SCHS July 22, 2026 General Membership Presentation and Meeting
“The Rural Cemetery Movement in Nineteenth-Century America” presented by Jeffrey Smith, Ph.D.
Join us on Wednesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library at Lindbergh High School for a fascinating presentation by Jeffrey Smith, Ph.D.
When Mount Auburn opened in 1831 as the first “rural” cemetery in the United States, it transformed the way Americans thought about burial grounds. Over the following decades, rural cemeteries evolved into places for leisure, reflection, and connection with nature. These landscaped spaces offered relief from rapidly growing cities while helping communities shape collective memory and influencing the development of public parks and urban planning.
Dr. Smith, professor emeritus of History at Lindenwood University, is a cultural and public historian specializing in historical memory, slavery, and the U.S. Civil War. He frequently speaks and writes about Americans’ relationships with cemeteries, monuments, and death ways. This presentation is based on research from his book, The Rural Cemetery Movement: Places of Paradox in Nineteenth-Century America (2017).
We hope you’ll join us for this engaging exploration of how cemeteries helped shape nineteenth-century American culture and landscapes. Please bring a friend.
This presentation and meeting is free and open to the public. It is handicap accessible.
Finding the venue:
Lindbergh High School Library
5000 S. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63126
Enter the campus at the stoplight, drive straight ahead and turn left into the parking lot. Park in the red lot.
Enter the building through the main entrance by the flag poles. The library is just inside the entrance to the right. Remember, this is NOT the iconic round building that was the LHS Library for so many decades. This is in the NEW library.
Jeffrey Smith and Father Dixon Cemetery
Dr. and Professor Jeffrey Smith has deep knowledge of cemeteries and history, including local history. His local connections to cemeteries and history include his work with Father Dixon Cemetery. He is cemetery historian, and a board member. The cemetery is located on Sappington Road just south of big Bend Road and next to the Historic Sappington Houses. The entrance is at the Elmont Lane stoplight.
Placing flowers on the Vashon monument at Father Dixon Cemetery
Photo from Father Dixon Cemetery website
The entrance gate to Father Dixon Cemetery at intersection of Sappington Road and Elmont Lane
Photo from Father Dixon Cemetery website
See more about Jeffrey Smith and his work:
St Louis County Libraries Pastports article about Father Dixon Cemetery
Father Dixon Cemetery on Facebook
Father Dixon Cemetery website
Dr. Smith’s presentation is based on research from his book, The Rural Cemetery Movement: Places of Paradox in Nineteenth-Century America (2017)
Visit the St Louis Area History Showcase
On Saturday, June 6, Sappington-Concord Historical Society will be represented with a table at the St Louis Area History Showcase. This event brings together more than 50 history organizations in the St Louis region to help people connect to history in this year of the 250th anniversary of the USA. The event will be held at the Jefferson Barracks Historic Site, in Jefferson Barracks Park. Find History Showcase on the green in front of the Visitors Center at 345 North Rd., St. Louis, MO 63125.
The History Showcase opens at 10:00 AM and runs until 4:00 PM. A live band will perform from 11:00 AM to 2 PM
Stop by the SCHS table to say hello to the representatives, explore other history organizations, and visit the demonstrations and exhibits.
The event is free and open to the public, so be sure to bring friends and family
The event is cosponsored by St. Louis County Parks and St Louis Regional History Organizations
Annual Memorial Day Celebration – 2026
Sappington-Concord Historical Society will again host their Annual Memorial Day Ceremony in South County.
This year’s event will be at 9:00 am, Monday, May 25
On the Green at St. Lucas UCC
11735 Denny Road, Sunset Hills, MO 63126
Bring your lawn chair, friends and family
As in previous years, this year’s event will include a (possible) ceremonial flyover by a local group of Stearman Biplane aircraft owners, the Lindbergh High School Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band, distinguished guest speaker, tribute to MIA/POWs, a vocalist, and more.
Guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, family, neighbors and friends.
Parking will be available on the east parking lot at St. Lucas UCC.
The annual family celebration is handicap accessible, free and open to the public.
Attractions of particular interest to kids and families:
• Seeing the Bald Eagle and eagle display from World Bird Sanctuary
• Seeing the Lindbergh High School marching band
• Receiving a small American flag
• Doing the Pledge of Allegiance
• Hearing the National Anthem
• Seeing the fire department fire bell
• Seeing a ceremonial flyover of Stearman Biplane aircraft if weather permits and the planes are in good flying condition. They are antique machines and are much to be appreciated when they get into the sky. The Stearman flyover is such an appropriate addition to an historical society Memorial Day ceremony.
Liberty, pictured above, the bald eagle from the World Bird Sanctuary has been visiting the Memorial Day ceremony for a number of years. Liberty, it was announced late last year, unfortunately has passed away. The World Bird Sanctuary this year will again bring a bald eagle to visit the SCHS Memorial Day ceremony. It will be interesting to see what the eagle’s name is. The bald eagle is a national symbol of United States. It is also a example of environmental restoration. It was an endangered species in the 20th century. Serious efforts were made to protect the bald eagle and its species is now off of the endangered species list and its numbers are increasing. Come, Memorial Day morning to meet this magnificent creature, a symbol of the United States of America. And happy 250th anniversary to our nation. The man in the photo above is Walter Crawford, the founder of the World Bird Sanctuary.
Pay respect to the fallen
The World War II Honor Roll in Sappington-Concord Park was dedicated May 29, 1995, and is made of Missouri red granite
The World War II Honor Roll
The World War II Honor Roll monument is in Sappington-Concord Memorial Park at the intersection of Gravois, Sappington and Denny Roads across from the Lindbergh Schools administration building. The monument is made of Missouri red granite and it was dedicated for the first SCHS Memorial Day ceremony in 1995. The annual SCHS ceremony was held in the park until Johnny’s Market was torn down and the new Lindbergh Schools administration building was built. When the ceremony first moved to the Green at St Lucas, the SCHS Memorial Day committee created a full size replica of the World War II Honor Roll made of wood to look exactly like the Missouri red granite memorial in the park.
It will again be set up for the ceremony on Monday, May 25. Come, read the names of the servicemen and women who served in World War II from the Sappington-Concord area. It is a who’s who list of local families in the mid 20th-century.
The first World War II Honor Roll monument was set up in the park during World War II and was constructed of wood. It honored members of the community then actively serving in the armed forces. Over the next 4 decades, the wooden monument deteriorated until it was falling apart. It became the mission of Sappington-Concord Historical Society to rebuild the moment in stone. The work was funded by the Concord Village Lions Club.
Cemetery walking tour of seven veterans’ grave sites
St Lucas UCC welcomes the SCHS Memorial Day ceremony each year. And each year the St Lucas Cemetery Board organizes placement of small American flags on the grave markers of all veterans in the cemetery. This year, the St Lucas Heritage Committee has joined the cemetery board to give special recognition to seven of those veterans. They have marked the graves of the seven veterans with numbers so that on Memorial Day, visitors can take a self guided tour of the cemetery and find the grave marker of each veteran. Then they can read about each of the veterans in a booklet available at the ceremony. The seven writings are recollections of military service and are to be found in the Sappington-Concord Historical Society’s “Hometown Heroes” book, the “blue book.”
Copies of the “Hometown Heroes” will be available for sale at the SCHS membership sales table.
See a digital version of the St Lucas Heritage Committee walking tour on the St Lucas website
Support for SCHS Memorial Day ceremony
The following organizations and individuals will participate in the program, among others:
• Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band – https://golhsflyers.net/news/2025/11/6/athletics-spirit-of-st-louis-band-finishes-incredible-fall-season.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/LHSBandstanders
• Bald Eagle and eagle display from the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park – https://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org
• Moolah Drum Corps – https://moolah.org
• St. Louis Marine Corps League Honor Guard – https://momarines.com
• Patriot Guard Riders – https://patriotguard.org
• Concord Village Lions Club – https://concordvillagelions.org
• Lindbergh Schools Communications Department – https://www.lindberghschools.ws
• Sunset Hills Police Department – https://www.countyoffice.org/sunset-hills-police-department-st-louis-mo-701/
• Mehlville Fire Protection District – https://mehlvillefire.com
• St Lucas UCC minister, venue for ceremony, cemetery board, volunteers, photographer – https://www.stlucasucc.org
• SCHS Memorial Day Ceremony committee
Ross Wagner – a special 2026 recognition
• Veteran
• Teacher
• Historian
• Farmer
• Leader in preserving Sappington-Concord history
In this year when the Sappington-Concord Historical Society Board of Directors starts the process of reactivating Ross Wagner‘s farm, it’s a perfect moment to recall Ross‘s leadership role in the Society. He was a founding member of the Society in 1992. He continued his leadership role in the Society until just before his illness and death in December, 2016. He generously bequeathed his farm to the Society, which is now its headquarters, appropriately named the Ross Wagner Historical Center.
Beyond his leadership with Sappington-Concord Historical Society, we can see the bigger picture of his life. He served his country in World War II, educated generations of youth in history, promoted an appreciation of history in the community and followed in the footsteps of previous generations of his family in farming, working many of his years with hands in the soil.
Ross is buried in St Lucas Cemetery.
The Sappington-Concord Historical Society heartily thanks all of the supporting organizations and individuals who make the Memorial Day ceremony an event for the whole community to honor those who have given their all for our country. Please come Monday, May 25 to join friends and neighbors of all ages honoring their service.
April 22, 2026, Spring Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday, 6:30 PM at the Lindbergh High School library
Come and enjoy learning more about the birds in your neighborhood! Birds of the Backyard will be presented by volunteers from Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:30PM.
Quarterly general membership meeting to follow the presentation.
Please note: our meeting will be in the new Library on the Lindbergh campus. Parking is available in the Red Lot.
Enter the building through the main entrance by the flag poles. The library is just inside the entrance to the right.
Remember, this is NOT the iconic round building that was the LHS Library for so many decades. This is in the NEW library.
Please bring a friend.
This presentation and meeting is free and open to the public. It is handicap accessible.
See you there!
SCHS Strategic Planning Meeting, March 4
Crestwood City Hall in the Aldermanic Chambers, 1 Detjen Drive, Crestwood, MO, 63126
Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00 pm
Note that this is a members only meeting. Please check that your membership status is current. If you are interested in becoming a member of SCHS, please see the joining page. To join SCHS in person at the March 4 meeting, please bring the appropriate amount of cash, check, or credit card.
Agenda
I. Welcome and opening remarks
• Introduction: Greeting by President Jimmy Devoto
• Purpose of Meeting: Define short, mid, and long term goals for the SCHS and the Ross Wagner Property
• Define the mission and history of SCHS: The reason we are all here
II. Strategic Focus: Community Outreach
• Visibility: Increasing our presence in the community and beyond
• Partnerships: Develop new and nurture old community relationships
• Membership growth: Strategies for growth
III. Preservation & Property Management
• Ross Wagner Property: Ongoing Maintenance, potential mixed use, turning the property into a source of SCHS growth
• Organize and Utilize the Archive: Ensure that all records and archives are securely kept at the Ross Wagner Property
IV. Engaging Programs and Fundraising
• Event Calendar: Memorial Day event, Quarterly Newsletter, New Events?
• Community Initiatives/ Potential uses: Community Garden, Farmers Market, Rain garden, New ideas
• Education: Lindbergh Stem program, educational partnerships
• Fundraising: Identifying grant opportunities, special events, student scholarships, and community driven initiatives
V. Closing & Next Steps
• Call for Volunteers: Create a roster of SCHS volunteers
• Set up Committees: Create groups to gather information to present to the board
SCHS event preview, January to July 2026
March 4, Wednesday 7:00 pm – The 2026 Strategic Planning Meeting for SCHS and Wagner Farm,* at Crestwood City Hall in the Aldermanic Chambers
April 22, Wednesday 7:00 pm – SCHS Spring general meeting and program, at Lindbergh High School, specific room to be announced
May 25, Monday 9:00 am – Memorial Day ceremony, On the Green at St Lucas UCC church, 11735 Denny Rd, St. Louis, MO 63126
July 22, Wednesday 7:00 pm – SCHS Summer general meeting and program, at Lindbergh High School, room to be announced
*The 2026 Strategic Planning Meeting for SCHS. The meeting’s focus will be to discuss the future of SCHS by defining our short, mid, and long term goals for both the organization and the Ross Wagner Property. It is open to all members. If you know someone who would like to be a part of the meeting who is not a member, please make sure they join before March 4
https://www.schs.ws/schs2/events-2/
Renewing your membership for 2026
Thank you for renewing your 2026 membership at the January 28 meeting. If you could not make that daytime meeting, you can renew your membership by filling out the form and mailing it along with a check. Your SCHS membership runs for the calendar year.
Thank you very much for supporting the Society and the Ross Wagner farm!
SCHS Winter Qarterly Meeting, January 28, 2026
Meeting, January 28, 2026
Happy New Year! The Sappington-Concord Historical Society will meet Wednesday, January 28 at 3:00 PM for its Winter general meeting. It will be at the US Grant National Historic Site at 7400 Grant Road 63123.
The program:
Historian and curator, Nick Sacco, will speak on “The Great Divorce: St Louis City-County Split of 1876.” There will be a brief business meeting, and also the new board of officers and directors will be sworn in by Nick Sacco
Friends and visitors are welcome. We encourage you to come early and visit the gift shop and museum. After the business meeting and presentation, feel free to stay for a guided tour of the Grant site by Nick Sacco
The Ross Wagner Farm vote:
The SCHS Board has withdrawn the proposal to transfer the Ross Wagner property to the Lindbergh Schools. No further vote will be taken
Membership renewal:
You will be able to renew your SCHS membership at the meeting. Dues are based on the calendar year. Cash and checks are welcome
The Grant National Historic Site is a true gem and we are lucky citizens to have such a site in the Sappington-Concord area. See a photo of the US Grant home in the snow on the Sappington-Concord Historical Society Facebook page
October 22, 2025 quarterly meeting
The Sappington-Concord Historical Society (SCHS) quarterly (and annual) meeting is Wednesday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m in the cafeteria at Lindbergh High School;
5000 Lindbergh Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63126
At this meeting SCHS members on the roster as of September 11, 2025, will vote Yes or No on the recommendation of the Board of Directors to transfer the Ross Wagner property located at 9148 Sappington Road to Lindbergh Schools.
[ Note from the web manager: if you want to know more about this vote, you might check out the SCHS Facebook page to see comments from the community]
The membership will also elect SCHS officers and directors for 2026 at this meeting.
That evening the program “Birds of the Backyard” will be presented by volunteers from Powder Valley Nature Center. Come learn more about the birds in the neighborhood.
Wednesday, October 1 special meeting on transferring the Ross Wagner farm to Lindbergh Schools
Sappington-Concord Historical Society (SCHS) special membership meeting regarding the transfer of ownership of the Ross Wagner property to Lindbergh Schools, as recommended by the Board of Directors, is Wednesday, October 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Lindbergh High School cafeteria. Members were notified of this meeting by the SCHS board of directors’ letter dated September 11, 2025.
Directions to cafeteria at Lindbergh High School, 5000 South Lindbergh:
Turn onto the campus at the Lindbergh and Roxanna Drive signal; make a right at the next driveway, and follow the road around the round building to the bottom of the sloping drive. Turn left into the large parking lot; park near the building straight ahead. Enter the set of doors and the cafeteria is to your right.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 quarterly meeting
The Sappington-Concord Historical Society (SCHS) quarterly meeting is Wednesday, July 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the dining hall (lower level) at St. Johns United Church of Christ, 11333 St. Johns Church Road (Lindbergh & I-55). To use the elevator, enter via the ramp next to the handicap parking lot. Otherwise, enter through the side door.
Guest speaker Doug Schneider will present “Rest in Peace: Cemeteries in St. Louis,” a perfect complement to the last three summer meetings when we met at a cemetery. He will cover contemporary burial choices and take us on an armchair cemetery tour of thriving cemeteries, neglected cemeteries and the first crematorium west of the Mississippi.
We look forward to seeing you Wednesday evening. Guests are welcome.
Memorial Day Ceremony
, Monday, May 26, 2025
The Sappington-Concord Historical Society hosts its annual Memorial Day celebration to honor military veterans on Monday, May 26, at 9 a.m. The event will be on the green at St. Lucas United Church of Christ, 11735 Denny Road, in South St. Louis County.
CW5 Randall Ottinger (Retired) will be the Master of Ceremony and Lieutenant Commander John T. Waters, United States Coast Guard Commanding Officer of Base St. Louis, is the guest speaker.
The event will also include a flyover by a local group of Stearman Biplane aircraft owners; and musical performances by Lauren Hoggatt, the Moolah Drum Corps and the Lindbergh High School Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band.
Everyone is welcome. Please bring your own lawn chair.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 quarterly meeting
The Sappington-Concord Historical Society (SCHS) quarterly meeting is Wednesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria at Lindbergh High School, 5000 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
Guest speaker Esley Hamilton, the former Preservation Historian for the Historic Buildings Commission of St. Louis County, will present “A History of Landscape Architecture in St. Louis.” He will discuss how the designs of private gardens, public parks and city neighborhoods fit into the broader context of landscape architecture history in St. Louis.
Looking forward to seeing you Wednesday evening. Guests are welcome.
Directions to Lindbergh High School cafeteria:
Turn onto the campus at the signal at Lindbergh Blvd. & Roxanna Drive; then turn right and follow the drive past the round building to the bottom of the sloping drive. Turn left into the large parking lot; park near the building straight ahead. Enter the set of doors and the cafeteria is to the right.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 quarterly meeting
The Sappington-Concord Historical Society (SCHS) quarterly meeting is Wednesday, January 22, at 3:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, 7400 Grant Road. Curator Nick Sacco will speak on “The House that Grant Built: A History of the Hardscrabble Log Cabin.” Did you know that the cabin has been moved three times and now stands a short distance from its original location? Come hear more that Nick will relate about the house.
Note: This is a DAYTIME meeting. If your schedule permits, we highly recommend a visit the museum prior to the start of the meeting. For those who don’t drive after dark, the meeting will be over about 4 p.m. However, if you are able to stay, a guided tour of the house and grounds will follow.
If you have not already paid your SCHS membership renewal for 2025, you’ll be able to pay the dues at this meeting. If you are unable to attend, please mail your renewal dues check to SCHS, P.O. Box 270538, St. Louis, MO 63127. Thank you for your continued support of the Society.
Looking forward to seeing you Wednesday afternoon. Guests are welcome.
