From the flyer:

The history of Dogtown, or Cheltenham as it was called earlier, can be traced back to the early 1800’s to an idyllic countryside village named Sulphur Springs. The territory that became Sulphur Springs was originally a portion of a three-mile square land grant, a league square land grant. In 1789, it was named the Gratiot League Square for Charles Gratiot, the original recipient of the land grant.

Bob Corbett, a retired professor of Philosophy at Webster University, whose family has lived in Dogtown since 1915, will trace the settlement of Dogtown from the early part of the 19th century through the coming of the Pacific Railroad in 1852 and it’s impact on the economic stimulation and development of the mining and brick-making industries.

Corbett, will speak about the original land grant to Charles Gratiot, about William Sublette, known as the mountain man, and other early settlers, through the rapid commercial development and the coming of St. James Church in 1860.

The presentation will also focus on the people, places, and social nature of the early Cheltenham/Dogtown neighborhood.

Come and join us for a trip back in history. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

The Dogtown Historical Society is a non-profit organization established in Missouri in 2002. For more information: http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/dogtown/dhs/dhs.html

===================

From the minutes of the Speaker Series Committee

The second in our DHS Speaker Series Events, “The History of 19th Century Dogtown” was held on March 23, 2003 in the St. James School Cafeteria. Fifty one people signed our attendance sheet. Bob Corbett traced the settlement of Dogtown from the early part of the 19th Century through the coming of the Pacific Railroad in 1852 and it’s impact on the economic stimulation and development of the mining and brick-making industries.

For those of you that couldn't attend the first of the 2003 Speaker Series presentations last night, on "The History of 19th Century Dogtown," you missed a wonderful experience. It turned out to be even better than anyone expected. Awesome is the word that comes to mind.

Bob, of course, came well prepared and his presentation was as usual, clear and spiced with energy and enthusiasm for his subject. He gave an amazing amount of information and background and some of the attendees commented after the talk that they were surprised that so much of it was new to them. And I have to add that he left his audience wanting more. Many of them mentioned that they would definitely be back in June to see the presentation on "The History of St. James Church."