Marine Villa in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
2125 Cherokee
Through the Years
— Cherokee-Lemp Historic District —
In South St. Louis at the turn of the century, Joseph Schilly was working as a clothing merchant and boarding with a family on South Broadway.
Only six years later, he was married, had three children, and was building 2125 Cherokee for his own men's clothing store with his family home on the second floor. He estimated the cost of construction for his home and store at $4,500.
By 1920, the Bolshevik revolution had overthrown the Russian Tsar, and Russia had lost much of its influence in Eastern Europe. The Allies had defeated the Kaiser's Germany. The Austrian Empire had been dismantled, the ancient nation of Poland reestablished, and the Czecho-Slovak state created.
The United States was officially "dry" thanks to the passage of Prohibition. St. Louis was planning programs to widen Downtown streets and pave all the neighborhood streets.
Businessman Joseph Schilly and his family were thriving, here, on the corner of Cherokee and Missouri. He and his wife were raising their seven children, including a new baby, upstairs. The proprietor of a "men's furnishings" store, Schilly looked formal. He wore a stiff collar, and parted his hair down the center, combing his wave to either side.
Schilly was running this store in 1926, when Grover Cleveland Alexander took the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh game of the World Series to defeat the New York Yankees and win their first World Championship.
He was still managing this clothing store when a newcomer to cinema, Hungarian Bela Lugosi, was starring in the movie, "Dracula."
Erected 2007 by NiNi Harris.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, St. Louis, The Cherokee-Lemp History Walk series list.
Location. 38° 35.584′ N, 90° 13.378′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Marine Villa. Marker is on Cherokee Street east of Missouri Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2175 Cherokee St, Saint Louis MO 63118, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Birth of Antique Row (a few steps from this marker); 2201 Cherokee (within shouting distance of this marker); Life In The Fifties (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cigar Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Bardenheier Row (within shouting distance of this marker); 2215 Cherokee (within shouting distance of this marker); South St. Louis Architect (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 2225 Cherokee (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 22, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.