Benton Park

This photo of Benton Park by Emil Boehl is one of the oldest surviving photos of the Park. Originally, the park was laid out in 1842 as City Cemetery, as it was located far from the urban development at the center of the city, which barely reached out to Soulard at the time. In 1849, during the cholera epidemic that killed around 7000 in the city, bodies were buried here, often times fully clothed, as people feared touching the infected bodies due to the perceived possibility of transmitting the disease. Beginning in the late 1850s and early 1860s, German settlers began moving into the area due to the low prices of undeveloped land, and by 1865, enough people lived nearby that the decision was made to move the bodies to Bellefontaine Cemetery. In 1866, the area was dedicated as City Park, and it remained as such until about 1882, when it was renamed in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, and landscaped with rolling hills and ponds. During the mid 20th century, the ponds were filled in, and the pavilion seen in the photo was removed, as the neighborhood began to decline. However in recent years, one of the ponds was recreated, and the park has undergone some beautification efforts.