Dale Weir

I had a GREAT time recently at the Butterfly House at Faust Park. They held a reception for people who had donated a paving stone in front of the building. The butterfly house is always a wonderful place to go. This time there seemed to be even more butterflies flittering around then the last time I was there. One particular butterfly was hitching a ride on a gentleman's head. The man had walked all the way through the butterfly house - the butterfly would periodically flit off only to come back right away. The gentleman kept saying that his student's wouldn't believe him when he told them about it on Monday, so I whipped out my camera phone and took several pictures then emailed them to him. That got me started, by the time I was done, I had a camera full of butterfly pictures. When I get a chance I'm going to upload them to my website at www. YourSTLHome.com (it will probably be a week or two before I get that far though).

If you go to the Butterfly House, make sure to wear layered clothing - it's hot and humid in the house, so unless you go on a hot summer day, you will typically need to "shed" some clothes as you walk around.

The butterfly house is located in Faust Park in Chesterfield. The park also holds the home of the 2nd governor of the State of Missouri (Gov Faust for whom the park is named), a historical village where re-enactments take place on Summer weekends, a working antique carousel, concerts in the park in the summer and much more! It's a grand place to visit.

Guess what's 130 years old? St Louis's own Forest Park! While most people think Forest Park was created for the 1904 World's Fair (officially the Louisiana Purchase Exposition), the Park actually existed long before that.

The original plan for the park was rejected by the voters in St Louis in 1864, but 10 years later, in 1874 legislation was passed to create 3 parks in St Louis - O'Fallon Park, Carondelet Park and Forest Park. It took 2 more years before Forest Park was completed and opened to the public. It hasn't closed since! With lots of water from the River DesPeres, lakes, and streams (both man-made and natural) the park has been a haven for wildlife and plant life along with the citizens of St Louis. The original plans for the park gave it's size as 1,371.75 acres. The park contains a golf course, the St Louis Art Museum (in one of the buildings left from the 1904 World's Fair), sports fields, the Planetarium, the Zoo, the Jewel Box, the Municipal Opera (which has live outside performances during the summer), The History Museum, bandstands, picnic stands, and much much more. The Science Museum (a fabulous hands on, fun place to go) is located outside the park, but is connected via an overpass bridge to the Planetarium inside the park. You'll find our Omnimax theater inside the Science Museum.

Most of the attractions located in the park are free or have a nominal admission charge. This is because the residents of both St Louis City and St Louis County tax themselves to support the Park, along with many volunteer organizations that raise money for it.

Some of the "fun" things about Forest Park include watching for the Planetarium to be wrapped with a huge bow for the winter holidays. Originally done as a college prank, it was such a hit with the citizens that it's been wrapped for the holiday's since. Sledding on the hills inside the park when it snows. The annual hot air balloon races. The outside shakespeare theater in the summer. Boating, golfing, watching the local sports groups. Family reunions abound. Taking the children through the ZOO and riding the railroad train through the ZOO, such fun!

A St Louis tradition is going to Forest Park to watch the submarine races. You didn't know about those?? Well, let me explain. First you need to ask your favorite person out on a date, then you need a nice blanket and a picnic basket full of treats. Next you go to Art Hill and find a great spot overlooking the Grand Basin Lake with the Art Museum behind you, and the Lake in front of you to settle down to watch the races. But wait, when submarines race, they do it under the water so it's a bit difficult to watch! ... What to do?? Hmmm, guess we'll have to find something to do on this wonderful afternoon picnicing in the park with our sweetie while we wait to see who wins the races. I'll let you take it from there.

Seriously, Forest Park is one of the City's greatest treasures. Come visit and plan to spend some time enjoying this great park!

The St Louis Zoo - What a GREAT place for the whole family. It doesn't matter what age you are, the zoo is fun. When I was a young girl, I remember taking a class at the zoo with my mother one summer. I don't even remember what the class was really about (I think it was on birds, but I'm not sure now) but I remember going to the zoo every day for a week with my mother to go to "our" special class. A few days ago, I went with a group of adult friends - we petted and fed the stingrays, visited the penguins and bears and had fun. We also joked about the zoo having the neatest fun socks in town (if you haven't checked them out, do). Some "must do's at the Zoo include - riding the train - can't say no to that. And of course you must stop by and see Phil the Gorilla, and the Sea Lion Show and the World's Fair Bird House, but then everything is special and a must see and do at the St Louis Zoo. Admission to the St Louis Zoo is free - only a few attractions and exhibits such as the children's zoo, the train and the special exhibits have a small charge and if you are going to be there all day and do everything, I'd suggest that you buy a Safari Pass for the day and if you plan to come a lot, consider joining the Zoo

While the Zoo is open year round (it only closes on New Years Day and on Christmas), in the summer, the zoo stays open later and has some really special events that beckon the adults to linger and have some more adult fun. That is especially true with their concert series which they call Jungle Boogie Nights. Where the Hippos Hop and the Lions Roar and The Bears Dance - Held on Friday nights from 5pm-8pm May 22- Sept 4^th, the concerts are free and a wonderful way to spend a Friday evening. This year's concerts are:

•· May 22
Ralph Butler Band (Motown/Pop)

•· May 29
Boogie Chyld (Funk)

•· June 5
Gumbohead (Zydeco)

•· June 12
John Henry & Rob Boyle of Spur (Country/Pop)

•· June 26
J Rob (Jazz/Blues)

•· July 3
Kim Massie (Blues)

•· July 10
Ticket to the Beatles (Beatles)

•· July 17
Charles Glenn (Jazz/R&B)

•· July 24
Mighty Big Band (Blues/Jam)

•· July 31
Bob Case (Rhythm & Blues)

•· August 7
Hudson and the HooDoo Cats (Blues)

•· August 14
Usual Suspects (Rock)

•· August 21
Indecisive Band (Rock)

•· August 28
Tiny Cows (Rock)

•· September 4
Arvell & Co. (Motown/R&B)

For more info on the wonderful things to see and do at the zoo, check out http://www.stlzoo.org/

Want to have some great fun??

St Louis is famous for its free outdoor summer concerts!! This summer Chesterfield's line up includes:

June 23: Billy Peek

June 30: Spectrum

July 7: The X-Jazz and Swing Band

July 14: Hudson and the Hoodoo Cats

July 21: Trilogy

July 28: The Ralph Butler Band

August 4: Yessir

The Chesterfield concerts are held at the wonderful Faust Park (15185 Olive Blvd). The concerts start at 7 pm, but you can arrive as early as 5 pm to grab your spot on the grass (bring your own blanket or chair). The Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce will be happy to sell you a variety of drinks and food items from their refreshment stand or you can bring your cooler with you. Before the concerts there is entertainment for the children. Bring your toe tapping shoes with you since dancing is encouraged at many of the concerts!! (If you don't want to dance yourself, watch for Rosalie and Wally to do their thing since they are fabulous dancers!) -- One more thing, keep your fingers crossed for a dry evening since the concerts don't get rescheduled if they get rained out.

OK, so you are searching for a home and you are looking in the greater St Louis area and trying to make sense of where the different communities are located and what they are like and your friends keep saying, "Check out Chesterfield." "You've got to see Chesterfield." So what is the buzz about Chesterfield really about?

I can give you basic data facts: Chesterfield is located in West County, officially 22 miles from downtown St Louis. It was incorported in 1988 and covers about 32 square miles. The population of Chesterfield is just under 50,000 people. The median household income is $83,802.00 and the median home value is $238,300 (this is based on the 2000 US Census Data report and the numbers have increased since then). The school district's servicing Chesterfield are Parkway and Rockwood, both of which typically receive very high ratings from the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Over 80% of the adult population has some college education and 61% has at least a bachelor's degree.

I can tell you how easy it is to get to anywhere in St Louis from Chesterfield and tell you that many people have a tendency to call most of West County "Chesterfield". The area was largely rural until the 1960's when both housing and commercial development started to expand into the area from St Louis. It was when Highway 270 (the outer belt around St Louis) was built and more families started having cars instead of being tied to public transportation that the area really started to grow. US Highway 40/Interstate Highway 64, runs through the middle of Chesterfield, allowing commuters quick and easy access to get to any where in the greater St Louis area.

I can tell you the history of Chesterfield and tell you that it was one of the earliest settled areas in West County, though the city was originally started as 6 different towns or communities, each with it's own post office (you weren't anybody unless you had a post office). The area originally known as Hilltown dates to 1837. It became Bellemonte (French for "Beautiful Mountain" in 1851, then Bellefontaine (French for Beautiful Spring) in 1869. This area is essentially at the intersection of Olive and Chesterfield Parkway now. To give you an idea of the age of the area, the Antioch Baptist Church was founded in 1841.

In 1850 the area known as "Hog Hollow" was initially started with a Post Office being established in the community in 1871. In 1872, the name was officially changed to "Lake", however the locals continued to refer to it as "Hog Hollow". This area can be found today at the intersection of Hog Hollow Road and Olive. (In the late 60's, early 70's this was a favorite area for local teenagers to hang out and drag race as it was fairly rural at that time and Hog Hollow Road led down to the farm fields and water treatment plants, so it wasn't highly traveled (especially by parents or other adults).)

I can tell you that part of Chesterfield was originally known as Gumbo and today is more noted for the old jail facility, then for the original Road House that was at the 25 mile marker from St Louis. The area got its name because when there were heavy rains the very rich soil would have a thick consistency, similar to a Louisiana Gumbo stew. During the 1904 World's Fair, the walkways and streets at the fair were made from a gravel that came from the Gumbo area. This area still has many farms, and the Spirit of St Louis Airport but most locals recognize the Chesterfield Valley area at the intersection of Chesterfield Airport Road and Long Road, right off of US Highway 40/Interstate Highway 64 as an area full of high density box stores and restaurants (every time I drive that way there are more stores and restaurants to explore and spend my money at). But if someone asks you about "Gumbo" they are most likely referring to the old Jail.

Areas that no longer exist include the area known as Atherton which was settled along the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Rail Road Lines in the 1870's. Later the name was changed to Eatherton, then to Monach. This area is at Eatherton and Centaur Roads. The area known as Bonhomme (French for "Good Man") was a small community at the Western end of Olive, close to the Howell's Ferry Landing, which was washed away in a flood in the late 1800's. The name Bonhomme is frequently used in St Louis, but nothing remains of the original community.

I can tell you that Chesterfield was started in 1797 by 3 families who had settled on land they received in Spanish Land Grants. In 1815 a Col Justus Post came to the area from Vermont and in 1817 bought 400 acres from the original families for $1.25 an acre and named the community Chesterfield. Eventually, he acquired 21,204 acres of land in the area. He laid out the original community of Chesterfield which straddled Wild Horse Creek Road between Baxter and Wilson Roads and the initial roads in the area. The town plat that he built was recorded in 1838. Burkhardt's Subdivision was started in 1877 (after the railroad opened up the area), where Olive crossed the railroad lines. The City of Chesterfield later officially relocated to this area, in order to be closer to the Railroad Depot.

But that probably isn't what you really want to know. What you want to know is that Chesterfield is considered "upscale" and a prime location to live in. This makes the land in Chesterfield among the most valuable in the St Louis area, resulting in higher prices, but also greater amenities. Typical single home prices start in the $300,000 range and go up over a million, condo's start slightly lower, but go just as high (that's not to say that there aren't less expensive homes, but the typical home is over $300,000). The area has excellent public and private schools. Chesterfield has not seen the same level of foreclosures and short sales that we have seen in other parts of the St Louis community. Chesterfield is a very sound area and is an excellent area to live in.

Chesterfield is a WONDERFUL, family oriented environment. It has great parks, family events and more. One highlight in the area is Faust Park with it's 200 acres. This St Louis County Park features the historic home of one of Missouri's first governors. It also has a historic village located in the park, where the community has gradually moved log cabins and other historic homes and businesses. During the summer re-enactments are held on the weekends where you can walk through as see a blacksmith at work, or talk to someone going about the daily life of a century ago. The Park also features a working historic carousel that you can ride and the Butterfly House. During the summer the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce sponsors concerts in the park on Tuesday nights. Families come out and sit on blankets on the grass (or bring their lawn chairs), children run and play, wonderful music is played and for those who are willing, a dance floor is set up.

The area also has lots of shopping opportunities at Chesterfield Mall (located at 270 and the Clarkson/Olive exchange) and at numerous strip malls and mega strip malls throughout the city. Fine Dining to fast food is readily available in the area. The local standard is that you can drive down Olive Blvd and find whatever services you need without ever leaving the Chesterfield area (including my office which is located at 141 and Olive).

If you need medical care, St Luke's Hospital is located within the city's boundaries, but you are only a few miles away from other major hospitals in the metro area.

Chesterfield is home to the Spirit of St Louis Airport, which is located in the Chesterfield Valley area. This small, personable airport is used by private planes, small transportation companies and company jets, relieving the burden on the main St Louis International/Lambert Field Airport. The Spirit of St Louis Airport is the host to an annual St Louis County Air Show and Fair on the Labor Day weekend every year. This event serves as the "county fair" for the area. The proceeds from the fair benefit Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

My office is in Chesterfield, at 141 and Olive, just minutes from 40/64 and 141 and from 40/64 and Olive or from 270 and Olive, so if you are out and about in Chesterfield, stop in and say "Hi" now that you know what all the buzz about Chesterfield is all about.