I've been curious about the subdivision my family and I lived in for years. I was told the house was built in the 1950s and then remodeled in the 1980s. Growing up, I assumed it had always been a subdivision. It wasn't until I started doing genealogy and history research that I began to understand more. That brings us to today, when a donation to the Franklin County Historical Society brought me answers I never knew I was looking for.
100 Years of Plat Maps
The other day, our President (FCHS) messaged us to let us know we had just received an amazing donation of thousands of plat and survey maps that belonged to the man who did all the work on them. Maps from Franklin County, St. Louis County, Jefferson County, and even St. Charles County, that go back about 100 years. Since we are limited on space, we were going to have to sort through the maps, pull out the ones for Franklin County, and then contact other counties to see if they would like to have the rest.
So we began. Lynn and I sat for a few hours sorting maps. (Her longer than me cause my back would only handle so much) We were trying to stay focused, but it was hard because the maps were so interesting! We were both trying to find where our homes were located (or other family members), which slowed our progress. I found a couple of maps that showed the land where my current home is located. It's fascinating to see how much things change. But that wasn't the most exciting thing that was found.
Drake Manor Subdivision in Eureka, Missouri
Lynn started finding some maps from St. Louis County: Ellisville, Manchester, and then Eureka. She found a map for a subdivision in Eureka I had not heard of. She started naming a few streets in that subdivision, which didn't ring a bell until she listed two streets I recognized: Eureka Rd and Cerny Ln. Those were part of MY subdivision when I was a kid. I looked at the map, but it didn't make any sense. So I asked her if I could take it home to look into it a little more.
I have to admit, I have never done well with maps. I may be a visual learner, but maps confuse me. So I brought the map home and showed it to my hubby and child. They must share a mind because they were able to read it immediately. They both pointed out that this was my parents' subdivision. Some of the lot numbers were the same as the current house numbers, and even though the street names were different, they found the lot that belonged to my parents.
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| Drake Manor A Subdivision in US Survey 2071 Township 43N, Range 4E, St. Louis County City of Eureka, Missouri October 1955 |
How exciting!! I couldn't believe I was looking at an original map of my parents' subdivision. Well, a portion of it at least. On my parents' deed, the subdivision was listed as Forest Hills West (formerly Drake Manor). Hmm... When did it change? Why was it called Drake Manor? And why were the streets different names? What's going on? In normal fashion, as soon as you find a source, it doesn't just provide answers but more questions. Time to do a deep dive into this and see what I can find. First, we glean what we can from the map.
Information from the Map:
- The name of the Subdivision was Drake Manor, after Roland Russell Drake, Sr., and Estelle Drake
- The map was dated 1955, so that is the approximate time period I need to research
- This area is right next to Augustine Acres Subdivision (technically, it is all part of the same subdivision, but it is subdivided even more than I originally thought)
- This subdivision is located in Township 43N, Range 4E, St. Louis, County
- Two roads are still the same today: Eureka Rd and Cerny Ave.
- The other roads are as follows:
- Cameron Drive = Forest Hills Drive
- Churchill Avenue = High View Drive
- Deming Drive = Willow Drive (expanded down to Forest Run Drive)
- Finlayson Drive = Hickory Hill Drive
- Merryman Avenue = Forest Run Drive
- Wilcox Avenue does not exist anymore
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| Forest Hills West Subdivision Eureka, Missouri Google Maps |
Let's Go Back In Time!
Since the map was dated 1955, the best earlier map to try to find would be the Enumeration District Map used for the 1950 United States Federal Census. Eureka is located in the Meramec Township in St. Louis County, Missouri, along with Allenton and Times Beach (two towns that no longer exist). The map used for the 1950 United States Federal Census was last revised in August 1942, thirteen years before the Drake Manor map was surveyed, but that's the closest map I could find at this time.
The top image is the full map for Meramec Township, St. Louis County, Missouri. The lower image is a zoomed-in, cropped portion of Enumeration District 95-372, where Drake Manor Subdivision would eventually be located. It appears this was before that section had been developed. Other areas, such as Times Beach, show streets on the map, but there is nothing for where Drake Manor would be located or the surrounding area. It's possible this was still a farm, but no names were given.
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| Enumeration District Map Meramec Township St. Louis County, Missouri https://stevemorse.org/ |
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| Drake Manor Subdivision Same map as above, just zoomed in 95-372 Enumeration District Meramec Township St. Louis County, Missouri https://stevemorse.org/ |
Since this map has no names, let's check an earlier map: the 1930 Plat Map. That map should have names. The 1930 Plat Map book contains maps of townships in specific counties, and each township page includes a map showing the land ownership of the properties in that township.
As stated above, Eureka is located in Meramec Township. Technically, it's divided into Townships 43 and 44 North and Ranges 3 and 4 East. The area we are looking at in Eureka is in Township 43 North, Range 4 East. I'm only sharing the section of the township that contains the land where Drake Manor would be located. Missouri Digital Heritage holds the copyright to the full map.
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| 1930 Plat Map Book Hixson (W. W.) and Company St. Louis County, Missouri Meramec Township Township 43, Page 14 |
The section where Drake Manor would eventually be platted appears to be owned by H. E. Miller. It also appears he owns 125 acres. I also looked up the 1940 Enumeration District Map to see how the streets and the subdivision were laid out. Usually those maps don't have the names of people who owned the land, but this one did. The name of the man who owned the land where Drank Manor would eventually be is Howard E. Miller. According to newspaper articles, he lived in Cassville, Illinois. He attempted to sell many acres of land in Eureka starting in 1939.
At this time, there is no way to determine whether Mr. Miller sold some of his property to Mr. Drake until I find the deed. For now, we will just move on from here. Let's see if we can find approximately when Mr. Drake acquired the property.
Eureka! I have found it!
Drake Manor - Eureka Oct 21, 1956 St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com
Based on the information provided on the original map, I was able to trace back to when Mr. Drake acquired the land. Roland Russell Drake, Sr. was a local real estate broker in Eureka, Missouri. He was already buying and selling property in the nearby Augustine Acres Subdivision (along with other properties around Eureka, Times Beach, and even Jefferson County) when he purchased 47 acres off Eureka Road to create his own subdivision. He purchased the land in early to mid-August, then petitioned the Eureka board to annex the unincorporated land into the city of Eureka.
Side Note: He even ran for Mayor against Dr. Irving Drewel in 1955 around the time he purchased the property. He lost by a landslide.
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| Eureka News - Drake Manor Meramec Valley Transcript Pacific, Missouri Fri, Aug 19, 1955 |
He started advertising for the subdivision immediately. The plans were drawn up in October 1955, but the first model home wasn't open until 1958. Based on the picture of the home in the newspaper, it looks like the house that was next door to where my parents lived: 48 High View Dr, which would have been 48 Churchill back then.
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| 27 Jul 1958 St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Newspapers.com |
48 High View Dr.Eureka, Missouri Google Maps |
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| St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri 27 Jul 1958 |
The ad on the left provides more details about the house and what it offers. The starting price was $15,500. Accounting for inflation (thanks to an inflation calculator), this house would cost about 180,000 today. After doing some research, I found that the cost of these houses was above the average cost in 1958. According to websites, the average cost for a house was between 12,000 and 13,000. I won't do a deep dive into the prices of each house in the subdivision, but I'm sharing this information because I believe it contributed to why Drake Manor was sold off and the names changed. But that's just speculation. There is no mention of R. Russell Drake or his wife after 1960. (See Update Below)
That was the year my parents' house was built. Unfortunately, the original owners couldn't continue the loan, and it was for sale two years later.
Aug 5, 1962
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(St. Louis, Missouri)
Newspapers.com
Over the next few years, the name Drake Manor was mentioned sporadically in the newspapers, such as so and so lived in Drake Manor, or House on Deming Dr for Sale. The latest mention I found was in 1966. While going through more of the maps we received at the museum, I did find some surveys done on Lots 65, 52, and 51 on 24 May 1967. It was still called Drake Manor at this point, but a year later that would all start to change.
UPDATE: Drew Walters from the Eureka Historical Society did some digging and found more information about Roland Russell Drake and Estelle Drake. They both moved to Chicago, Illinois, where they lived until their deaths. R. Russell Drake Sr. passed away on 31 May 1968, and Estelle passed away on 27 Oct 1986. They are both buried in Acacia Park Cemetery in Cook County, Illinois.
 Obituary for R Russell Drake Sr.,Jun 3, 1968 Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) Newspapers.com |
 Obituary for Estelle M. DRAKEOct 29, 1986 Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) Newspapers.com |
Drew also found their Find a Grave Memorials, which actually provided some more information about the original subdivision. Two of the streets were named after Estelle's family. Finlayson is Estelle's maiden name, and Wilcox was her mother's maiden name.
I'm still curious why the residents went to great lengths to change the names of the streets and subdivision after the Drake left. Maybe I'm looking into it too much, but unless something negative occurred, there would be no reason, in my opinion, for them to go to these length to legally change it. Who know. But this was a great update. Thanks Drew!
Forest Hills West (Formerly Drake Manor)
The first mention of Forest Hills West that I could find in the newspapers was in Jun 1968. It was an ad for a property in the subdivision, placed in the paper by MSI Financial, which appears to be a realtor. No address was given for the lot that was for sale. The construction company that took over building the homes was Buettner Construction, owned and operated by Richard Buettner. I couldn't find anything to show when the subdivision transferred from R. Russell Drake. At the time, the streets still had the original names.
 Forest Hills WestJun 30, 1968 St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com |
 Forest Hills West Sep 15, 1968 St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com |
Originally, the houses were built with gas heating (propane), but when Buettner Construction took over, they began promoting their all-electric homes. In the 1950s, the all-electric home-building campaign was launched, called "Live Better Electrically". It was heavily promoted by then-actor Ronald Regan, the popular host of General Electric Theater. By the 1960s, the campaign was in full swing, and Buettner Construction included this in its advertising for Forest Hills West. If your home was certified "All-Electric," you could receive a Medallion to place outside your house.
Electrically Heated Forest Hills Dec 15, 1968
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(St. Louis, Missouri)
Newspapers.com
Although the subdivision was beginning to be called "Forest Hills West", it wasn't officially (and legally) renamed until May 1969. Residents had taken the matter to the Eureka board, requesting a name change for the subdivision and the streets as well.
Drake Manor changed to Forest Hills West May 27, 1969
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri)
Newspapers.com
And the rest is history!
The Next Phase
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| St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Sun, June 23, 1974 |
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| St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Sun, July 04, 1976 |
Highland Development Co - Forest Hills West Jul 4, 1976
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri)
Newspapers.com
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| St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Sun, April 24, 1977 |
To meet demand, additional lots were added, expanding the boundaries of Forest Hills West beyond the original Drake Manor Subdivision. In 1978, KCH Enterprise and Dolan Realtors teamed up to sell and build lots, and a year after that, KCH also teamed up with L. K. Wood Realtors to build and sell lots. The advertisements announced a "New Subdivision" in the Forest Hills West area, which would be east of Cerny Lane (the original cutoff for Drake Manor). When you drive around the subdivision today, you can see where no sections had been added based on the layout of the homes. Some areas have more split-level homes, while others are ranch-style homes.
Grand Opening Forest Hills West Oct 8, 1978 St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com For years to come, they would continue to expand. But more lots mean more homes, and by extension, more people and traffic. Eureka was growing, and changes were needed to the original layouts of the streets going through Eureka and leading out of Eureka to Jefferson County. Since the entrance to Augustine Acres and Forest Hills West was right off that road, it would have to change as well. Let's look at some of the changes.
Do You Know The Way To Forest Hills West?
As Eureka began to grow, changes were made to accommodate the extra traffic. Before HWY 44 was built, Route 66 was the main road that traveled through Eureka. It was also called 5th Street as it came through town, and it intersected with many streets: East Avenue, Central Avenue, West Avenue, Walton Avenue, and Huey Avenue. Fourth Street also merged onto it. When HWY 44 was built in the late 1950s, it ran right between 4th Street and 5th Street and cut off access to the streets that originally ran through Route 66. The only way to access the other side was Central Avenue.
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| 1950 Enumeration District Map before HWY W & HWY 44 were built Same map as above, just zoomed & cropped 95-372 Enumeration District Meramec Township St. Louis County, Missouri https://stevemorse.org/ |
Let's re-examine the 1950 Enumeration District Map. You can clearly see Route 66 going through Eureka before HWY 44 was built. Route 66 also went right through Times Beach. Eureka Road ran all the way to the Meramec River, but the main way to cross over the Meramec was to take Bald Hill Road across Bald Pate Road Bridge. Once you cross the river, you are in Jefferson County. This was a major connection to Hoene Springs and House Springs. As these areas also began to grow, the need for a better road was approaching fast. Geggie Elementary opened in 1965, and it was also located on Bald Hill Road.
In the 1970s, there was a proposal to expand Central South and split Bald Hill Road to head South. The old Bald Pate Road Bridge would be demolished and a new bridge constructed. That way, it would be a straight shot, and traffic by the school would be less. Originally, Eureka Road intersected with Augustine Road right near Flat Creek. After crossing the creek, the old road gradually curved and funneled directly into South Central Avenue. Right at that curve is where HWY W would take over to go South.
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| Proposed Route W Design Eureka, Missouri 1970s Provided by Eureka Historical Society |
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| Central Ave looking South to HWY W Eureka, Missouri cir 1975 Provided by Eureka Historical Society |
The picture above shows Central Ave going South across the railroad tracks into old town Eureka. In the distance, you can see the bridge that goes across Flat Creek. Just before the bridge on the left is the turnoff to Augustine Road and Eureka Road. This is after HWY W was completed, heading South to Jefferson County. When this road was built, it cut right through the Niehoffs' property, demolishing their homestead. Other houses were also demolished in the process as well.
The next big change occurred from 1986-1989 when a bypass was planned and constructed to help with traffic flow and safety concerns. This road took HWY W up on a bypass over the tracks, East of old town Eureka, and merged it with HWY 109. Talks had been in the works since around 1977. When this happened, the entrance to Augustine Road changed as well. They moved the entrance down further and put a stoplight in.
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| Eureka, Missouri Marked to show old and new routes 2026 Google Maps |
That's all folks... for now
Many changes have occurred to the town of Eureka since Drake Manor was surveyed and platted. It's amazing to go back in time to see what it used to look like and how it all began. This was just a small snippet of Eureka History, but to me it was huge. To learn more about the subdivision I grew up in and how it came to be.
When I attended the most recent Eureka Historical Society Meeting, one gentleman recalled that the subdivision was once called Drake Manor, but he didn't know why it was named that or why it changed. While I was able to answer one question, I still don't know for sure why it changed. I will continue to look into it and see if I can come up with an answer. If I do, I will update this blog post. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed reading more about the history of my childhood subdivision and my hometown, Eureka.
Or as I liked to say when I was a kid: My-reka.
Bonus clipping:
