First Maddenfest

Sept 3, 1979, the first Maddenfest (now Brentwood Days) was held on the Goff-Moll parking lot on Collier Ave.

Aerial Photo – 1955

This picture shows Brentwood Blvd. at Highway 40 in 1955. The highway ended at Brentwood Blvd.

Audubon Park (Brentwood Forest today) was newly built. Houses on Kenilworth Ave. were fairly new. No Brentwood Square. Notice the billboards on the property of the future Brentwood Square.

Mark Twain – 1958

Here are class pictures from Mark Twain school in 1958. Good news and bad news. The good news is the pictures are accompanied by names. The bad news is the names are hard to decipher. I have transcribed to the best of my abilities. I’m sure there are errors. If you see a name misspelled or left blank, and you are sure of the correct spelling, please respond in the comments and I will edit. Enjoy!

Top row: Billy Reeves, Paul Young, Paula Lee, Tommy Schroder, Cynthia Fry, Robert Hennemann, Ted Holland, Kathy Barnes, Mary Lloyd.

Middle row: David Stuekenbroker, Laura Peterson, Gene Eggers, Jeff Childress, Laren Froney, Frances Wright, Julie Hennemann, Steven ?, Nowell.

Bottom row: Miss Schultz, Mike Richardson, Scott Savage, Robert Hille.

Top Row: Linda Moore, Debbie Henne, David Nowell, Kenneth Newell, Erin Gorham, Bradford Barnes, Jeffrey Pierce, Karen Topping, Susan Olson.

Middle row: Deborah Bond, Susan ?, Gary Wolff, Nancy Mills, Kathy Newell, Diane Kuelker, Paul Bettonville, Karen White, Kim Wirfs.

Bottom row: Miss Shultz, Jill Miller, Marsha Purkey, Bruce Barnett.

Top Row: Carol Young, Debra Zimmerly, Mary Kalb, Frank Cunetto, Laurence Watral, James Vellios, Steven Abernathy, William Frese, Gary Rinck.

Middle row: Cathy Vogeli, Melissa Hopkins, Paul Sorgenfrei, Sandra Kneedler, Gail Johnstone, Nancy Ketchmeier, Phyllis, H, Susan Reeves.

Bottom row: Miss Doyen, Douglas Boyd, Barbara Hundley, Lois Jacobsen, David Koehler, Sharon Coffey.

Top row: Jeanne Peabody, Kathleen Hennen, Dennis P., Robert Yoder, Laurence Nowell, Larry Henson, Glen S., Frank P., Mike Guinter.

Middle row: Tonia Hall, Helen Bolgbrough, James Watral, Karen Wiffing, Georgia Holcomb, Patti Janssen, Libby Lucklor, Mike Terry.

Bottom row: Janis L., David Lloyd.

Top row: Roger Corey, Rock Hall, Tommy Wood, Casey Geisz, Gary Hedley, Linda Schroder, John Torbert, Nancy Kohl, Robert Kaiser.

Middle row: Steven Spencer, Christine Adams, Barbara Depp, Barbara Ann McKinnon, Deborah Hartman, Mike Toney, Terry Moore, Joseph Thierry, Kurt Niehoff.

Bottom row: Karen Lourie, Nancy Cook, Charles Gillespie, Beverly Coffey, Helmut Seitz, Kristine Rose, Nancy Olson, Barbara Newell, Terry Gaines.

Top row: Pamela Plagenz, Linda Newell, Diane Berg, Mary Hofka, Cynthia Locklar, Charles Morris, Paul Frese, Robert Stewart, Nina Gillespie.

Middle row: Susan Henson, Jessica Hopkins, Ronald Holcomb, Nicholas Ginos, Gary Carter, Danny Schroder, Christy Kamper, Priscilla Harrison, Martha Taussig.

Bottom row: Gary Kuelker, Robert Kohl, James Grace, Christine Geisz, Nancy Sorgenfrei, Mark Savage.

Top row: Charles Spencer, Donald Meyers, Dennis Hedley, Owen Armstrong, Steve Palacios, Donna S., Karen Janssen, Dorothy Morris, Sandra Depp.

Bottom row: Mrs. McClurken, Gary Miller, Alvin Englehard, Jean janssen, Lynn Knudler, Timothy Cook, Carols Ruhland, Charlotte Pessoni, Raymond Wideman.

Top row: Steven Koehler, Norman Frey, Dolores Kemp, Judy Topping, Deborah Eaton, Linda Rinck, Christine Yoder, Deanna Baker, Michael Bedsworth.

Middle row: Linda Boyd, Charles Young, Charles Boles, Michael Hennon, Michael Hemphill, Allyn Wolff, Dorothy Schlewing, Penny Melton,

Bottom row: Jeffrey K., Joyce Wartenbe, R.D. Cleveland, Warren McCullough.

Top row: Billy Young, Hugh Bailey, Elsa Adams, Terry Abernathy, Billy Jarrett, Linda Watral, Richard Gillespie, Nelson Morgan, Linda Dollar.

Second row: Jim Dobernic, Dale K., Jane Jansma, Gregory Niehoff, Phillip Cunetto, Janice Mercurio, Michael McMillan, Ritchie White, Cheri Brownlee.

Third Row: Charles Koehler, Kathleen Locklor, John Cook, David Eggers, Charles Nowell, Michael Crump, Margaret Hundley, Judy Olson.

Bottom row: Mrs. Alexander, Yvonne Plagenz.

Top row: Gary Hendrix, Terry Kurre, Gary Richards, Raymond Fox, Ronald Baker, Terry Ruhland, Frank S., Joe Palacios, Janet Brownlee.

Second row: Olive Adams, Brenda Hall, Bonny Depp, Glen Frese, Leslie Card, John Hofka, Ricky Bond, Rick Kinlough, John Roschlou.

Third row: Jane Vellios, Jackie Broylen, Patsy Bender, Gail Ogelsby, Carole Janssen, Anna Jenkins, Donna Purkey, Barbara C.

Bottom row: Cynthia Buchanan, John Richardson, Richard K, Judy Taussig.

Brentwood Business Ad’s – 1964

These are ad’s from the Scope newspaper in 1964.

Brentwood Business Ad’s – 1954

Here are some newspaper advertising from the Brentwood Scope in 1954. All of these businesses were located in Brentwood.

8817 Moritz Avenue

This house at 8817 Moritz Avenue was recently razed. It was built in 1919.

Elaine Reed

Congratulations to Brentwood resident Elaine Reed. Last night, at the Brentwood Board of Alderman meeting, Elaine was honored by the City of Brentwood and the Brentwood Historical Society as a 75 year resident.

Elaine received a proclamation from Mayor David Dimmit and an award from the Historical Society.

Elaine and her mother moved to Brentwood in 1948, living on Agnes Avenue in the Evans Howard neighborhood. She attended L’Ouverture grade school on Rose Avenue, and Brentwood High School. Elaine has been an active member of the Brentwood community for many years. We appreciate her outgoing personality and willingness to make positive contributions to Brentwood.

Chief Niemeyer

Public servant. Someone who helps others; many times sacrificing their own comfort and security. They do these things because they deeply care about the public they serve. They want the best for others, even when they are experiencing the worst. They do not seek the spotlight for what they do. They serve because it is the honorable and right thing to do.

Chief Niemeyer was the ultimate public servant.

Fifty years with the Brentwood Fire Department. Think about that for a second. It’s remarkable. Thousands of fires, accidents, ambulance calls, not only in Brentwood, but in our surrounding communities. He has been called a “fireman’s fireman”. That means he got in there and got the job done, regardless of his rank. He never asked his men to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.

Chief Niemeyer was “old school”. Now there are two ways of looking at the term “old school”. Sometimes we refer to someone who is out of touch with today’s norms or is too hard-headed to ever change their ways, as “old school”. The other version of “old school” is someone who always knows the right way to treat others, how to act in a tough spot, what to say in those uncomfortable moments. He knows these things because he is someone of incomparable character. That describes Chief.

We are losing too many members of that “old school” class.

As many of you know, Chief Niemeyer grew up in Brentwood. BHS Class of 1959. Before he started with the fire department, he had a brief stint as a dispatcher, and yes, a police officer, here in Brentwood. He told me once, he had no desire to be a policeman, but someone told him to apply, so he could get his foot in the door with the City, should a spot open up in the fire department. Thankfully, that happened quickly.

Chief Niemeyer had long and distinguished career with the Brentwood Fire Department. Over thirty commendations and the Gold Medal of Valor for saving a child in a burning home on Helen Avenue. Countless other awards and honors over the years.

In 1982, he was appointed Fire Chief for the City of Brentwood. He retired in 2012. Chief Niemeyer was the perfect example of leadership. He expected his men to be their best and he held them accountable. He would criticize in private and compliment in public. Chief never passed up an opportunity to praise his fire department. He was fiercely loyal to his department and he loved his men and their families deeply.

And the stories. Oh, the many stories. Chief was a master story teller. Many tales of growing up in Brentwood and his time at BHS. The fire stories were always classic. I presume some were a bit embellished, because, well that is what firemen do (wink, wink). He remembered many of the calls over the years, and the many fellow firefighters he worked with and for.

I live down the street from Chief Niemeyer’s childhood home on Madge Avenue. I go by the house daily on my obligatory dog walks. Tonight, I will stop, tip my cap, and thank God I had the opportunity, as many of you had, to call Chief Niemeyer a friend.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.

John Titus

This past Sunday, we heard the news of the passing of John Titus. Long time educator, coach and friend to many at Brentwood High School. I love this picture because my memory of John will always be his smile. He offered it to all of us in our interactions with him over the years.

John was a very successful coach at Brentwood High, most notably, in football and track. The Brentwood High track is named in his honor.

Most will remember John for the character and dignity in which he lived his life. A faithful man who respected everyone. Kind, patient, caring.

On Sunday, his son Mike posted the news on several Brentwood Facebook pages. It was impressive to read the comments of former BHS students and friends, spanning several decades. Coach Titus had such an impact on so many.

Even after he retired from Brentwood, he was a frequent attendee at Eagle sporting events. I would often see him at basketball games, at the end of the court, sitting in his brown chair. Many of us had the good fortune to talk with Coach Titus about all things Brentwood athletics. He had a remarkable memory, often recalling particular facts about a player from the 60’s, including where they are now and their career.

I have included several pictures and news clippings from the career of John Titus. Most of the pictures are from yearbooks, which many of you have. Pull one out today, and look at the pictures. The experience will make you smile. John would like that.

Evans Howard Monument Dedication

The Brentwood Historical Society and the City of Brentwood will dedicate a new monument in recognition of the historic Evans-Howard Place neighborhood in Brentwood, Missouri, Saturday, July 8 at 10 a.m. at The Promenade at Brentwood.

The new monument features brick pillars in recognition of the Evens & Howard Fire Brick Co., which was in what is now Hanley Industrial Court, as well as historical photographs of landmarks of the neighborhood, including L’Ouverture School, churches, and an aerial view of the thriving neighborhood at its heyday. The monument stands behind the Five Below and MicroCenter stores on Rose Avenue.

Evans-Howard Place was a thriving neighborhood for primarily Black residents from 1907 to 1997, when it was replaced by The Promenade at Brentwood. Its first residents came to the neighborhood through the Great Migration to work at the Evens & Howard Fire Brick Co., and over time, the neighborhood grew to a tight-knit community filled with families, small businesses, a semi-professional baseball team, and many, many families who contributed richly to the City of Brentwood.

There will be brief remarks from officials from the City of Brentwood and the Brentwood Historical Society and from former residents of Evans-Howard Place.
Parking is available in the Promenade at Brentwood near MicroCenter and Five Below.