St. Louis excursions - early 20th Century history

[gunhilltrain]

Where could young people go to get some privacy for sexual fooling around? This is part of my upcoming version of Meet Me in St. Louis. In New York at the time, this song (I think from 1901) gives some details.

On a Sunday afternoon
In the merry month of June
Take a trip on the Hudson or down the bay
Take a trolley to Coney or Rockaway.

Coney Island and Rockaway were too crowded, but the Hudson River Dayliners went to two state parks (including Bear Mountain) that offered plenty of opportunities. So were there any St. Louis equivalents? This was before many people owned cars. (The song above is about lovers and hints at what people were really doing in that era.) I'm having trouble finding info on-line.

P.S.: Bear Mountain was also accessible by train and had its own station.

 

[12oclocktales]

You might want to check out the National Register of Historic Places for St. Louis; there are several parks and historic districts that might have attracted young lovers in the early 1900s. Wikipedia has a complete list and info under the St Louis MO entry.

 

[gunhilltrain]

You might want to check out the National Register of Historic Places for St. Louis; there are several parks and historic districts that might have attracted young lovers in the early 1900s. Wikipedia has a complete list and info under the St Louis MO entry.

Thank you, I'll take a look at those.

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

The Rose of Old St. Louis by Mary Dillon, written in 1904. Might contain references to the romantic getaways people of the time might know of that you're looking for?

 

[yowser]

Bicycles could get young lovers out of town and into the greenery.

 

[gunhilltrain]

The Rose of Old St. Louis by Mary Dillon, written in 1904. Might contain references to the romantic getaways people of the time might know of that you're looking for?

Thank you. I'll take a look at it.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Bicycles could get young lovers out of town and into the greenery.

It's possible. I know that in New York one would have to go quite a ways even then, depending on where you started. Also, being outdoors is sometimes not ideal depending on the activity. At one point Esther mentions how automobiles, starting around 1920, profoundly changed the dating landscape. (She's looking back from her 80th birthday in 1965.)