Historic Clayton House Will Get New Porches, Foundation Repairs

Donations secured by the Clayton Century Foundation will fund a majority of the Hanley House project, budgeted at $182,000.

The historic Martin Franklin Hanley House just north of downtown Clayton will receive new porches and repairs to its stone-masonry foundation over the next several months. Aldermen voted Tuesday to approve a work contract with Brentwood-based JW Fuller Construction. A budget of $182,000 has been set for the project, $115,000 of which comes from funding secured by the nonprofit Clayton Century Foundation. Donors are Susan B. Hanley, the Langenberg Foundation and the Trulaske Foundation. A total of four companies submitted bids for the work, and all of the bids were over the initial $159,500 project budget, a memo from City Manager Craig Owens and parks director Patty DeForrest states. The city negotiated with JW Fuller to reduce its costs …

• Photos (1)

Shaw Park Trail Construction Set to Begin in Clayton

An Ellisville company has won a contract totaling approximately $421,000 for the project.

Construction on a new recreational trail in Clayton's Shaw Park is set to begin late this month after aldermen unanimously approved a contract for the project at a Tuesday meeting. Ellisville-based Krupp Construction will be responsible for the demolition and installation of new asphalt trails, landscaping and a trail connector running between the Shaw Park Ice Rink and Shaw Park Tennis Center, among other components, a memo from City Manager Craig Owens and parks director Patty DeForrest states. The project budget totals approximately $421,000, including a $30,000 contingency. A majority of the money for the project comes from fundraising by the Clayton Century Foundation. Donors include Brown Shoe ($150,000), the Moneta Group and the …

• Photos (1)

101-Year-Old Man Remembers Clayton Without Skyscrapers

Carl Rogge graduated from Clayton High School in 1928 and plans to celebrate his 102nd birthday with family in October.

Carl Rogge was born Oct. 11, 1910, more than two years before Clayton became a city. He has lived and worked in Clayton, and he graduated from Clayton High School in 1928. His father-in-law, Henry Duffner, helped build the original high school building as well as St. Joseph Catholic Church on Maryland Avenue. He knows a wealth of stories about St. Louis and the ways the region has changed over the course of the last century. Take, for example, the fact that Rogge's proudest St. Louis moment is having watched Babe Ruth play at the old Sportsman's Park on Grand Avenue. He and a cousin sat up all night outside the stadium, which opened at noon the next day. Rogge recalls sleeping through part of the game. He attended Mt. Olive Grade School. …

• Photos (1)

The Wilson School Holds 100th Birthday Party in Clayton

The event happened at the former Maryland School, which is hosting classes while renovations are made at the DeMun Avenue campus after a fire earlier in the year.

Students, parents and staff of The Wilson School in Clayton celebrated the institution's 100th birthday Friday evening with circus performers, cupcake-decorating and a proclamation from the city. Visitors also brought more than 100 birthday boxes and gift bags containing such items as cake mix, frosting, decorations and candles to benefit Operation Food Search. (See photos of the 100th birthday party at facebook.com/ClaytonRichmondHeightsPatch.) "I think we are even measurably more together now," said Head of School Thad Falkner, describing how faculty, students, parents and other community members reacted after a fire at The Wilson School earlier in the year. He has led the school for seven years and worked there 13. Friday's party …

• Photos (1)

100 Years of Clayton Business

Jack Taylor Turned Enterprise in Clayton Into Car-Rental Empire

The company started by this Clayton High School graduate began with two employees. Enterprise Holdings now employs 70,000 people worldwide, and thousands of them work in Clayton.

Enterprise Holdings founder Jack Taylor grew up in St. Louis, graduated from Clayton High School and attended Westminster College and Washington University in St. Louis, a company biography states. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor was bombed, and he served as an F6F Hellcat fighter pilot while based with the U.S.S. Essex and U.S.S. Enterprise. After he came back to St. Louis, he started a trucking company in Clayton before accepting a sales job with Lindburg Cadillac in 1948, the biography states. Less than a decade later, he launched his own company—then called Executive Leasing—in the same building. While he no longer works actively with Enterprise, a family connection remains: His son, Andrew C. Taylor, is its chief …

• Photos (5)

Clayton Blossomed Around Courthouse (Spoiler: No Overnight Campout)

A new book co-authored by St. Louis Beacon reporter Mary Delach Leonard chronicles compelling moments—and legends—in the city's 100-year history. The city celebrates its centennial in 2013.

A forthcoming history book titled "Clayton, Missouri: An Urban History" is written by St. Louis Beacon reporter Mary Delach Leonard and commemorates Clayton's 100 years as a city. Leonard worked with her daughter, historian Melinda Leonard, on the book. The two began by reviewing previously published material, including accounts in weekly newspapers and Dickson Terry's book "Clayton: A History". "It offered a good place to start," Leonard said. They also spoke with many people familiar with the city's history. (Be the first to get the next Clayton centennial update — subscribe to the free Patch email newsletter.) It's not the first history Leonard has written. Her commemorative book "Animals Always: 100 Years at the St. Louis Zoo" …

• Photos (1)

100 Years of Clayton Business

Meet the Man Who Owned Much of Downtown Clayton

The late Solon Gershman transformed the city's commercial landscape with his real estate firm and mortgage business, each of which has been in operation for more than 55 years, employees who knew him said.

In 1948, Solon Gershman hired about a dozen people and began transforming Clayton's commercial real estate landscape. He bought up properties throughout downtown and built several of his own along Hanley Road. Now, Solon Gershman Inc. manages about 7.5 million square feet of retail, office and industrial space, a significant portion of which is in Clayton. Meanwhile, Gershman Mortgage—founded in 1953—services a portfolio of mortgages valued at more than $1 billion. Be the first to read our next article on Clayton's centennial. Sign up for our morning news blast: clayton-richmondheights.patch.com/newsletters "Solon was one of the best believers in Clayton," said Edward Balk, executive vice president of the commercial real estate company. …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

100 Years of Clayton Business

Dominic Michael Salon Owner Recounts 30 Years in Clayton

Dominic Bertani began as a salon employee in Richmond Heights and went on to launch his own company, which now employs roughly 75 people across St. Louis.

Dominic Bertani started out as an employee at a small Richmond Heights salon on Clayton Road.  He decided to launch his own business in Clayton after a review of clients' ZIP codes indicated the city would be a central location. He opened Dominic Michael Salon in 1982 at a building on Forsyth Boulevard. It had interesting architectural detail, great windows and a parking lot in the back. At the time, the building sat on the periphery of Clayton. In the ensuing 30 years, Bertani's salon tripled in size, offering hair, nail and skin-repair services. The city also grew. "I've watched the City of Clayton expand so that it's right across the street from me," he said. Bertani started out as the company's sole employee. Six months later, he hired…

• Photos (2)

2013 Clayton Projects: Wydown Upgrades, Oak Knoll Playground, More

The suggested improvements are listed in the city's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Capital projects planned during the upcoming fiscal year in Clayton include the continued resurfacing of Wydown Boulevard, new streetlights downtown and the replacement of the playground at Oak Knoll Park. Those and other plans are highlighted in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, which begins Oct. 1. A public hearing about the budget is planned at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at City Hall. The Clayton Board of Aldermen is expected to take a final vote on the budget Sept. 11. According to a city document, a capital project: The images and captions above have been adapted from the city's budget document to preview projects planned in the upcoming year. Questions about this report may be directed to nate.birt@patch.com. Be sure to tell us which …

• Photos (14)

Clayton History Book Captures City's 100 Years

Here's how to reserve the centennial volume ahead of the festivities.

History buffs can now reserve an autographed copy of a forthcoming book that chronicles Clayton's 100 years. The book, titled "Clayton, Missouri: An Urban Story," can be reserved for $35 on the City of Clayton website. The price includes shipping, and all proceeds benefit the Clayton Century Foundation, which promotes civic projects in light of the city's 100th birthday next year. Mary Delach Leonard authored the volume with help from historian Melinda Leonard. It will be released in October. More information is available by going to the City of Clayton website.

• Photos (1)