University of Missouri-St. Louis in Normandy in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

St. Vincent Greenway - University of Missouri - St. Louis

Photographed By Jason Voigt, June 21, 2020

1. St. Vincent Greenway - University of Missouri - St. Louis Marker

Inscription.

St. Vincent Greenway - University of Missouri - St. Louis. . , Natural Bridge Road, the UMSL Campus and Surrounding Communities , This section of Natural Bridge Road began in St. Louis County in about 1837 as Owens Station Road, when it led from Normandy to Owens Station, a community that was incorporated in 1843 as Bridgeton. Natural Bridge was improved with planks as a toll road in 1851 at a cost of $120,000, which was split equally between the Natural Bridge Plank Road Company stockholders and St. Louis County.,

. Throughout the 1800s, Natural Bridge Road was distinguished by its scenic beauty and outstanding surface quality, among the best in St. Louis County. The road became a County highway in 1945 and was widened to four lanes in 1950. , . Natural Bridge Road is named for a natural limestone bridge that the roadway once used over the spring-fed Rocky Branch, or Stony Creek, near Salisbury Avenue in the city of St. Louis. , . Natural Bridge Road was a route that wagon trains took west to the Oregon and the Santa Fe trails. , . To the east lies the City of Normandy. Land speculator B.C. (Charles) Lucas purchased the property that became Normandy from victims of the 1811 New Madrid earthquake. Lucas named the land after his father's homeland in Normandy, France. , . Normandy was officially incorporated as a Town in May of 1945 and later became a third class city. , . St. Louis-area businessmen established Bellerive Country Club on 128 acres between Natural Bridge Road and Florissant roads in 1910. Bellerive, named for Louis St. Ange de Bellerive, the last French Governor in North America, hosted PGA tournaments and national amateur championships. It was relocated in 1960 to west St. Louis County. , . Junior college classes began in the former clubhouse in 1960. The clubhouse and grounds became one of the campuses of the University of Missouri system when it was created in 1963, by which time classes had expanded into nearby storefronts along Natural Bridge Road. , . Charles Lucas lived on what is now the Incarnate Word Academy. He died in a duel with famous Missourian Thomas Hart Benton in 1817. Upon his death, all of his land was left to his sister, Anne, and his brother, James. , . The home of Wilson Price Hunt, grandson of Anne Lucas Hunt, is slightly east of this location at 7717 Natural Bridge. This Colonial Revival-style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home was completed in 1904 and is in commercial use today.

, Native Trees , Most of the trees seen along this section of the St. Vincent Greenway trail have been planted by property owners. Many species are not native to Missouri; however, two native species are seen in abundance along the trail on the south campus - sassafras and black walnut., Sassafras ,

. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a common Missouri tree. It is easy to recognize because the leaves appear in three different shapes. Some are non-descript (unreadable) some have three lobes, and some have just one lobe; the latter look like green mittens. , . The tree is full of aromatic oil. Crush a leaf in your finger and enjoy the smell. This oil was believed by Europeans (unreadable) have medicinal properties. Bark was shipped from (unreadable) to England the rest of Europe, where it commanded (unreadable) price. , . [paragraph is unreadable]

, Black Walnut , Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a sturdy native of eastern North American forests. The individual "leaves," with the tiny teeth on their edges, are actually leaflets attached to the (unreadable) of the true leaf, which may be one of two feet long.,

. [paragraph is unreadable]

, Looking Ahead,

. [paragraph is unreadable] , . The University, the City of Normandy, and other entities are planning further streetscape improvements, which might include a landscaped median, additional street trees, and replacement of overhead wires with new street lighting. , . To the east from MetroLink to "the Wedge," when Florissant Road intersects Natural Bridge Road in Normandy, an array of new mixed uses are anticipated with restaurants, sidewalk cafes, retail shops and services, and additional residential units. To the west, some similar redevelopment may be expected in the vicinity of North Hanley Road.

Natural Bridge Road, the UMSL Campus and Surrounding Communities
This section of Natural Bridge Road began in St. Louis County in about 1837 as Owens Station Road, when it led from Normandy to Owens Station, a community that was incorporated in 1843 as Bridgeton. Natural Bridge was improved with planks as a toll road in 1851 at a cost of $120,000, which was split equally between the Natural Bridge Plank Road Company stockholders and St. Louis County.

• Throughout the 1800s, Natural Bridge Road was distinguished by its scenic beauty and outstanding surface quality, among the best in St. Louis County. The road became a County highway in 1945 and was widened to four lanes in 1950.
• Natural Bridge Road is named for a natural limestone bridge that the roadway once used over the spring-fed Rocky Branch, or Stony Creek, near Salisbury Avenue in the city of St. Louis.
• Natural Bridge Road was a route that wagon trains took west to the Oregon and the Santa Fe trails.
• To the east lies the City of Normandy. Land speculator B.C. (Charles) Lucas purchased the property that became Normandy from victims of the 1811 New Madrid earthquake. Lucas named the land after his father's homeland in Normandy, France.
• Normandy was officially incorporated as a Town in May of 1945 and later
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became a third class city.
• St. Louis-area businessmen established Bellerive Country Club on 128 acres between Natural Bridge Road and Florissant roads in 1910. Bellerive, named for Louis St. Ange de Bellerive, the last French Governor in North America, hosted PGA tournaments and national amateur championships. It was relocated in 1960 to west St. Louis County.
• Junior college classes began in the former clubhouse in 1960. The clubhouse and grounds became one of the campuses of the University of Missouri system when it was created in 1963, by which time classes had expanded into nearby storefronts along Natural Bridge Road.
• Charles Lucas lived on what is now the Incarnate Word Academy. He died in a duel with famous Missourian Thomas Hart Benton in 1817. Upon his death, all of his land was left to his sister, Anne, and his brother, James.
• The home of Wilson Price Hunt, grandson of Anne Lucas Hunt, is slightly east of this location at 7717 Natural Bridge. This Colonial Revival-style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home was completed in 1904 and is in commercial use today.

Native Trees
Most of the trees seen along this section of the St. Vincent Greenway trail have been planted by property owners. Many species are not native to Missouri; however, two native species are seen in abundance

Photographed By Jason Voigt, June 21, 2020

2. St. Vincent Greenway - University of Missouri - St. Louis Marker

Looking east on Natural Bridge Road

along the trail on the south campus - sassafras and black walnut.

Sassafras

• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a common Missouri tree. It is easy to recognize because the leaves appear in three different shapes. Some are non-descript (unreadable) some have three lobes, and some have just one lobe; the latter look like green mittens.
• The tree is full of aromatic oil. Crush a leaf in your finger and enjoy the smell. This oil was believed by Europeans (unreadable) have medicinal properties. Bark was shipped from (unreadable) to England the rest of Europe, where it commanded (unreadable) price.
• [paragraph is unreadable]

Black Walnut
Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a sturdy native of eastern North American forests. The individual "leaves," with the tiny teeth on their edges, are actually leaflets attached to the (unreadable) of the true leaf, which may be one of two feet long.

• [paragraph is unreadable]

Looking Ahead

• [paragraph is unreadable]
• The University, the City of Normandy, and other entities are planning further streetscape improvements, which might include a landscaped median, additional street trees, and replacement of overhead wires with new street lighting.
• To the east from
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Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
MetroLink to "the Wedge," when Florissant Road intersects Natural Bridge Road in Normandy, an array of new mixed uses are anticipated with restaurants, sidewalk cafes, retail shops and services, and additional residential units. To the west, some similar redevelopment may be expected in the vicinity of North Hanley Road.

Erected by Great Rivers Greenway.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Exploration • Roads & Vehicles.

Location. 38° 42.422′ N, 90° 18.609′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Normandy, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in University of Missouri-St. Louis. Marker is at the intersection of Natural Bridge Road (State Highway 115) and West Drive, on the right when traveling east on Natural Bridge Road. Marker is on the campus of University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7940 Natural Bridge Rd, Saint Louis MO 63121, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. UMSL Commons (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Marguerite Ross Barnette (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Vincent Greenway Trail - 3.5 Miles (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. one mile away); Combat Wounded Veterans (approx. one mile away); Lloyd Lionel Gaines (approx. 1.1 miles away); Legendary "Cool Papa" Bell (approx. 1.6 miles away); Harriet Robinson Scott (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Normandy.

More about this marker. Like some of the Great Rivers Greenway/Saint Louis County Parks markers that were installed in the 2000's all over the St. Louis area, this has suffered through wear and tear over the years and most of the right portion of it is unreadable.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.