The history of the Riverview-Baden area of St. Louis is quite interesting. Before Riverview became an established community, the land was mostly farmland. In 1768, there was a fort called “Baden” which was led by Captain Rios in the Riverview area. The fort was later taken over by General James Wilkinson and was renamed Fort Bellefontaine. “Columbia Bottoms Road, now Riverview Drive, was laid out about 1830 as a farm-to-market road leading to Baden and thence to St. Louis” (Wayman, 2008). There is a museum called, “Bissel House” near Riverview. This museum is dedicated to General Daniel Bissel and who led troops during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Much of the land in Riverview and surrounding areas were used during these wars.
According to the Community Information Network, the city’s water system was begun around 1830. The first pumping station was built in 1830 and installed on Smith Street. Additions were built on to the original structure, but after the Civil war these proved inadequate. In 1867 the city began building a new water system on Bissell’s Point, which included the tower on East Grand Avenue, the reservoir on Compton Hill, and all of the connecting mains (Wayman, 2008).
A second pumping station was built at Bissell’s Point during the 1880’s. A new low service station at Chair of Rocks and construction began in 1887. In the year 1895 this new plant went into service. In 1898 the city added a third pumping station between Chain of Rocks and Bissell’s Point. Electric and steam railroads connected all three stations (Wayman, 2008).
In 1915 a filter plant was installed with 40 filters stretching over 700 feet. This allowed for a daily capacity of 160 million gallons. In 1960 an electric powered high service pumping station was installed at Chain of Rocks, which allowed the cities to close the stations in both Baden and Bissell’s Point (Wayman, 2008).
Prior to more permanent transit structures, public transit in Baden consisted of horse-drawn omnibuses. In 1845 Erastus Wells and Calvin Case managed a line between Broadway from Third and Market Streets to Bremen, which was later extended to Bissell’s Point. This serviced the area between Broadway and East Grand Avenue and was begun by Fred Kraft and Jacob Bittner during the first St. Louis Fair in 1856. After purchasing the Baden line, Calvin Case had a single track laid from the market house in Baden to Gano Avenue, thus converting it to a horse car line. The cars had three open sides and curtains for use during bad weather (Wayman, 2008).
The St. Louis Railroad Company and the Baden line later became part of St. Louis Railroad Company on 3700 North Broadway. A cable line was installed on Broadway from East Ground South to Keokuk Street through this office. During the 1890’s all divisions gained electrical capability and in 1899 were consolidated by United Railways Company. Buses have replaced streetcars since 1956(Wayman, 2008).
An electric trolley line ran from Baden to the Chain of Rocks for many years and is now used to haul freight via the Burlington Railroad. Railroads grew and began an important role in Baden’s development. In 1855 the first railroad was built through Wabash and was known as the North Missouri Railroad. This train originally ran from Second and North Market Streets to the bank of the Missouri River. Each day two trains, in each direction, carried freight and passengers. On Sunday’s only passengers were transported via this line. Two stations were erected to service this train, one located in Baden at Bittner and Switzer Avenue, and another was located on Park Lane. Until 1933 a commuter train ran via Ferguson to St. Charles. Kansas and Texas (Katy) Railroad and Missouri used the tracks through Hall Street area of Baden. a Terminal Railroad tract left the Burlington line north of St. Cyr and ran west to join the Wabash tracks in Ferguson. A Katy yard remains on Gimblin Street (Wayman, 2008).
The churches closest to Riverview were founded in Baden, MO. In the early 1860’s Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church became the first church established in this area and was built by hand with the assistance of the parishioners. Prior to this, members of the community attended Carmelite Convent or Holy Trinity. Holy Cross was dedicated on May 3, 1865, but with the congregation of Irish, French and German families it eventually proved to be too small. A new church dedicated on May 23, 1909, was Gothic in style and gave the feeling of sanctuary due to its high elevation. In 1927 the parish hall was built and in 1931 a school was completed. When the Irish and German factions split, the Irish built their own church named Out Lady of Mount Carmel (Wayman, 2008).
The first Protestant church of Baden is Ebenezer Lutheran, built in 1869. Eight families, who had worshipped in a log house, completed a small church on Church Road, and in 1885 school classes were held at this site. In 1923 a larger church was erected and in 1940 a new school was built. An assembly hall was added in 1955. The churches that followed included Baden Presbyterian Church in 1882, Winsor Methodists in 1914, St. Stephen’s Evangelical Church in 1896, and in 1914 the Methodists were invited to share the church of the Baden Presbyterians. These groups merged and returned to Winsor, which is the name currently held. In 1956 Epworth Methodist also joined this church. Despite all the merging, more churches became established. Religious groups such as the Corinthian Baptists, the Church of God, Baden Gospel Mission, Prince of Peace Episcopal Church and Sister Miriam of the Episcopalian Good Shepherd Sisterhood all came to Baden after the closing of Bishop Robertson Hall School in 1915 (Wayman, 2008).
In 1872 the first public school in Baden was opened. Prior to this, pupils attended rural schools. The school was erected at Christian and Switzer Avenues. When Mount Carmel parochial school reopened in 1878 students returned to Church and Bittner Street to resume classes at this location. The public school then became Colored School #11 and was later renamed Aldridge School. Currently Baden School, which was opened in 1908 assists in meeting the needs of Riverview residents, as Riverview has no churches or schools within its boundaries. Other surrounding communities, including Baden and portions of St. Louis County also serve Riverview (Wayman, 2008).
Public parks were limited in both the Baden and Riverview communities. Chain of Rocks Park was a beautiful area for picnics and family outings. In 1893, this park was acquired by the Water Division and became a 29.76-acre area which, was later landscaped around 1910. This became one of the few city parks not under the jurisdiction of the Park Department. North Shore Country club began as a boat club and is now known as the Riverview Country Club. In 1938 a playground was opened and covered 2.17 acres. Along with the well-kept grounds of the Baden pumping station and the tennis courts, maintained by Baden, these places served as meeting spots (Wayman, 2008).
The first Fire Station was built in 1897. Prior to this, fire alarms were sounded via church bells. The current Fire Station was erected in 1909 and is located just south of the original. In 1919 the Department received “fire trucks” to replace the colorful horse drawn apparatus. In October of 1920 the most devastating fire occurred, and St. Louis Car Company shops burned for several days. Baden’s police station, opened in 1899, was a branch of the Mounted District in Forest Park. The substation was closed in 1928 and the land was leased to the public library (Wayman, 2008).
Industry in Baden was important to its own, and the surrounding counties continued existence. In 1898 the St. Louis Car Company occupied 52 acres in Baden, and in 1899 Paulus Gast opened his brewery. Missouri Portland Cement and the GAF Corporation were both manufacturers of building products. In 1921 the St. Louis Malleable Casting Co was opened and also proved to be an important industry. These companies provided residents with employment and were key to the continued survival of all surrounding communities (Wayman, 2008). Riverview City became its own community in 1950, as noted on Riverview’s welcome sign.
Another historical site of the community is the school district named, “Riverview Gardens.” The district started in 1920.