highlands. I have my own fond memories of the swimming pool, the marvelous mirrors that made one
look so very funny, and just hanging around at the Highlands. Doug provides the stimulus to make all those memories return.
- The Icarians
This site is a general one on the Icarian movement and not on the Cheltenham Icarians. However, it
will give a bit of general background on the movement and its leader, Etienne Cabot.
- Some great old photos of Forest Park are on this site.
- St. Louis Tourism and Business links
Bob Corbett
corbetre@webster.edu