Photo Flood 133: Elsah

photo by Mike Matney

The Village of Elsah was founded in 1853 when a local quarry operator incentivized the purchase of stones by giving away land. Since then, the Village has seen ups and downs in its population, but remains one of the best preserved collections of 19th Century residences along the Great River Road.

photo by Meredith Bousman

photo by Jason Gray

 

photo by Matt Brown

 

photo by Meredith Bousman

 

Frederick Oakes Sylvester, American, 1869–1915; The Mississippi at Elsah, 1903; oil on canvas; 30 1/8 x 45 1/16 inches; Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George Schriever

Illinois’ Great River Road north from St. Louis, particularly between Alton and Grafton, is among the most scenic stretches of road in the entire Midwest. Here, the highway parallels the Mississippi River, north of its grand confluence with the Missouri River and south of its confluence with the Illinois River. Overhead, bald eagles swoop and soar through the air with talons at the ready for any unsuspecting prey, while turkey vultures circle the upward vectors along the bluffs in anticipation of any leftovers. The bluffs themselves offer dramatic views; their towering heights along the River testament to both the power of the Mississippi and a contradiction to the flat plains beyond. This is a place where nature looms large and where humans have gathered to appreciate it for millennia. In fact, for the Native Americans that settled or traded in the area of the Mississippi River Valley prior to European contact, the bluffs along the River were embedded with spiritual significance and a location where loved ones were buried.

It is this same landscape that drew James Semple to settle in a valley between the bluffs in 1853. This valley, shrouded in forest and sloping gently downward to the Mississippi River would be named Elsah.

photo by Jason Gray

 

photo by Meredith Bousman

 

photo by Mike Matney

 

photo by Mike Matney

James Semple was a man with a complicated background. Born in Kentucky, he later opened a tannery in Missouri and was appointed as a State Loan Commissioner. Following his wife’s death, Semple decided to study law. Once admitted to the bar, he moved to Edwardsville prior to 1830, where he also entered politics amid the tumultuous power battle between two early Governors of Illinois, pro-slavery Ninian Edwards and anti-slavery Edward Coles. Semple, a Democrat, opposed slavery, which was against the view of most members of his political party at the time. James would eventually go on to serve in Illinois’ House of Representatives and as Attorney General, before becoming a United States Diplomat, and later, U.S. Senator. Semple retired fully from politics by 1850, unhappy with the partisan nature of political discourse. He practiced law for a short time in Alton, before purchasing land in what was then known as Jersey Landing. The land he purchased, and later parceled, extended through a shaded valley up into the bluffs, which he named Elsah (there is speculation of a Scottish origin for this name).

Semple and his wife soon formed the Elsah Building and Manufacturing Company to quarry stone for building materials. In Elsah, he gave away parcels of land to anyone that agreed to build upon it, and in doing so, ensured prosperity for both his business and his new village. As local Postmaster and entrepreneur, James Semple lived out the remainder of his days in quiet reflection and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

photo by Meredith Bousman

 

photo by Jason Gray

 

photo by Mike Matney

 

photo by Jason Gray

Though well-situated, Elsah never achieved the prominence of nearby Grafton or Alton, and because of its topography, was passed over by the railroad, which would drive industrial growth for most U.S. cities in the 20th Century. This is perhaps fortunate, however, because it meant that the 19th Century character of the village proper was preserved (with many of its most historic buildings still in use today).

In the early 1930’s, San Francisco-based architect Bernard Maybeck was hired to design buildings for a new college campus for St. Louis-based Principia College. Principia, though not affiliated with the Christian Science Church, was an educational institution founded by Mary Kimball Morgan as a platform of Christian Science scholarship. The decision to move away from St. Louis to Elsah in 1935 afforded the institution both a degree of seclusion and almost limitless expansion (the school now occupies over 2,500 acres). Though the college has suffered from dwindled enrollment, it is still much respected for its academic programing. The campus was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1993.

photo by Mike Matney

 

photo by Matt Brown

 

 

Today, Elsah is a quaint, riverside village with a population both dedicated to, and likely attracted by, its historic heritage and preservation. The Historic Elsah Foundation works within the community to operate and maintain some of the village’s most important, older structures and provides recreational programming, both historically-themed and otherwise.

On our visit, the Annual Elsah Fall Festival was in effect and the Village was buzzing with activity. Though this event is a big draw, a stop in Elsah anytime is sure to reward!

photo by Jason Gray

 

photo by Meredith Bousman

 

photo by Mike Matney

 

photo by Jason Gray

0 Comments

Leave a reply

©2024 Photo Flood Saint Louis

Log in with your credentials

or    

Forgot your details?

Create Account