Mid County Directory 2025

6 2025 | Maplewood & Richmond Heights Community Directory A Brief History of Maplewood In 1825, James C. Sutton purchased 360 acres of land west of the St. Louis city limits to begin acquiring property for a permanent residence for his family. The Spanish government originally granted the land he purchased to Charles Gratiot, who sold the three square miles to Sutton for $1.12 per half acre. Ten years later, Sutton purchased an additional 120 acres, adjoining his other tract, for $4 per acre. By the 1890s, Sutton’s heirs began selling the acreage inherited from the patriarch of the family to developers. The subdivisions that were developed were desirable to those wanting an easy commute via “accommodation” trains on Manchester Road from their St. Louis jobs to what was then a more rural setting. In 1896, the St. Louis Meramec Railroad Company began operating a trolley called the “Manchester Line,” which ran from downtown St. Louis to the Sutton Loop. By 1904, the business districts on Manchester Road, Sutton Avenue, and Greenwood Avenue became well established. Through the first part of the century these areas continued to grow, serving the needs of local residents and those passing through town. In January 1908, a fire at Banner Lumber at Manchester and Sutton destroyed nine buildings. Because the citizens felt that the St. Louis City fire companies were not able to provide sufficient fire protection, the community incorporated as a city in May of that year. The name Maplewood came from the first subdivision developed in the area by a St. Louis real estate company. In 1921, a second trolley loop was built at Yale Avenue called the “City Limits Line” and began operating north and south routes. Maplewood became a focal point for travelers from outlying communities. The trolleys ran through Maplewood until 1949, when they were replaced by buses. The 1940s and ‘50s brought incredible commercial development to Maplewood featuring numerous national chains. Maplewood took on the appearance of a bustling metropolis until the popularity of shopping malls in the 1960s and ‘70s took away the appeal from urban shopping districts across the country. Today, with the return of preference for downtown shopping districts, Maplewood, with its excellent location and supportive residential environment, is again enjoying the attention it received years ago. Affordable Loose Leaf Tea & Accessories • Drinks To Go TRAVELING TEA 2707 Sutton Blvd. • Maplewood, MO 63143 Sharing Good Times • Sharing Good Tea Keeping the World Safe for Tea Enthusiasts Since 2009 travtea.com • 314-647-TTEA (8832)