Mayor Nathan Cole predicted a period of rapid growth for St. Louis. He said “The smoke will roll heavenward from her furnaces, mills, machine shops and factories and shall cover like a silver sheen her hills and valleys far and near.” The ecology movement wasn’t in full swing yet.
This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.
