Why Here?

Alot of people have asked me, "Why did you choose this neighborhood?", or "Whats so special about Carondelet, and not these other culture rich areas of the city?"

Well, I believe, that these neighborhoods in Saint Louis all share a rich, fascinating history. Each is unique and tells its own individual tales of the past. I guess one reason of why I am drawn here, to Carondelet, is the fact that this is the first town in Missouri that the Roques family resided in.

Also, because Carondelet was not incorporated into Saint Louis City until the 1870's, there is alot more history here. Where we came from. Our stony bluff roots. The bluffs are in the buildings, the buildings are still standing. To me, this is different from downtown, original Saint Louis. This is where the city has sold itself to progress and has torn out the soul of the old town.
Turned its back to the river that once provided all life....

The Missouri Historical Socitey was kind enough to send me a typed Narrative of my ancestor, John Roques, who lived in here, and it explains his journies through the military and his time in Carondelet, Saint Louis, New Orleans, Mobile and Carondelet.

Though very fuzzy and hard to read, it provides some very interesting details into his life, and in all honesty, helps me discover more of who I am. John was a drum major and was the leader of the first band Saint Louis ever had. Ironically, I play music in Saint Louis today. A family joke throughout the years was about where I had gotten my musical ability from. My mom plays a little guitar, my grandparents are farmers.

Bloodlines still run deep, I guess.