In 1798, when the enterprising Charles Gratiot was granted the 5,440 acres that would one day evolve into the sterling city of Maplewood, did he realize that 210 years later citizens would congregate on his land for a historic tour? Probably not. Did the Sutton brothers, who purchased sections of the town from Gratiot's heirs (for $1.125 per acre!), envision visitors inquiring about the manufacturers' business decisions nearly two centuries in the future? It's doubtful, although it begs the question: Why lounge on your fanny and quietly read about these folks when you could be absorbing all of Maplewood's rich past while gallivanting from historical site to historical site? So sign up for the Maplewood Fall History Tour, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Call 314-645-3600 to make a reservation (the tour is free, but space is limited) and for directions to the point of departure; for more information visit www.cityofmaplewood.com.
Sat., Sept. 6, 2008
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