Midtown in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Durant-Star Building
Built in 1912
First occupied in 1912, by Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. and Oldsmobile Co. of St. Louis, then by dealerships for Buick, Nash and Lafayette, this building was a dealership for the Star and the Durant automobiles from 1924 to 1930.
In 1920, William Crapo Durant, the founder of General Motors Corp., lost control of General Motors (for the second time) to his bankers, led by J.P. Morgan. On January 21, 1921, Durant founded Durant Motors, Inc., to compete with General Motors in every price range. The Star, which at one point had 231,000 cash deposit orders, competed with Chevrolet and the Durant competed with Oakland (Pontiac). Other makes introduced by Durant Motors were the Flint and Rubgy. The luxurious Locomobile and Mason Trucks, were acquired by Durant Motors. Financially stretched by rapid expansion, Durant Motors, Inc. was ill prepared for the Depression and liquidated in 1933. Despite losing everything, Durant then 71, tried several smaller ventures, but soon had a stroke. In 1947, the man who founded General Motors Corporation, Frigidaire Appliances and introduced the installment buying of automobiles died, destitute in New York.
Erected by The Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri and Hilliker Corporation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
this page online
Location. 38° 38.196′ N, 90° 13.524′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Midtown. It is on Locust Street west of North Compton Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3201 Locust Street, Saint Louis MO 63103, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cadillac-Chrysler Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Moon Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dodge-Reo Building (about 600 feet away); Stutz Building (about 700 feet away); Camp Jackson (about 700 feet away); Stearns-Knight Building (about 700 feet away); Long Roads To Freedom (about 800 feet away); Locomobile Building (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 483 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on September 22, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
