in St. Louis
in St. Louis
Hill Links Resurrection and Sts. Peter & Paul cemeteries ItaliaUSA.com Hill 2000 Hill Business Assoc. (map of Hill on this site)
More pages on this site about the Hill: Pictures in the "Hill Books" identifiedMore pictures from the Hill
Cuggiono Genealogy Website Navigation Home Village of Cuggiono Cuggiono Surname List Visiting Cuggiono St. Louis's Hill Neighborhood Research Italian Families in the US |
The Hill is aptly named as it is the highest point within the city limits. Clay deposits were discovered in this area in the late 1830s. When the railroad came through the area in the 1850s, clay became widely used industrially and brought the settlements of Irish and Germans to this area. In the 1890s, plant expansions provided employment for the numerous Italian immigrants who settled here. The need for the Italians to live within walking distance of their jobs brought about a rapid increase in the number of houses built in the Fairmount area. Public utilities in this area were all but nonexistant at the time. Housing conditions were very poor, most living in frame shanties. Construction of four room homes began at the turn of the century. It is reported that many homes in the Hill area were constructed with lumber that came from the dismantling of buildings from the 1904 World's Fair. With the construction of these homes and the stability that comes with home ownership, the local businesses, grocery stores, saloons, barbers, shoemakers, etc. were soon established in the area. Many of these businesses are still around today. St. Ambrose Church
I do not know the date of the picture, but would suspect that it was fairly close to 1910 or so. Anyone that can date it closer for me - maybe by the car?? - please send me an email!
Laclede Clay Plant Workers Safety Honor Roll Apr 19, 1940
Listed L to R, name & number of years. Front Row: G. Winston-40; J. Miriani-36; H Ritchel-56; F. Puricelli-49 (our grandfather); M Sterling-40 Middle Row: A. Tarantola-31; B Witherspoon-20; A Carnaghi-23; SR McElmurry-20; A Ronzio-34; P Zagarri-29; J Micciche-30; H Sostman-28; J Thompson-32 Back Row: A Serati-25; R Green-23; M Puricelli-30; E Algardo-26; J Garanzini-25
I would assume that this picture is a few years later than the one above
but no later than 1943 as our grandfather is in the front row and he
passed away in Nov. 1943.
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St. Louis' Hill neighborhood has been home to Italian immigrants for well over 100 years. Many of the Hill's earliest settlers came to the United States from the Lombardia region of Italy, and the comune of Cuggiono in particular.
The one constant of the Hill has been it's church, St. Ambrose. The residents of the area have seen many hard times, lived through wars, the depression, rough economic situations, but never lost faith because the church has always been the center of the community, both literally and emotionally. To this day, St. Ambrose is the anchor of the Hill in faith as well as every other aspect of the residents' lives. As other area churches are sadly closed, St. Ambrose remains viable and active.
This very old photo is of the first St. Ambrose Church building built in about 1907. It was destroyed by fire in 1921. 
This photo was probably taken around the same time as the first picture.
