Trivia Night Benefit for Mullanphy Hostel Plans - Jan. 15

This past year has been incredibly busy on many fronts, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about the preservation of the Mullanphy Emigrant Home - or plans for its eventual full development.  Moving beyond that initial stabilization and buttoning up stage takes a bit of planning and feasibility assessments - and all of that costs money too.  So, to help us with that next step, you can support this great cause and the plan to establish and develop a world-class hostel at the Mullanphy Emigrant Home by coming out to the “sort of annual” Friends of Hostelling trivia night on Friday, January 15, 2010.

To register in advance, follow the instructions at www.moonlightramble.org.  Feel free to print and distribute the following flyer for the event to all of your trivia-minded friends and/or everyone you know who cares about preserving our irreplaceable historic, cultural, and architectural landmarks.

a table of Mullanphy supporters at last year's trivia night

With just a few days left in 2009, you can still make a tax-deductible contribution to Old North St. Louis Restoration Group to support the preservation of Mullanphy or any of our other work to revitalize the physical and social dimensions of Old North St. Louis in a manner that respects the community’s historic, cultural and urban character.  To make an online donation, just CLICK HERE. 

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Proposed NorthSide Development to be Discussed at Community Meeting Tonight

Alderwoman April Ford Griffin and McEagle Properties will be discussing the proposed NorthSide development plan at a meeting for residents of Old North this evening at Ames Visual and Performing Arts magnet school, 2900 Hadley.  We’ve been told that Paul McKee, CEO of McEagle Properties, will be in attendance to answer questions about how the development would affect Old North St. Louis.   The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.  See below for the flyer / invitation to the meeting from 5th Ward Alderwoman April Ford Griffin (who represents Old North and most of the proposed development area to the west) and Alderwoman Marlene Davis, who represents a portion of the western end of the proposed development area.

Although most of the area for the proposed project would be west of North Florissant (ONSL’s western border), the boundaries of the NorthSide project include the southern end of Old North St. Louis, between Cass and Chambers.  Companies affiliated with McEagle Properties also own buildings and vacant lots in sections of Old North not included in the development area.

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Moonlight Ramble Shines Spotlight on Mullanphy Emigrant Home

The Mullanphy Emigrant Home building in Old North St. Louis got some good air time this morning on KSDK.

NewsChannel 5’s “Today in St. Louis” aired a story this morning on Hostelling International’s annual Moonlight Ramble bike ride (scheduled for tomorrow night), and used the occasion to put in a few plugs for the Mullanphy Emigrant Home.   You can view the whole story online, by clicking on this link.  Mark Cockson, executive director of Hostelling International-Gateway Council, told reporter Heidi Glaus that proceeds from this year’s Moonlight Ramble would help pay for a feasibility study on the development of world class hostel at the Mullanphy building.  To register online or to find out more about the ride, which typically draws more than 10,000 riders for the middle of the night event, visit the Moonlight Ramble website.

Channel 5 reporter Heid Glaus interviewing Mark Cockson inside the Mullanphy building.

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Scenes from Trivia Night

Last Friday’s trivia night fundraiser to support the preservation of the Mullanphy Emigrant Home and eventual development of a world-class hostel at Mullanphy was a great success with 34 tables participating.   The following are just a few shots from the crowd of supporters, including many Old North residents and friends of Mullanphy, who came out to enjoy an evening of fun in support of a worthy cause.

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Reminder: Trivia Night This Friday

As noted on this blog way back on December 9, ONSLRG is co-hosting a trivia night this coming Friday (Jan. 16) with Hostelling International-Gateway Council. The event will raise funds for both organizations’ efforts to preserve the Mullanphy Emigrant Home and develop the historic building into a world class hostel. Tickets still can be purchased online at www.moonlightramble.com or by phone at 314-644-4660.

Trivia Night Details:

Where: Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043

Click here for a Google map of the location: Maryland Heights Community Center

When: Friday, January 16th

Doors open at 6:30, questions start at 7:00

Cost: $120 for a table of 8, or $15 per person.

Cost includes complimentary beer (Fat Tire), soda, and snacks, but you are welcome to bring your own food and beverages.

Cash prizes for the top three teams, as well as door prizes, and a 50/50 raffle.

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Jan. 16 Trivia Night to Benefit New World-Class Hostel in ONSL

It seems like 2009 is a long way away, but January is right around the corner! Mark your calendars now for a great night of good fun in support of a worthy cause. On Friday, January 16, Hostelling International-Gateway Council and Old North St. Louis Restoration Group will be co-sponsoring a trivia night to benefit the development of a world-class hostel in Old North St. Louis. For more information and to purchase tickets online, click on over to the Hostelling International – Gateway Council’s website.

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Finish Line in Sight for Mullanphy Stabilization!

First, a reminder about the meeting Tuesday evening regarding the progress at Crown Square and information about job training and readiness assistance for job-seekers and prospective employers. Take a look at our blog post from this past Friday for more details.

Now, for an update on the progress at Mullanphy: Thanks to another infusion of funds from Old North St. Louis Restoration Group’s general revenue, our construction crews from E.M. Harris are almost finished with sealing up all openings at the Mullanphy Emigrant Home building — for the first time in nearly two-and-a-half years!

Above: the windows along the block wall at the south end have been boarded to keep the elements out; face brick will be added later as funding allows. Above: the opening at the north end of the building that was created by the second storm to hit the building is just about closed up now.

We still have a way to go with the full stabilization, but getting the building buttoned up before the onset of winter weather is a huge achievement - and made possible by the generosity of many. You can help us cover these costs, pay off some loans, and keep us moving toward full stabilization by making a financial contribution to Mullanphy Emigrant Home LLC (click on the “Make a Donation” button along the right side of this site).

You can also help support the cause & spread the word at the same time by purchasing your own “Save Mullanphy” t-shirt for just $15. To find out how you can get one of these shirts for yourself, your family, friends, or colleagues, stop by the ONSLRG office or give us a call at 314-241-5031.

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ONSL’s Show of Support for Mullanphy at Moonlight Ramble

A good crowd of Old North St. Louis residents and friends came out in the wee hours of the morning to participate in this year’s Moonlight Ramble in support of the Mullanphy Emigrant Home preservation efforts. With a booth downtown at the Ramble’s registration area, volunteers staffing several intersections as crossing guards, and a large cheering section in front of the Mullanphy building, ONSL was out in force as the thousands of Moonlight Ramble cyclists rode along the 17-mile route from Downtown, past the Mullanphy building, and through the streets of the city. Above: Leon Ochoa, Zoila Rendon, and Tino Ochoa helped watch the ONSLRG booth at the Moonlight Ramble registration area in front of Soldiers’ Memorial downtown.
Above: wearing matching “Save Mullanphy” t-shirts, Tino, Zoila, Johnnie Owens, and Dave Eisenbraun were ready to answer questions about the Mullanphy building.
Above: the crowd of cheering supporters, a spotlight on the front of the building, and the slide show projected onto the new side wall, ensured that the thousands of bike riders passing by would take note of the Mullanphy building.

Above: Tom & Gloria Bratkowski and Johnnie Owens prepare for the wave after wave of cyclists.
Above: new banners have been placed on the chain link fence along south side of the building to highlight the prospect of a new future of the Mullanphy building as a world-class hostel while the slide show paid tribute to the many generous contributors who have made the stabilization work possible.

Above: Kathryn Bentley provided her daughter, Essence, and cousin, Cameron, with a great excuse for staying up late. As head cheerleader, Essence made sure that everybody knew they were passing through Old North St. Louis and past the Mullanphy building.
Above: although 12:30 a.m. may not be the ideal time for taking outdoor photos, the above shot provides a glimpse of the throngs of cyclists riding along Mullanphy Street from 13th to 14th Streets, with downtown in the background.

Above: Mark Cockson (in the orange shirt), executive director of Hostelling International-Gateway Council, paid a visit on his bike to thank our volunteers and supporters for being a part of this year’s Moonlight Ramble.

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Moonlight Ramble this Saturday to benefit the development of a world-class hostel in ONSL

As you may have heard, the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group has been in discussion with Hostelling International – Gateway Council (HI-GC) about possible plans to redevelop the Mullanphy Emigrant Home into a world-class hostel.

We feel this is a perfect re-purposing of the building - from a welcome center to immigrants of all nationalities and creeds in the 1860s & 1870s to a home-away-from-home to international travelers visiting St. Louis.

Plans are in the very tender beginning stages, but HI-GC has already scheduled their first fund-raising effort which happens this Saturday, August 16th at midnight. The Moonlight Ramble, an annual bike ride through the streets of St. Louis, attracts around 10,000 riders and will take riders through the historic neighborhoods of the city.

To help HI-GC with their fund-raising, the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group has committed to rounding up Route Marshalls to help with the Moonlight Ramble.

Route Marshalls are responsible for traffic control at intersections (like crossing guards), making sure riders turn at the right places along the route, and helping riders who need assistance. The shift time is from 10pm Saturday until 2am Sunday, and Route Marshalls can ride once their intersection has been given the all-clear. Route Marshalls also receive a free t-shirt!

If you are interested in helping out, please sign up at http://www.moonlightramble.com/mr/volunteer.html and under the question “Are you a member of a group of volunteers who wish to work together at the Moonlight Ramble®? If yes, please describe:” please write “ONSLRG”. Once registered as a volunteer, you will receive the Volunteer Handbook and instructions for check-in.

All proceeds from the Moonlight Ramble go towards the development of a world-class hostel in Old North St. Louis.

Thank you!

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Holiday Sampler of Recent Developments in ONSL

Construction Progress at Crown Square

A couple of sights and scenes from the House Tour…

New River Bridge Plans

The recently released revisions to plans for the new Mississippi River Bridge that will cross the river and pass through the southeast corner of ONSL can be seen at the following website: http://www.newriverbridge.org/

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• 14th Street Mall, Historic rehabs, House Tour, Life in ONSL, Mullanphy Emigrant Home, ONSL amenities