Headline: A
TALE ABOUT HOW ST. LOUIS BECAME THE HOT PLACE TO BE
Reporter: By Greg Freeman
Publication: ST.
LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Thur., Dec. 24, 1998
Section: METRO, Page: B1, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT
The magic of Christmas
'Twas the night
before Christmas
and all
through the city
the trees
were all up.
The lights
were so pretty.
Mayor Harmon was
nestled
all snug
in his bed
while a
sparkling new downtown
danced in
his head.
Buzz Westfall
was sleeping
free from
tension
as he dreamed
about the
Page Avenue
extension.
And on the East
Side
Mayor Gordon
Bush slumbered
knowing
his days
as mayor
were numbered.
Roger Wilson wasn't
able
to sleep
through the night
because
to make ends meet
he had to
moonlight.
But members of
St. Louis
2004
dreamed
of ways to make
this region
soar.
Elsewhere, William
Danforth
dreamed
of a neat
resolution
to deseg. '
Twas no easy feat.
When suddenly
downtown
there arose
such a clatter
this columnist
awoke
to see what
was the matter.
I hopped in my
car
and drove
toward the sound
speeding
and weaving
toward downtown.
As I sped through
the city
my car was
stopped
by Chief
Ron Henderson,
the city's
top cop.
I told him of
this matter
of great
import
and he let
me go
with a police
escort.
We arrived at
the Arch grounds
and were
startled to see
a fat man
with a beard --
and that
man wasn't me!
His beard was
white
and his
suit was bright red.
"Not
exactly fashionable, "
to Henderson
I said.
Still, his eyes
were bright
and his
stomach like Jell-O.
He certainly
seemed
like a good-natured
fellow.
This stranger
had arrived
on a large
riverboat.
It wasn't
the Admiral,
This boat
could float
And move down
the river.
It had come
quite quickly.
He'd come
by boat
for his
reindeer were sickly.
But that didn't
stop him
from going
straight to his work.
He observed
his surroundings,
then turned
with a jerk.
He reached in
the bag
filled with
dusty old plans
that once
had been written
by rich
consultants.
He called out
their names
and as I
stood gazing
The plans
came alive.
It was quite
amazing.
"On, Kiel
Opera House! Live once again!
On, Chase Hotel! It's time to open!
On, East Side
Music Center! Become a star!
On, Arena site, whatever you are!"
"On, connection
between downtown and Laclede's Landing!
On, Federal Courthouse! Give St. Louis standing!
On, Grand Center!
Be one of the city's bright lights!
On, St. Louis region! No more urban sprawl fights!"
He kept shouting
out projects
And calling
their names.
They came
to life at a speed
to put planners
to shame.
"On, convention
hotel! Arise from your slumber!
On, Six
Flags water park! Folks will want you in summer!
On, loft district!
Grow up and live long!
On, St.
Charles! May your future be strong!"
And suddenly St.
Louis came really alive
from the
greatest location to the lowest dive.
The region became
bright, we became a star,
The envy
of cities both near and far.
The city and counties
stopped fighting and
joined as
a region. It was something quite grand.
Despite a past
of much tension and strife,
we became
a hot city. We had a nightlife!
In the day there
was plenty for families to do.
Street performers
abounded; hot-dog venders too.
People migrated
here from across the nation.
St. Louis
was, frankly, a national sensation.
Santa finished
his job and looked around.
It was just
what he wanted. A thriving downtown
and a prosperous
region that thought outside the box.
To heck
with Cleveland! St. Louis Rocks!
And as he packed
up his bag to go,
Santa called
out a jolly "Ho ho ho!"
He got back on
his boat and he cruised out of sight
Saying,
"Merry Christmas, St. Louis, and to you a good night!"
COPYRIGHT © 1998, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
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