Chatillon-DeMenil Communiqué, Volume 8 - Winter 2026

Bill Hart -- a life well lived

by Anna Hart Shelton

William “Bill” Hart, born April 26, 1955 to Anna Lee (Otte) and Thomas Leroy Hart in Perryville, MO, passed away suddenly on December 28, 2025. His passing leaves a profound void in the lives of all who knew and loved him. Bill was deeply devoted to his family and friends, and his loss is felt far beyond the circle of those closest to him.

Bill was elected President of the Chatillon-DeMenil House Foundation in 2000 and remained a loyal member of the Board until his passing.

Each July, our annual Bastille Day celebration was anchored by a tradition that many of us carry in our hearts to this day. No gathering felt complete without Bill Hart honoring the spirit of the occasion; with his characteristic passion, Bill would cap the celebration by reading The Rights of Man, reminding us all of the enduring values of liberty and equality. Of course, the true crescendo of the afternoon came when he would lead the entire crowd in a spirited, roof-raising rendition of La Marseillaise. Bill’s enthusiasm was infectious, turning a simple garden party into a powerful tribute to history and fellowship that remains a cherished highlight of our community’s story.

Bill was selfless to his core. He would help anyone who needed it—without hesitation, without expectation, and often without being asked. Whether offering practical assistance, thoughtful advice, or quiet support, Bill gave freely of his time and energy. A stranger to no one, he had an extraordinary gift for connection, making people feel seen, heard, and valued within just moments of meeting him. His kindness, humor, and genuine interest in others left lasting impressions wherever he went.

Bill was an expert on Missouri history, with a remarkable ability to bring the state’s past to life through stories, insight, and thoughtful conversation. He believed history was not just about dates and places, but about people and the lessons they leave behind.

Bill was trained not just in preservation theory, but practice as well. He restored several historic buildings of his own and started his own company as a developer and general contractor, and received awards from the Dutchtown South Community Corporation, the Home Builders Association of St. Louis, and the Landmarks Association of St. Louis.

Bill is survived by his partner, George; his mother-in-law, Mary Ann, his stepdaughter, Madison (Josh) Doggett, and grandchildren Harrison and Imogene; and his siblings Tom (Wanda) Hart, Julie Hart Cramer, Clare (Jerry) Bergman, John “Odie” (Donna) Hart, Mary (Kirk) Schremp, Jim (Cheryl) Hart, Bob (Linda) Hart, and Lee Anna Hart. He also leaves behind 20 nieces and nephews, 42 great nieces and nephews, 9 great/great nieces and nephews, and many extended family members and friends who will cherish his memory always.

Though his life ended far too soon, Bill’s legacy lives on in the love he shared, the help he so freely gave, the knowledge he passed down, and the countless lives he touched. He will be remembered for his open heart, generous spirit, curious mind, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people.

A celebration of his life will be held on February 28, 2026, from 1-4pm at the American Legion located at 98 Grand Ave. in Perryville, Missouri, as well as a later celebration to honor Bill in St. Louis on April 26th at the DeMenil Mansion (announcement to follow later in the Spring).

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The Complex Life of Dr. Henry Nicholas DeMenil

In this edition of our newsletter, we examine the life of Henry Nicholas DeMenil (1879–1924). His story is one of transition—bridging the gap between the rigid expectations of a 19th-century St. Louis legacy and the rapid, often turbulent changes of the early 20th century.

Early Years and Tragedy

Henry was born in 1879 to Alexander Nicholas DeMenil and Lillian Roberts DeMenil. While his birth was a moment of celebration, it was shadowed by a devastating family tragedy: the death of his older brother, Willian. At just two years old, Willian perished in a kitchen accident, leaving Henry as the focal point of the family's future.

Henry’s youth was defined by the discipline of the Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois. By age 16, he was already carving a path of duty, spending his summer of 1895 in military camp—a precursor to his eventual service in the Great War.

A Physician and a Marriage of Note

Henry eventually pursued a career in medicine, becoming a physician in St. Louis. In August 1911, Dr. DeMenil, then 31, went to California and married Matilda Cornet, a St. Louis native living in Pasadena who was 17 years his senior.

Mathilda Cornet DeMenil

The couple’s early years were marked by international travel. In early 1914, they arrived in France, seeking a passport in Paris just months before the outbreak of World War I. However, by August 1914, records show Henry returning to Ellis Island from France, seemingly unaccompanied—a harbinger of the physical and emotional distance that would grow between him and Matilda.

War and a Turning Point

Henry’s military background resurfaced in September 1918, when he enlisted in the Army as the war reached its final stages. He served through the demobilization period until 1920, a year that would prove to be the most pivotal of his life.

By 1920, Henry and Matilda had been living largely separate lives—he in St. Louis and she in Pasadena. In a passport application, Matilda described her struggles with "neuritis and neurasthenia" and her plan to seek healing and musical study in Europe.

A History of Independence

Matilda's legal deposition as part of her passport application, revealed that she was a woman of independent means, supported by a trust from her father, Henry J. Cornet. In September 1920, her divorce from Henry was finalized.

A New Chapter and Legacy

The autumn of 1920 moved at a breakneck pace for Henry. Just one month after his divorce from Matilda was finalized, the 40-year-old doctor married Edna Haley in Hillsboro, Missouri.

This second marriage brought a new sense of domesticity. Henry and Edna had three children: Lorraine (b. 1920), Eleanor (b. 1922), and Richard (b. 1924)

Tragically, Henry’s time with his new family (above) was short-lived. He passed away in 1924, the same year his son, Richard, was born. His image in the photograph above was most likely added after his death. At the height of World War II, Pvt. Richard N. DeMenil, was killed in action in Italy at just 20 years old.

Matilda Cornet DeMenil lived out her days in California, passing away in Los Angeles in 1936 but returning to St. Louis one final time to be buried at Calvary Cemetery.

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Can you identify this oddity from our collection?

Can you identify this object? The solution and a description is printed below.

This clever gadget is a Victorian-era “Silent Comforter,” also known as a “Scripture Roller” or “Roller Bible.”

Popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these were used by people who were ill, bedridden, or elderly. Because a full-sized family Bible was heavy and difficult to handle, these rollers allowed the user to read prayers, hymns, and scripture simply by turning the knobs.

The Mechanism: It works like a scroll. By turning the wooden finials (knobs) on the sides, the paper advances from one internal wooden spool to the other.

The Content: The text of this Silent Comforter contains religious hymns and moral teachings. Cose inspection shows the text of the poem “The Family Bible.” (The family Bible that lay on the stand) and a section on “Temperance,” which was a major social and religious movement during the Victorian era.

The Woodwork: The dark, turned wood (likely mahogany or walnut) is characteristic of Victorian craftsmanship, designed to look elegant on a bedside table or in a parlor.

Why Was It Called a “Silent Comforter”?

The name comes from its purpose: to provide spiritual peace and mental focus without the physical strain of holding a book or the need for a second person to read aloud. It was a “silent” companion for someone in recovery or quiet reflection.

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Notes D'actualité

Hold-to-Light Postcards

During the recent snow covered weeks, we have spent time refurbishing the display for the Hold-to-light (HTL) postcards from our 1904 St. Louis World's Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition) collection. They are popular collectible novelty souvenirs featuring cut-out sections with colored tissue backing. When held to a light source these cards reveal hidden details like illuminated windows, glowing moons, or festive nighttime scenes of Fair buildings. Often produced by the Samuel Cupples Envelope Company, they typically feature key attractions like the Palace of Mines & Metallurgy, the Education Building, or the Missouri State Building.

You will recognize a well-known St. Louis landmark, Brooking’s Hall (second row, middle) which served as the Administration Building for the Fair. Constructed between 1900-1902 as "University Hall," this Collegiate Gothic landmark was leased to the fair organizers. Today, it remains the iconic administrative center for Washington University in St. Louis, facing Forest Park, home of the Fair.

Descendants of Bear Robe, Henri Chatillon's Oglala Sioux wife (from left, front row) Janis Allen, Patsy Larson, and Wilma Tope, joined Board President Mary Hayward, Board member Mimi Stiritz, and Lulu (our mascot) during a Saturday visit in the Fall. These three sisters from three Western states joined us for a tour and sharing of stories.

Chatillon-DeMenil Communiqué, Volume 7 - Fall 2025

Chanteau - Chatillon - Chouteau: Genealogical Chaos

by Irma Robinson Miller

Emily Chatillon Lessert

The name Chouteau has long been synonymous with the Western frontier and the fur trade. With a famous French name for an ancestor, it seems a cinch to be able to find one Henry Chouteau whom family tradition claimed. My mother had been told by her grandmother, Emily Lessert, the following history.

Emily said that she was born about 1841 to a French father and a full-blooded Oglala Sioux Indian mother at Deer Creek near Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When she was a small child, her mother died. Her father, who was in the fur trade, took Emily to his good friend Joseph Bissonnette, who had an Oglala wife, to “raise” with his children. In her half French, half Indian English speech, Emily told her grandchildren that her father's name was Hillee Chanteau which the family interpreted to be Henry Chouteau. She was very fond of her father and had only the most pleasant memories of him.

When Emily was of marriageable age, she readily accepted her father's choice of husband for her. He brought Louis Benjamin Lessert, the son of Clement Lessert and Julia Roy of Kansas City, to Wyoming territory. She then made the long trip to St. Louis with her father to be married. After their marriage in St. Louis, they went to Walnut Creek, Kansas, then to La Porte, Colorado, before going to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota where the Agency was established. The rest of the story I know very well, having been born and raised near the Pine Ridge Reservation. The Lesserts raised five children of which there are many descendants.

My mother was certain that, since there had been a close relationship between the Chouteau family, Emily's father, and the Lesserts, that her grandmother must indeed have been the daughter of a Chouteau. But grandmother Emily had pronounced the name with a different sound. She had inserted an N in the first syllable. In Louis Benjamin Lessert’s obituary, his wife's maiden name was stated as Emily Chanteau. And that she married him on New Year's Day in 1855 in St. Louis, while Emily's obituary said that she and Lessert were married at Deer Creek, Wyoming on New Year's Day 1858.

Armed with these contradictory statistics, my mother and I began in 1959 the search for Emily's identity. After several unsuccessful visits to the Missouri Valley room of the Kansas City Public Library, the hunt was abandoned. We could not find anything that would tie us to the founder of Kansas City as well as St. Louis, the Chouteau family.

In 1977 I resumed the hunt in earnest by reading every book that I could find on the fur trade and Fort Laramie. I went over the Chouteau genealogy until I knew all the Henry Chouteaus personally, but I could not place one in the Fort Laramie area at the time of Emily's conception or birth. Having been told that Sioux and most Indian genealogy was nearly impossible to trace before 1870, I avoided that line of attack as long as possible.

Finally, I wrote a letter to the Census and Probate office at the Pine Ridge Agency requesting information on Emily Chouteau Lessert’s ancestry. Their reply brought a pedigree chart with: #1 my name, #3 my mother’s name, #7 Ollie Lessert (my grandmother), and #15 Emily Shatilyout (Chatillon? or Chouteau)… this followed by the notation: “She was born about 1839, we are unable to find anything regarding her ancestry.”

The question mark after Chatillon caught my eye. The name was a complete surprise to me. The Shatilyout I chose to ignore. The pronunciation, I knew, had to be the key. Instinctively I knew that I had a solid clue in the Chatillon name. A French dictionary also gave me an insight (the only words of French I knew consisted of Maurice and Chevalier) as to why the name had confused the family in differentiating Chanteau, Chatillon, and Chouteau. To the unfamiliar ear and three languages spoken -- genealogical chaos.

After receiving the Agency’s pedigree chart… it became my obsession to find Henry Chatillon. In the many books that contained references to him, historian Francis Parkman’s Oregon Trail seemed to be the authority on most of the footnotes. I checked it out of the library. His name jumped out at me from the pages of Parkman’s book.

Parkman had gone to Fort Laramie in 1846 to get a firsthand look at the American Indian. In St. Louis, the Chouteaus had given him a letter of introduction to their trading posts and provided Henry Chatillon as hunter and guide. Henry arranged for the party to live with his wife's Sioux family in the Fort Laramie area, and Parkman had recorded the events which included the death of Henry's wife, his visit to Joseph Bissonnette, and the arranging for the care of his children. It was exactly as Emily had told her granddaughter many years before.

I travelled to St. Louis to search records. One of the two volumes of St. Louis Marriages published by the St. Louis Genealogical Society revealed a record of marriage for Emily Chatillon and Benjamin LaPorte on 3 January 1859.

On leaving the motel, I picked up a tourist guide to places of interest in St. Louis. The Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion was listed. In answer to my request for more information, I received a brochure. In the leaflet a paragraph described a painting in the house which was believed to be of Chatillon and his Sioux wife, Bear Robe.

Bear Robe

The Oregon Trail edition that I had read did not mention Henry's wife by name. I checked out a later edition and indeed found that his wife was named Bear Robe and the events of her death in more detail. Another trip to St. Louis in September 1980 to visit the Missouri Historical Society, this time to look at St. Louis church records. Records of baptisms and marriages of Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Church in Carondelet stated that Emily Chatillon of the Sioux tribe had been baptized on 31 December 1858. On three January 1859 she was united in marriage to Benjamin Lessert at the same church.

Emily Chatillon as depicted in the Bear Robe portrait

Epilogue: In Parkman's story of Bear Robe’s death, he made much of the fact that she was lame. A horse (as seen in her portrait) was killed and placed with her body for transportation in the spirit world. I have found a very interesting trait in the women of the family that coincides with this physical defect that Parkland states Bear Robe had. Bear robe was very lame. Emily, her daughter, was not. Susie, Emily’s second daughter, was very lame. Viola, Susie’s daughter, was not. Ilene, Viola’s second daughter, is slightly lame.

From the article CHANTEAU – CHATILLON – CHOUTEAU: Genealogical Chaos, by Irma Robinson Miller, published in the St. Louis Genealogical Society’s Spring 1981 Quarterly. Reprinted with permission.

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The Quiet, Sporting Life of George DeMenil

George Shelley DeMenil (1890-1957) was a lifelong St. Louisan born into one of the city's prominent families. As the son of the well-known litterateur, developer, and supporter of French culture Dr. Alexander Nicholas DeMenil and his wife Bessie, George's life was intertwined with the city's history, from the grand preparations for a World's Fair to the urban renewal projects of the mid-20th century. His middle name, Shelly, was in honor of one of his literary journalist father’s favorite poets, Percy Bysshe Shelly.

A Privileged Youth

Born on July 12, 1890, George enjoyed a comfortable childhood. The family's wealth and social standing were evident early on; in 1899, the DeMenil family were significant financial subscribers to the upcoming World's Fair, with nine-year-old George personally listed for a $250 contribution. Newspaper clippings from the early 1900s paint a picture of a young man who traveled with his family, taking trips to Atlantic City and Saylor Springs, Illinois. By 1908, he was listed as a student living at the family's stately Greek Revival mansion at 3352 South 13th Street, now DeMenil Place.

Hobbies, Marriage, and Family Life

As a young man, George developed a passion for modern sporting pursuits. In 1915, he was an entrant in the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association regatta with his 20-foot hydroplane boat, "Whiskers," which could reach speeds of over 33 miles per hour. In April 1917, George married Ida M. Good. The wedding was a quiet affair due to the illness of his mother. George and Ida went on to have two children, a son, N.N. DeMenil, who died in infancy, and a daughter, Marian A. DeMenil, who had a distinguished career as a mathematician and coach.

An Interest in Animals

Later in life, his interests turned to animals. He and his wife became active in the beagle club community, competing in field trials throughout the 1930s and 40s. His hound, Dem's Molly, was even named the outstanding sporting dog at the 1940 Second Annual Sportsman's Show. He also owned and bred horses, purchasing the thoroughbred C.S. Queenie in 1937, who sired numerous foals for him. His expertise in animal sporting competition was recognized in 1950 when he served as a judge for the St. Louis Beagle Club's annual pack stake event.

George (left) and his brother Henry

Inheritance and Real Estate

Upon his father's death in 1928, George became the administrator of a substantial estate valued at nearly $1.34 million. As one of the legal heirs, he received one-third of the estate, which included the DeMenil Building downtown and 23 parcels of real estate. He inherited the family home on 13th Street, but after living there for only a year, he and Ida moved to a new home on Pennsylvania Avenue. The area between International Shoe (the old Lemp Brewery which failed during Prohibition) and Anheuser-Bush had become heavily industrialized, and the shoe company had installed a tannery on their premises. George placed the 13th Street residence in the hands of caretakers, and it was operated as a rooming house until its eventual sale in 1945 to Lee Hess, who used part of the estate as the entrance to his tourist attraction, The Cherokee Caves.

The area around the DeMenil property is riddled with natural limestone caves, which were used for lagering beer (storing during fermentation) by the Lemp and other breweries in the 19th century. Opening in 1950, the attraction featured a museum of curiosities and tours of the vast caverns. A key part of the tour was the cave's path directly beneath the foundations of the house. The DeMenil House Foundation purchased the mansion from the state highway commission, saving it from destruction from the construction of Interstate 55. While Cherokee Caves were sealed by the highway construction, George DeMenil's boyhood home remains a significant St. Louis landmark.

In 1954, George and his family played a role in the changing face of downtown St. Louis. They sold two tenement buildings on Chestnut Street, which had been in the family since 1880, to the Land Clearance for Urban Redevelopment Authority. The sale, marked by a ceremony with Mayor Raymond R. Tucker, cleared the way for the development of Memorial Plaza which runs from Union Station to the Soldier’s Memorial along Market Street.

George S. DeMenil died of lung cancer on March 19, 1957, at the age of 66. The following year, his widow Ida and daughter Marian sold their residence on Pennsylvania Avenue and purchased a new home in Holly Hills from former St. Louis mayor Aloys P. Kaufmann.

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Notes D'actualité

With winter in the offing, it was time to spruce up our public facing cast iron fence along DeMenil Place. After scaping, priming, and two coat of paint is a definite improvement on the before.

Once we saw how the new paint brought the front fence to life, we thought that the gazebo could use some love. We added some Haint Blue color to the ceiling to match the porches of the main house and the pavilion. Notice the detail of the iron work around the top.

A wonderful perquisite of our annual Bastille Day celebration in mid July is the chance it gives us to dress up! Not in wigs, corsets, and bustles, but in bunting and banners. This year's celebration profitably entertained members and the public with French style ham and cheese sandwiches (croques monsieur), tiny cups of vichyssoise soup, French Twists (vodka, lemonade, and sparkling water), the latest in French wines, Schlafly summer brews, and the music of the Parisian jazz trio, Dizzy Atmosphere.

So far this past Spring and Summer, we have hosted a rehearsal dinner, two weddings, and a proposal, and we have reservations so far for four events in May through September of 2026.

Below is the gazebo dressed up for a surprise (!) proposal.

Chatillon-DeMenil Communiqué, Volume 6 - Summer 2025

Aphrodite Gas Lamp Globe Replacement

The front hall's Aphrodite gas (now electrified) lamp

Entering the main house’s front hall in the 1870s, you would have been met with Cornelius and Baker’s gasolier portraying Aphrodite arising from her scallop shell lighting your way. In the late 1950s, surviving thirty-five years as rooming house illumination, Aphrodite still cast her spell in the front hall, although with a different globe. By the time the house underwent a complete restoration and opened as a museum in the 1960s, Aphrodite had again a different globe.

Aphrodite's new globe, a gift from McAvoy Realty

Enter Mike McAvoy of McAvoy Realty. Ever since he moved into Lafayette Square in the 1970s, he has been exploring and studying the world of Victorian furniture and lighting. When he saw our 4-inch globe on Aphrodite, he recognized that she would have had a 2 5/8-inch fitter, the ring that supports a lamp’s glass globe, in her original configuration.

Electrified around the time of the World's Fair in 1902, she would have still carried a globe with the smaller size fitter.

Mike imagines that someone broke the globe (think errant broomstick or a carried ladder) and, because the original 2 2/5-inch globes were difficult to find, substituted a 4 inch globe and increased the size of the fitter. But the style of the latest globe was wrong for the Victorian lamp.

Part of Mike McAvoy's Gasolier Globe Collection

Mike researched and selected five globes from his collection and offered our House Committee a chance to pick the one most appropriate to Aphrodite in 2025, one hundred and fifty years after she first graced our house.

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Lafayette, the DAR, and Our Southern Windows

On April 26th, the Olde Towne Fenton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a special reception at the mansion honoring General Lafayette and commemorating the 100th anniversary of his 1825 tour of the United States. The event featured a captivating portrayal of General Lafayette by Michael Halbert, bringing to life the spirit of the French hero who significantly contributed to America's independence in 1776.

The DAR Committee welcomes General Lafayette

The reception beautifully highlighted the deep historical ties between the Lafayette legacy and one of St. Louis's most prominent founding families. The 1836 marriage of Sophie Chouteau to Nicolas DeMenil (1812-1882), a French-trained physician and pharmacist from Foug, France, cemented this connection. Nicolas's family boasted relations by marriage to the Lafayettes and even furnished several officers to the American fight for independence, including Baron Vio-Menil, who served as Rochambeau's lieutenant.

Sophie Chouteau DeMenil (1813-1874), a figure of "French Creole aristocracy," was a direct descendant of the very founders and earliest settlers of St. Louis. Her lineage traces back to Pierre Laclede (1729-1778) and Marie Therese Bourgeois Chouteau (1773-1814). She was the granddaughter of Pierre Chouteau (1758-1849) and the daughter of his son, Auguste Pierre Chouteau (1786-1838), an early graduate of West Point in 1806.

When General Lafayette visited St. Louis on April 29, 1825, it was Sophie’s grandfather, Pierre Chouteau, who first hosted him with a grand public "open-house" reception, followed by a dinner at his home that Sophie and her family most likely attended. Her uncle, Auguste Chouteau (1750-1829), also played a significant role in Lafayette's welcoming ceremonies.

Foundation President Mary Hayward and Michael Halbert

The family's dedication to their French heritage continued through Sophie and Nicolas's son, Alexander DeMenil (1849-1928). A proud advocate of his French ancestry throughout his life, Alexander played a crucial role in the preparations for the 100th anniversary of General Lafayette’s visit to St. Louis in 1923. For this occasion, he authored the booklet “Lafayette,” reminding Americans of the French General’s vital contribution to American liberty. Alexander also served as honorary chairman of the "Lafayette Celebration Committee" and passionately urged the adoption of President Coolidge’s suggestion that September 6th (Lafayette’s birthday) be nationally proclaimed "Lafayette Day." He famously noted that “Lafayette and Washington will live in the memory of men when Caesar and Napoleon will be forgotten.”

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Subsequent to the reception, the Cornelia Green Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, generously supported the restoration of fifteen windows on the south side (Cherokee Street side) of the mansion. Kennedy Painting undertook the meticulous project, which involved:

--Carefully removing old paint without damaging the historic wood, followed by priming with a high-quality primer specifically designed for historic surfaces.

--Replacing damaged or cracked glazing, installing new glazing putty, and inserting new glass panes where needed.

--Applying multiple coats of historically accurate paint color to the window frames, sashes, and trim.

Below. before and after restoration: a sill on the west-facing Chatillon parlor window

These restoration efforts ensure that this magnificent piece of St. Louis history continues to stand as a testament to the city's rich past and its enduring connections to American and French heritage.

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Notes D'actualité

-- We are working with a Cherokee neighbor, Nistenhaus Design, to increase utilization of our Carriage House and patio. Already scheduled is an early-August wedding. Already held was a mid-June proposal in the gazebo.

-- The Cherokee-Lemp special Business District, as one of its last acts before its dissolution, gave the Chatillon-DeMenil House Foundation its parking lot at 1907-1909 Cherokee Street. Credit for this generous gift goes to Shashi Palamand, a member of our Board of Directors, who engineered the transfer.

-- We have engaged Reedy Press of St. Louis to supply us with local and regional book titles for sale in our recently relocated Gift Shop in the Carriage House office area.

-- We have recently republished two articles from the January 1966 Missouri Historical Society Bulletin, Henry Chatillon, by Mrs. James O'Leary, and The Chatillon-DeMenil House, by Gerhardt Kramer. The reprint is for sale in the Gift Shop for $5.

-- We have added Guest WiFi to our ammenities available for our visitors.

-- Thanks to a generous donation from Jane Gleason, Dennis Boehle's tree service manicured the magnolia trees surrounding the patio.

-- Our recent Trivia Night, held in conjunction with Campbell and Field Houses at the IBEW Hall, was a great success, raising money for all three houses in what has become an annual Spring event.

-- We have added an additional handrail to the stairs from the 2nd floor front hallway to the 3rd floor which houses the Joseph Meisel World’s Fair Collection.

-- Mary McCartney of St. Louis generously donated to our World's Fair collections the ten volume set of Louisiana and the Fair, published in 1904, being an "exposition of the world, its people, and their achievements."

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The Literature of the Louisiana Territory

by Alexander Nicolas DeMenil

and a

Shared Journey on the Mississippi

In 1902, two notable figures with strong ties to St. Louis found themselves on the same steamboat journey, though whether their paths truly intersected remains a fascinating mystery. Alex DeMenil, a prominent St. Louis literary figure and scion of a distinguished local family, was aboard a steamboat out of St. Louis. His mission? To act as a translator for French visitors, preparing for the grand 1904 World's Fair.

Also on board was none other than Mark Twain, the beloved American author, as part of one of his lecture tours across the country. A ceremony on board took place to honor him, renaming the harbor boat the Mark Twain.

Despite their shared voyage and the boat's namesake tribute, we don't know for certain if DeMenil and Twain ever met or spoke that day. However, a popular rumor suggests that Alex DeMenil held a less-than-favorable opinion of Samuel Clemens (Twain's real name), reportedly considering him a "savage" who wrote "about common people, using common language."

This rumored disdain seems to be supported by DeMenil's later writings. In an article about Samuel Clemens published two years after their time together on the Mark Twain, within his essay collection titled Literature of the Louisiana Territory, DeMenil sharply criticized Twain's work. He wrote that Twain "violated nearly all the canons of literary art," employed "themes (that) were thoroughly commonplace," was "coarse," and "unnatural and straining after effect." Perhaps the most cutting remark was DeMenil's assertion that Twain "lacks the education absolutely necessary to a great writer."

It's intriguing to consider the potential encounter, or lack thereof, between these two men and the stark contrast in their literary philosophies. While one championed the voice of the common person, the other upheld more traditional literary standards. Their shared journey on the Mississippi offers a glimpse into the diverse literary landscape of the era, and the enduring debate over what constitutes "great writing."

Chatillon-DeMenil Communiqué, Volume 5 - Spring 2025

Our Papin-Schramm Dollhouse Restoration

Before and after

One of the favorite objects for visitors to the the mansion is the late 19th century FAO Schwarz dollhouse in the children's bedroom on the second floor donated to the foundation by Julie Vion Papin. She and her husband, Bernard Schramm, helped restore the Jean Baptiste Valle house in Ste. Genevieve, another piece of Creole history. The dollhouse, however, was in sad condition. This past winter was the perfect time to make the dollhouse more accessible to visitors while bringing it back to its original naïve grandeur.

After discovering what appeared to be the dollhouse maker's signature and a paper label and part or serial number on the underside of the first floor, we contacted FAO Schwarz, but they were unable to provide any information on the house's creator or it's provenance before the Schramms because the present company had been bought and sold so many times that its toy records had been lost.

Our restoration staff started with some crucial structural and cosmetic fixes to the facade. Mending and swapping broken and missing wooden pieces on the front was key to getting the house looking shipshape again. The entire structure between the windows on the right side of the house's first floor was missing, as was trim above the front door. Reshaping the copper sheet and steel pin hinges on the first and second floor made opening the front of the dollhouse and rehanging the doors possible. Sourcing (at Schaefer's Hobby Shop) and crafting replacement basswood trim for the missing window pieces really revived the original character and elegance of the house.

Then came color! Someone had attempted touching up the front of the house with a whitewash-like paint, so we needed to play detective to match the original medium yellow and light green paints – a perfect way to honor the period. Once we analysed and experimented with the hues, repainting the front and carefully re-establishing those corner quoin, window, and door trim lines added the necessary crisp detail. We left the attempts at exerior decorating on the sides and the back as is, not wishing to over-restore the 150 year-old dollhouse. (FAO Schwarz was founded in Baltimore in 1862 and opened its store in New York city in 1870).

Repairing the front wall of the house, showing the original wallpaper

Moving inside, giving the existing curtains some TLC, finding modern lace replacements for those missing, "aging" them in a tea solution, and then putting them all back in place added a final touch of cozy authenticity.

Finally, we installed clear acrylic rods between floors to "explode" the house, showcasing each floor's interior while maintaining the shape of the mansard roofed dwelling – a modern touch that enhances the viewer's experience.

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Repairing our 1876 Carriage House Doorframe

Here follows a tale of two eras colliding. We've just finished the restoration of our 1863 Carriage House doorframe, which underwent repairs back in 1963 when Fred Weber helped us restore the Carriage House. Peeling back those layers has revealed some surprising secrets.

When investigating some stubborn hinges, we found a layer of seriously rotten wood lurking behind the bottom ones. To get a real look at what we were dealing with, those 1963 trim pieces had to come off. This gave us access to the original fastenings of the 1863 frame.

Preparing the frame for removal

We carefully removed the bottom 18 inches of the original doorframe. As we worked on the opening itself, we discovered that the original 1863 brick had crucrumbled into dust. We replaced that dusty brick with super-durable, ground-contact treated heart pine.

what we discovered behind the frame

We scarfed in a new bottom section of hardwood (using a mahogany-like sapele), creating a strong, almost invisible joint with the existing upper frame and refastening it to the sound upper portion of the original 1863 frame.

Mortising the bottom hinge into the frame allowed us to rehang the door in its original position with its circa 1963 hardware. We then restored or replaced the trim pieces respecting both eras of the doorframe's history.

The restored frame with a new threshold

To complete the revival, a brand new threshold was created before a fresh coat of paint on the entire doorframe tied everything together, protecting for years to come the door we use multiple times each and every day.

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Volute Repair

Remember those summer winds we had last August? Mother Nature had a targeted strike in mind for the mansion – specifically, one of the elegant Ionic columns gracing the back of the house.

For those unfamiliar, the Ionic column is a cornerstone of classical architecture, known for its graceful proportions and, most notably, the volute. Think of it as a sophisticated, spiral scroll nestled at the top of the column's capital – a real architectural flourish. And wouldn't you know it, one of these beauties decided to take an unscheduled detour during the storm!

A volute at the capitol of one of our Ionic columns

We discovered the fallen volute the day after the storm. It was a tangible piece of history, right there on the ground. These volutes aren't just decorative; they're integral to the character and style of our Greek Revival mansion.

Enter Todd Whaley, a friend of Peter Wollenberg from Wollenberg Building Conservation, and quite the architectural superhero! Armed with a towering 32-foot ladder and a very positive attitude, Todd stepped in to rescue our wayward volute.

His mission wasn't a simple glue job. First, he meticulously cleaned away any rotten wood that had succumbed to time and the elements. Then came the careful repair work, using epoxy and even adding new pieces of wood where needed, breathing new life into the damaged scroll. Finally, he prepped it for its ascent back to its rightful place, drilling holes for the crucial screws that would secure it.

A feat of daring-do by Todd Whaley

The image of Todd scaling that ladder, the volute held securely in one hand, is one we won't soon forget. With adhesive applied to both the volute and the capital, he skillfully aligned and fastened it back into position. As a final touch, he even painted the exposed wood, ensuring a seamless restoration.

Remarkably, Todd accomplished this incredible feat at a cost of less than 10% of the quotes we received from local large construction companies with their scafolding and hydralic lifts! It's a testament to the value of old-time cleverness, can-do craftsmanship, and the generosity of friends and dedicated preservationists.

So, the next time you're admiring the details of our Greek Revival treasure, take a closer look at the Ionic columns on the back. You'll not only see the elegant volutes in all their glory but also the story of a little architectural drama and the remarkable friends who helped us put that spiral back in its rightful place.

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What are they?

Delve into the past with us! This intriguing detail is captured from an object within our collection at the Chatillon-DeMenil House. Can you identify what these objects are and perhaps even their purposes within the history of the House?

Bonus: Do you have any memories or associations with similar items? Share your thoughts with us by sending us an email to info@demenil.org and we will share responses on our Facebook page!

Chatillon-DeMenil Communiqué, Volume 4 - Fall 2024

Dr. DeMenil's Balcony Restoration

Southern elevation

A labor of love and attention to detail, restoring Dr. DeMenil's mahogany and cast-iron balcony was a rewarding project undertaken by our old friend and master carpenter, Alex Mattan, a project generously supported by Mesdames Gleason and Love. Mahogany, known for its durability and rich color, and cast iron, a strong and versatile material, made for a stunning combination when constructed in 1863.

Alex examined the condition of the mahogany boards and cast-iron supports, looking for signs of rot, decay, rust, or structural damage. The mahogany was past saving, but the supports and railing were in good shape.

With his team, he first removed the mahogany boards and cross beams. They then cleaned old paint and rust from the cast iron supports and balcony railing. Once the supports (white) and railing (black) had been painted, the boards were replaced with new sapele mahogany planks and beams. Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) from the West African coast is a modern substitute for environmentally threatened and hard to source mahogany.

A high­quality UV proof clear acrylic wood finish protects the natural beauty of the sapele. The final step in the balcony restoration was the repair and repainting of the Jeffersonian window leading out to the balcony.

With two sashes above and double opening panels below, a Jeffersonian window, allowing egress to a porch, was supposedly conceived of (while in France) by Thomas Jefferson to avoid a tax levied on doors. DeMenil has four Jeffersonian windows on the second floor leading to the front and rear porches and Dr. DeMenil's balcony.

The south façade balcony in all its ornate glory

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Joe A. Meilsel's 1904 World's Fair Collection

Hold­To­Light Postcard of (now) WUSTL's Brookings Hall

Though the 1904 St. Louis world's fair took place years before the birth of Joe Meisel, Jr., in 1913, he became one of its biggest fans.

Joe's roots were buried deep in the city. A fourth generation Saint Louisan, he grew up here, graduating in 1930 from the first class of University City High school at its present location. He attended Washington University, earning a business degree in 1934. His grandfather, John Meisel, was co­founder of the Herket and Meisel Trunk Co., a downtown institution for nearly a century. It was best known for theatrical trunks, which were used by many entertainers, including Fred Astaire and Bob Hope, who, in his autobiography, commented, "Having an H & M Trunk was like having sterling engraved on your bottom if you were a teapot." Joe ran the family business for many years before selling it when he retired.

Thanks to its donation by his daughter, Pat McBride, Joe's collection can now be enjoyed by all who come to the ChatillonDeMenil House's third floor exhibit.

The Saint Louis World’s Fair officially opened on April 30, 1904. Over the course of the next eight months 19,694,855 people visited the fairgrounds which were in present­day Forest Park and the campus of Washington University.

This collection is especially important to our history because our very own Alexander DeMenil served on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition as the Director of the French Exhibit and translator to the French dignitaries who visited St. Louis in preparation for the Fair. The Meisel Collection holds over 1200 pieces of memorabilia ranging from the most common souvenirs one could purchase at the fair, such as HTL postcards, to the extraordinary Festival Hall clock by Mermod & Jaccard seen below.

A creation by St. Louis' premier jeweler

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Trompe L'oeil (faux painting) Throughout the House

The summer of 2023 was time to renew the sun faded mahogany front doors of the DeMenil House, but a program of scraping, staining, and varnishing was interrupted by the discovery that the beautiful twin doors were actually built of pine, faux painted to look like mahogany. It turned out that all of the mahogany doors were, in fact, faux painted first­ growth pine.

Pine Door Painted to Look Like Mahogany

While the term "faux painting" might not have been used in the 1860s, decorative painting techniques were prevalent. These techniques included: Graining, or imitating the look of wood, often used on doors and moldings; Stenciling, using patterns and designs to create decorative effects.

These techniques were often used to elevate the appearance of a room, especially in more affluent homes. They could also be used to mimic more exotic materials such as mahogany. Skilled artisans and painters were available in larger cities to create these intricate designs.

Alex DeMenil's Library's Faux Crown Molding and Ceiling Decoration

Even though the Civil War was on the horizon, there was a desire for homes to reflect America's prosperity, especially west of the Mississippi River. Decorative painting was a way to achieve a luxurious look without the expense of materials that would have had to have been imported through the Confederate States.

Why Faux Mahogany? Costeffectiveness: pine was significantly cheaper than mahogany; aesthetic appeal: mahogany was considered a high­end wood, and its rich color and grain were highly desirable. While the specific techniques used in the 19th century might differ slightly from modern methods, the general principles remain the same. Base coat: a dark brown or reddishbrown paint would be applied as a base to mimic the mahogany color; graining: artisans would use tools or brushes to create the illusion of wood grain, replicating the characteristic patterns of mahogany; glazing: a translucent glaze could be applied to add depth and richness to the finish.

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Greek Revival Architecture

The Greek Revival style was at its peak in the United States during the antebellum period, which encompasses the time leading up to the Civil War. This architectural movement was characterized by its simplicity, symmetry, and emphasis on classical Greek forms.

Designed and constructed by British born Henry Pitcher from 1861 to 1863, the DeMenil embellishments to Henry and Odile Chatillon's creole style 1851 brick farmhouse echoed the 1830 Greek Revival house of Henry Chouteau, Sophie DeMenil's cousin, which was torn down at the start of the Civil War. Some physical elements of the Chouteau house are said to been incorporated in the mansion that now crowns DeMenil Place.

Chouteau House (circa 1830 ­ 1860)

Key features of Greek Revival architecture include temple­like facades, often featuring a portico with columns supporting a pediment; symmetrical design, with balanced proportions and layout; classical details such as moldings, cornices, and other decorative elements inspired by Greek architecture. All of these features now make the Chatillon­DeMenil an architectural show­place.

Greek Revival interiors were characterized by a sense of grandeur and classical elegance. More complex than their Creole counterparts, they exuded a refined and sophisticated atmosphere. The transition between the Chatillon and DeMenil rooms of the house attest to this historically significant contrast and St. Louis's growing sophistication.

Just like the exterior, interior layouts often adhered to a symmetrical arrangement. Tall ceilings created a sense of spaciousness and grandeur; large windows allowed ample natural light; fireplaces often featured marble mantles and cast­iron inserts with intricate details; moldings and trim had simple, clean lines with classical motifs.

The DeMenil House, while essentially Greek Revival in style, features some elements of Regency style (1811­1820) in its furnishings such as curved sofa backs with lyre­shaped motifs and gilded accents on decorative objects such as the grand Chouteau mirrors in the Double Parlor.

Greek Revival interiors favored a muted color palette. Neutral tones like white, cream, and light gray were often used for walls. A notable exception is the window and door trim in the renovated Chatillon part of the house which was faux painted to imitate oak, making the small parlor and dining room rise to the occasion of the grand Greek Revival

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A New Book on Vandeventer Place in St. Louis

Vandeventer Place was a storied private street of massive mansions in post Civil War Saint Louis, stretching two long blocks from Grand Avenue westward to Vandeventer Avenue.

Begun in the early 1870s, platted by surveyor, Julius Pitzman, it quickly became the Place to Live. Even today, although all 50 homes have been removed, the name Vandeventer Place conjures up a mix of mystery and nostalgia among longtime St. Louisans.

Thomas C. Grady, a long time member of the Board of Directors here at the Foundation has, along with Michael Boyd, researched and authored a visually stunning illustrated history of Vandeventer Place, published through the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri­St. Louis. https:// www.umsl.edu/mercantile/eventsand­exhibitions/VandeventerPlace_order­form.pdf

This book fills a missing spot among the works devoted to such enclaves and offers deep background on each house, the owners, architects, and even the live­ in staffers in 1900. It offers a view of the wealth and people who built the City at the turn of the 19th Century and set the model for the Central West End's collection of residential parkway and gated streets.

The sociology of the inhabitants of Vandeventer Place is presented not as gossip but as a study of how wealth was gained and held in the time just after the Civil War. The book also includes the 1900 Census record of the people who staffed the homes and their ethnologies for historians and the curious.

Chatillon-DeMenil Communiqué, Volume 3 - Spring 2024

Chatillon's Bend to the Saluda Exchange

In 1848 Henri Chatillon, recently returned a widower from guiding Francis Parkman on his Western exploration published as The Oregon Trail, married the widow Odile Lux and together they built a Creole style brick farmhouse in 1850 on twenty-one acres stretching down to the river. Life on the hill overlooking the Mississippi River at what became known as Chatillon’s Bend, south of St. Louis, while comfortable, must have felt like a gilded cage compared to the freedom of the frontier. Gone was the thrill of the hunt and the camaraderie of fellow trappers around a campfire.

The farmhouse at Chatillon’s Bend

In 1856 French born Doctor Nicolas DeMenil and his business partner Eugene Miltenberger bought the farmhouse and land, fueling the Chatillons' new adventure as the landlords of a tavern located at 26 South Levee St., in the heart of the St. Louis waterfront, not far from Odile’s late husband’s fifteen room residence/store on 4th, north of Almond, according to the 1845 Green's Directory. We can imagine that Henri (if not Odile) saw potential – a chance to recreate the western camaraderie he missed at Chatillon's Bend, albeit in a different form.

Henri poured his energy and Odile’s savings into the tavern, transforming it into the Saluda Exchange. The simple interior of number 26 was most likely adorned with worn maps, animal hides, and trophies from his past trips out west. The air thrummed with the lively chatter of travelers, explorers, and locals seeking solace or a raucous evening.

The Saluda Exchange became a place where toasts were exchanged, friendships forged, and dreams ignited.

Henri Chatillon may have traded his farmhouse for a tavern, but he never truly left the frontier.

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Alexander DeMenil's Office Building

The DeMenil Building was financed and built by Alexander Nicolas DeMenil when he was 45 years old. The architect was Isaac Taylor, who also designed elements of the 1904 World’s Fair (of which Alexander was a director), the Globe Democrat Building, the Public Library, and the Planters’ Hotel.

Known about St. Louis as a writer, politician, lawyer, and publisher of the first literary magazine west of the Mississippi, The Hesperian, Alexander was a direct descendant of Marie-Thérèse Bourgeois Chouteau, a founder of the city. Built next to the Wainwright Building, Alexander’s seven story Romanesque building became home to tenants as diverse as St. Louisans of the Guilded Age: lawyers, dentists, architects, and engineers. Ads for the office building in The Hesperian promoted its fireproof design, hot and cold running water, and commodious office spaces, as well as electric heat.

Image Courtesy: Missouri Historical Society

The DeMenil was a smaller cousin of the Wainwright building, and, when investigating the ultimate conversion of the Wainwright to a Missouri State office building, the DeMenil was passed over as non-historic, even though it qualified as worthy of the National Register. The Wainwright, an early skyscraper, is perhaps the most architecturally remarkable building in St. Louis’ once vibrant downtown. One of architect Louis Sullivan’s early works designed and built during the period he employed Frank Lloyd Wright as a draftsman, the Wainwright and its younger cousin, the DeMenil, became centerpieces of Real Estate Row, at Seventh and Chestnut streets.

Alexander DeMenil’s office building was demolished in 1976, about the same time as the Chatillon-DeMenil's Carriage House was expanded and modernized to include a restaurant.

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Restoring Restroom and Pantry After 16 Burst Pipes

Winter's icy grip can wreak havoc on historic houses, and unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to the back pantry and restrooms in the mansion during the Christmas season over a year ago. A late December freeze paired with a furnace failure caused 16 pipes to burst between the 1st and 2nd floors, sending a torrent of water flooding the pantry and restrooms. The once functional and inviting spaces were left with warped flooring and crumbling plaster. The outside walls of the restrooms were discovered to have been plastered directly on the outer course of brick. No lath or insulation!

The first step involved the demolition of the affected areas. Removing the damaged plaster and flooring was essential to prevent mold growth and allow for proper drying and damage assesment.

Once the space was dry and opened up, the rehabilitation began. The Restoration Committee opted for white and black 19th century style tile flooring in both the pantry and bathrooms. They also set up the domestic water supply so that it could be drained during the winter months when the mansion is closed.

Beyond the functional necessities, the Committee incorporated some design upgrades. They replaced the outdated domestic toilet with a commercial handicap accessible model. In the pantry, they installed the old shelving but new cabinets for a donated dishwasher and a larger sink that improves storage space, creating a more organized environment. A donated refrigerator/freezer now adds another layer of convenience to the pantry.

The final step reflecting the Committee's sense of style added a fresh coat of paint in pantry, hallway, and restroom, along with reproductions of the original baseboards, warped by the deluge, breathing renewed life into the space.

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West Visitor's Entrance: 2024 Annual Appeal

Standing sentinel for almost half a century, the cast iron and limestone West entrance gate to the mansion whispers stories of a bygone era. Yet, time and the elements have taken their toll, leaving their mark on its once-proud form. To ensure this gateway to the past remains a testament to history, immediate renovations are crucial.

The intricate ironwork, likely forged in a foundry long since shuttered, has resisted aging to a large degree; however, the elegant limestone pillars flanking the gate and its steps haven't escaped the ravages of time. Especially hard hit have been the side walls flanking the steps which have suffered the freezes and thaws of almost four decades of winters.

Dedicated in 1981 to the chief motivator of the mansion's restoration, Chapin S. Newhard, the gates' excessive cracking, spalling (flaking of the surface), and settling of the pillars necessitates intervention. Historic stone masons have been consulted to evaluate the extent of damage and recommend appropriate restoration techniques, including partial or full stone replacement. The projected cost of the restoration will be approximately $20,000.

The gate's functionality also demands attention. Over time, the hinges (set into the limestone with lead) have become misaligned, causing the gate to sag and stick. Realignment and resetting of the hinges is necessary to ensure continued smooth operation.

Restoring the historic gate is not just about aesthetics and public safety; it's about preserving a piece of the community's heritage. By addressing the challenges posed by time and the elements, we ensure this gateway continues to welcome visitors and serve as a silent storyteller, enriching the experience of the mansion and its surroundings.

An amount of money has been set aside by the Foundation as matching funds, a common practice in the world of restoration projects. The Foundation will provide a portion of the funding for the project, but we need to have our members and friends to donate the remaining funds. This means the Foundation will provide a dollar for every dollar raised by the appeal. This ensures that the project has broad support and that the recipients have a significant financial stake in its success.

This year's Annual Appeal will focus on the West Gate Restoration, and a second plaque will celebrate the new generation of donors whose generosity make the 2024 restoration possible.

Chatillon-DeMenil Communiqué, Volume 2 - Fall 2023

Réveillon at the Mansion

Join us for Chatillon-DeMenil's Annual Member's Holiday Party or Réveillon at 6:00 pm on December 6th in the Mansion's double parlor.

Traditionally, following a day of fasting, Midnight Mass was held celebrating the birth of Jesus. This Réveillon closed out the year with feasting and singing and was often repeated on New Year’s Eve. The menu often included a Buche de Noel and lovely regional wines.

Réveillon is a special time of year in France and cities like St. Louis with a strong French tradition, a celebration enjoyed by people of all ages and faiths, a time to come together with loved ones and to enjoy the company of each other, as well as the delicious food and festive atmosphere.

In the French tradition of the Chatillons and the DeMenils, our celebration will include cocktails and refreshments beginning at 6:00 PM.

This event is open to all Chatillon-Demenil members. If you would like to celebrate the season with us, and are not yet a member, join online at DeMenil.org. Inexpensive gift memberships will be available at the door for your invited guests. Our Christmas party is a way to thank you for your support and to show you how much you are valued.

Sign up below for our newsletters and other announcements of programs and performances at Chatillon-DeMenil.

Madame DeMenil’s menu for Réveillon

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A Visit from Chatillon-DeMenil's 1967 Caretakers

The young couple who lived at the Mansion in the 1960s as caretakers and docents recently paid us a visit from their home in Florida to promote their charity, the Mary Alice Education Fund, at local high schools.

Sharon and Bob Alexander were juniors at Washington University in St. Louis in the spring of 1967. They had graduated from high school in Montana, and Sharon had been at WashU when Bob entered as a senior and they found each other.

When they graduated, Bob got a job teaching biology in St. Louis and Sharon started teaching English at Southwest High School where she taught for five or six years while they each pursued advanced degrees. They stayed in St. Louis until 1974 when they both got their doctoral degrees.

Sharon and Bob Alexander with our mascot, Lulu

Over their careers they developed expertise in college admissions, financial aid, and raising SAT and ACT test scores. Their education fund’s mission is to make sure that kids whose families don't have resources have access to those services.

While pursuing their degrees at WashU, the Alexanders were hired by Chapin Newhard and the Board to maintain a presence in the mansion and to act as the face of DeMenil. Sharon gave tours three days a week, and Bob was the groundskeeper, keeping the lawn trimmed with a non-motorized lawnmower. On Sundays, Bob did some of the tours while Sharon studied; she conducted tours on Saturdays. As they recall, the mansion was open at least five days, maybe six a week, and closed Monday and Tuesday.

As for the years after St. Louis, they moved to Jacksonville, Florida, Washington, DC, Charlotte, NC, and then to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando. Bob rose in the testing business until becoming manager of Kaplan Test Prep in the Southeast. Sharon worked for numerous school districts showing top-10 students how to navigate the college admissions process. They are now semi-retired and live in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

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Ladue Garden Club Reception

On the evening of September 14th, the Board of Directors of DeMenil entertained two dozen members of the Ladue Garden Club and their spouses at a cocktail party as a thank you for the Club's financial and physical support over the years.

The foci of the Garden Club's support were the hydrangea beds to the east and north of the Carriage House patio, the arborvitae to the east, and the boxwood edged rose beds at our western entrance.

Our hydrangea garden is a beautiful and vibrant oasis that can be enjoyed throughout the summer and fall. With their large, colorful white and pale green blooms, our hydrangeas were in full late summer bloom and formed a vibrant backdrop to the party, attended by many members who were new to the gardens of the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion. LGC member Gay Goessling was instrumental in the planning and planting of the hydrangeas in the Spring of 2011.

Members of the Ladue Garden Club

To the east of the hydrangeas, bordering the iron fence along the Interstate, march a row of twenty arborvitae, another gift of the Ladue Garden Club. Planted close together, their dense foliage creates a solid wall of green blocking out the rush of traffic, creating a sense of privacy unusual in the city. The Ladue arborvitae, planned by Tim Rohan, also help to reduce noise pollution, making the DeMenil patio and backyard a more peaceful place to relax, their evergreen foliage providing a touch of green year-round.

Replacing a pair of crabapple trees that blocked the view of the Mansion’s west façade, boxwood delineated rose gardens now welcome visitors to our DeMenil Place entrance. Designed by Mary Hayward, the rose gardens were made possible by another Ladue Garden Club grant.

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Pianoforte Recital by Daniel Adam Maltz

On Saturday and Sunday, September 16th and 17th, Chatillon-DeMenil played host to a pair of piantoforte recitals by renowned Viennese based performer Daniel Adam Maltz featuring the music of Mozart and Haydn. Daniel specializes in Wiener Klassik — Viennese Classicism — especially the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven performed on the Viennese fortepianos of their time, very different from modern Steinways, as we learned to our delight on Saturday and Sunday.

Our audiences enjoyed Haydn and Mozart’s piano sonatas performed as they intended them to be heard — in a private home on a period instrument. During the Classical era in Vienna, composers expected their keyboard music to entertain relatively small audiences in more intimate settings than today’s large concert halls. The Chatillon-DeMenil double parlor was the perfect setting for our Fall Concert.

Daniel made his Carnegie Hall (Weill) debut at age 22 and is in demand worldwide with 50+ tour dates per year as a sought-after soloist, Lieder accompanist, and clinician. Daniel also hosts Classical Cake, the podcast about Viennese classical music and culture.

Fitting in a St. Louis visit to initiate our Fall Concert Series between tour dates in Normal, IL and Richmond, VA, Daniel explained the differences between a modern and a fortepiano, including a smaller range of notes (50-60 keys instead of 88) and construction primarily of wood (cedar) and other non-industrial materials. The Viennese pianofortes were responsible for much of the music created during the Classical and Romantic eras.

Daniel demonstrated his ability to play with great precision and power, filling the double parlor with a range of emotions, but he also was able to interpret Haydn’s and Mozart’s compositions with depth and sensitivity, bringing his audiences along the path toward standing ovations at the end of each performance. All four pieces, two by Mozart and two by Haydn, employed the sonata form, often considered to be the most demanding and challenging formats to perform.

Daniel delighted both his Saturday and Sunday audiences with his mastery of his craft and the brilliance of the two composers.

Light refreshments were served after each recital, and the audiences had a chance to meet Daniel in person and discover our latest delightful visitor to the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion.

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St. Louis Bourbon Festival Comes to DeMenil

On Friday, October 6th, the St. Louis Bourbon Festival, will be at DeMenil for a 2nd year, hosted by the St. Louis Bourbon Society. The three city block festival will include live music (in our Carriage House), street performers, food trucks, a scotch and cigar patio (on our patio) as well as hundreds of whiskies that are sure to make for an exciting evening of fellowship in the spirit.

Founded in 2016, the St. Louis Bourbon Society has grown from a group of a few hundred people who wanted to discuss bourbon and drink together into one of the most interactive Bourbon groups in the country. With nearly 12,000 enthusiasts who are passionate about their Bourbon, they continue to connect with one another across the region.

More than just a place to discuss, the St. Louis Bourbon society hosts multiple tastings, bottle shares and events throughout the year featuring brands, ambassadors, hall of famers and master distillers from across the country.

More than just whiskey, every event the SLBS hosts also has a charitable component with a mission of creating fellowship and giving back to the communities in which we live. A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit the St Louis Hero Network for First Responders

At 6:00 pm, Bryan Smith, the Master distiller at Hard Truth Distillery in Indiana, will discuss and offer tastings of their Sweet Mash Rye and their new High Road Expression in the Carriage House.

At 8:00 pm in the Carriage House, Bernie Lubbers and his guitar, from Heaven Hill Whiskey in Bardstown, Kentucky, will tell the story of the Evolution of Bourbon from the 1700s unaged corn whiskey to matured corn whiskey of early 1800s and how wheat found its way into recipes in the 1800s. Explore with Bernie the Bottle in Bond Act of 1897, a watershed moment for Bourbon. Learn about the Amish bourbon which disappeared forever until the small batch and single barrel bourbons started the new renaissance of bourbon we are in today.

At the heart of the festival is bourbon, a name that derives from the French Bourbon family, although the precise source of inspiration is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County in Kentucky and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both of which are named after the House of Bourbon.

For information and tickets, visit www.stlouisbourbonfestival.com

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DeMenil House Foundation

Board of Directors

Mary Hayward, President

Mary Stiritz, Vice President

Joe Carpenter, Secretary-Treasurer

Ted Atwood, Director

Ward Buckner, Director

Jane Chouteau, Director

Bill Hart, Director

Shashi Palamand, Director

Tim Rohan, Director

Bill Stanard, Executive Director

Published October 2023

Chatillon-DeMenil Communiqué, Volume 1 - Summer 2023

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Henri Chatillon's Hawken Rifle

Workmen undertaking extensive restoration of the Mansion in the 1960s made an amazing discovery. While repairing the attic in what had been the original Chatillon part of the structure, they came upon a mysterious canvas painting wrapped around a muzzle-loading rifle.

Henri Chatillon’s Hawken rifle was a gift from Francis Parkman, author of The Oregon Trail

The painting was identified later as an allegorical memorial to Bear Robe, Henri Chatillon’s first wife, an Oglala Sioux, who died in 1846 while Henri was on an expedition. It shows a portrait of Bear Robe, a figure of a horse, which in her tradition would carry the spirit of the deceased to the next world, and a likeness of Chatillon and their daughter. The painting is on display today in the Mansion.

The rifle was identified at the time as a Hawken rifle, the “rifle that tamed the West.” which was made in St. Louis by Jacob and Samuel Hawken, sons of a Pennsylvania rifle-smith. Their rifles were famous for their accuracy, long range and comparatively light weight. They were designed for the needs of Rocky Mountain fur trappers, traders and explorers. They became synonymous with the term “mountain rifle” and were individually made, not mass-produced.

Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, Robert Campbell, Jim Bridger and Francis Parkman, Jr. are just some of the famous men who owned one.

Parkman, a 22 year old recent graduate of Harvard with a degree in Law, came to St. Louis to prepare for a trip through the American West to hunt and to observe Native Americans. While he was here, he ordered a Hawken rifle and he selected Henri Chatillon to be his guide.

Chatillon was employed as a trapper, guide and hunter for the Laclede-Chouteau fur trading operation. It is said that he could stand in the stirrups of a racing horse and shoot down a buffalo.

Upon his return from his expedition, Parkman presented his rifle to Chatillon, his “true-hearted friend”, as an expression of friendship and as a token of his appreciation for his services.

Parkman’s account of his exploration through the West was published as The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life.

The Hawken House Museum in Webster Groves was built by one of Jacob’s sons, Christopher Hawken.

Bill Stanard, the Executive Director of the Foundation, has obtained a replica of a Hawken rifle and visitors to the Mansion will have an opportunity to hold this copy of what must have been Chatillon’s prized possession.

Sadly, the present location of the rifle found in the attic is unknown.

--Wardwell Buckner

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In the Tradition: Bastille Day in St. Louis and at DeMenil

Bastille Day celebrations in St. Louis, Missouri, in the 19th century were a time of great excitement and festivity. The French Revolution was a source of great inspiration for many Americans, and Bastille Day was seen as a celebration of liberty and democracy.

The first Bastille Day celebration in St. Louis was held in 1803, just a few years after the Louisiana Purchase. The event was organized by a group of French immigrants and was held at the city's first Catholic church, the Cathedral of St. Louis. The celebration included a parade, speeches, and a fireworks display.

In the years that followed, Bastille Day celebrations in St. Louis became increasingly elaborate. By the mid-19th century, the city was home to a large and vibrant French community, and Bastille Day was one of the biggest holidays of the year. The celebrations typically included a parade, a picnic, and a fireworks display.

Alexander DeMenil greatly expanded family leadership in the Bastille Day event, playing a prominent role over a period of four decades. In 1896, he organized Sociéte du 14 Juillet, a group from the local French community dedicated to preparing for the annual celebration often held at Lemp’s Park (now Cherokee Park) located a block north of the DeMenil House.

Celebrations in St. Louis reached their peak in the late 19th century. In 1889, the city celebrated the centennial of the French Revolution with a massive celebration that included a parade, a concert, and a fireworks display. The event drew over 100,000 people and was widely considered to be one of the most successful Bastille Day celebrations in American history.

There are many different ways to celebrate Bastille Day, from attending a parade or festival to simply enjoying a French meal. It's a great way to learn more about French culture and to show your support for our enduring relationship with modern-day France.

On July 16th at 1 pm, join us at the Mansion for our yearly celebration with liquid refreshment, a special reading of the Rights of Man, a demonstration of French Courtly dance, a chance to fire a flintlock rifle, and the meeting of Marie Antoinette and Mme Gillotine. For tickets, visit www. demenil.org/event-tickets

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With a Little Help from our Friends

With the aid of generous multi-year funding from the Ladue Garden Club, a major renewal has taken place reshaping the gardens along the street fence lines which surround the Mansion to the west, south and east.

On the west fence line, the two beds flanking the DeMenil Place entrance have become rose gardens following a Creole inspired design by Mary Hayward consisting of coral, peach, and white drift roses, a type of rose that is bred to be a groundcover.

Rose beds under construction

They are compact, low-growing, repeat-blooming, and have a long bloom season. Mary chose them because they are particularly disease resistant and relatively low maintenance. In the center of each rosebed stands a boxwood tri-sphere topiary.

Seen from the back balcony

They fill the space previously occupied by two overgrown crabapple trees which blocked the view of the Mansion from the street. The two beds are outlined by a boxwood hedge composed of 90 boxwoods.

On the east side of the Mansion, the completely overgrown bed at the intersection of Cherokee Street and the I-55 onramp has been cleared following a design by Tim Rohan. Holly bushes have been planted along the fence and will be kept low to preserve the view of the Mansion from the highway, the best remaining vista of the Mansion’s Ionic columned portico since the Interstate was built.

The eastern fence line along the I-55 ramp presents problems. While the best view of the Mansion is from the on-ramp (closed during highway repairs and perhaps soon to be abandoned), the worst view of traffic on the ramp and the highway from the Mansion’s grounds is just a little further along the ramp.

Tim Rohan’s design solves the problem of opening a view on one end and blocking it on the other end. Further north along the highway, additional trees were planted earlier this spring to fill gaps between existing trees in order to provide a dense hedge blocking the view of the highway from the Mansion’s grounds.

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Bear Robe Painting Image Enhanced

There are a few reasons why old oil paintings, like our portrait of Bear Robe, Henri Chatillon's Oglala Sioux wife, look so dark.

The pigments used in old oil paintings made from natural materials, such as ochre or indigo were not as bright as the pigments used today. Also, The varnishes that were used to protect old oil paintings yellowed over time.

Bear Robe canvas after enhancing for clarity

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in restoring our Bear Robe portrait, but the expense of a full restoration of the c. 1848 oil is prohibitive.

We contacted a number of artists in the St. Louis area, and they pointed us towards a high tech solution called a giclée. A giclée is a high-quality, archival inkjet print made from a digital file. The term giclée is derived from the French word gicleur, which means "to spray". Giclees are often used to reproduce fine art or photography.

A master of the giclee, Jim Robbins at Velham Printing used a digital scanner to digitize the Bear Robe painting, allowing him to work on the image in a digital format, an easier and more versatile method than working with a physical painting and non-destructive to the original canvas.

Using a photo editing program to adjust the colors, contrast, and brightness of the image, he edited the original painting's image, printed the painting on an actual canvas, and stretched it on a frame the same size as the original. As you can see from the enhanced images, Bear Robe's portrait takes on new life as the record of two American originals, Henri Chatillon and Bear Robe.

Bear Robe’s white horse for mobility in her afterlife

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DeMenil House Foundation

Board of Directors

Mary Hayward, President

Mary Stiritz, Vice President

Joe Carpenter, Treasurer

Tom Grady, Secretary

Ted Atwood, Director

Ward Buckner, Director

Jane Chouteau, Director

Bill Hart, Director

Shashi Palamand, Director

Tim Rohan, Director

Bill Stanard, Executive Director

Published August 2023