Royal Vagabonds Incorporated |
Royal Vagabonds History
The Royal Vagabonds, Inc. organization had its beginnings in the late 1920’s, when a small group of Black professionals and businessmen got together to plan, implement and share common goals and activities, because of limited social and intellectual opportunities for “men of color.” Originally the group was called “The Vagabonds,” but later the name was changed to “The Royal Vagabonds” in the late 1950’s. The original meetings were held in the homes of the founding members, where they met to plan and implement activities that were generally held at either the Poro Hotel & College, the Peoples Finance Building or the Pump Room.
The “Vagabonds Social Club” was incorporated by the State of Missouri in the 1950’s and shortly thereafter decided to purchase a “house of our own.” Each member was accessed a one hundred dollar ($100) fee for the down payment towards a house. The original social home was located and purchased at #64 Vanderventer Place.
The house was proudly refurbished by members with additional help from their wives. Their big event of the year – the Royal Vagabonds New Year’s Eve Party – was held at the newly refurbished house during this period. Things went along fine until the City of St. Louis decided to build a juvenile detention center on the site , forcing the club to move to its present location. Since it’s early beginnings, the organization has evolved and grown into an influential membership of over 80 members . Through the years, the Royal Vagabonds, Inc. has remained socially active providing much needed services, resources, and monetary contributions to individuals and organizations throughout the community, to help improve the lives and/or living conditions of those in need. History of the Mansion
Fullerton’s Westminster Place is one of the most historically significant private streets in the Central West End. The land on which the street was developed was purchased in 1882 by General Joseph Scott Fullerton, a Union Army veteran and attorney for the development of a private place between Boyle and Taylor Ave. Unlike many of the earlier private places like Benton Place, Westminster Place did not have a grass median down the center of the street. The deed restrictions put into place required each house to have a 25 foot setback from the street on a lot with no less than 60 feet fronting the street, with construction costs exceeding a minimum price of $10,000 equivalent to $350,000 in today’s money. It was also documented that the street must be maintained by residents through a self-imposed assessment (a practice which continues to this day through the Fullerton Association). In 1901, Pierre Chouteau Maffitt, a descendent of the 18th century founder of St. Louis, Pierre Laclede, and his wife Mary (Skinker), brought an added entrepreneurial acumen and social credentials to the neighborhood when he decided to commission a mansion at 4315 Westminster by the esteemed firm of Barrett, Hayes & Barrett at the cost of $40,000, equivalent to $1.4 million in today’s money. The firm was also responsible for designing a number of other homes on Fullerton’s Westminster Place. The architectural firm is also noted for their ‘central hall’ design which shows the elegance of the home with a view of the beautiful chandelier thru the entry way doors. Mr. Maffitt, founder of the Iron Mountain Company (railroad and mining), was the owner of street railways in the Central West End. The three story red brick mansion trimmed with limestone and columns was built with 12,400 sq. ft. of living space with many state of the art luxury living amenities including indoor plumbing.
As you tour throughout the mansion you can’t help but notice that many of the original gas lamps used for lighting are still in place, however they have been converted to electrical power. As you ascend the grand staircase that runs from the first to the third floor you will notice on the landing between the first and second floors a beautiful stained glass window that is a masterpiece of art work that stretches the whole wall. The second floor has an allure of its own, originally what were 4 bedrooms in the main quarters and a 5 room servant quarters are now used to house the administrative offices of the Royal Vagabonds Inc. and the Royal Vagabonds Foundation Inc. As you walk to the third floor, you will be entranced by a 120 seat ballroom including dance floor and stage. In what has become the hidden gem of the mansion is located on the lower level the “Rathskeller” is completely finished including a wet bar, dance floor, sound system and seating for 100 people, where members and guest mingle. By 1909, the street had been filled, Westminster Place had become one of the most exclusive private places in the city. Original descendants of the Maffitt family we believe lived in the home until shortly after World War II. The Central West End began to fall into a period of decline from about 1950-1980, at which time, many of the stately mansions on the private streets were converted into boarding homes that were inhabited mostly by students and artists. In late 1956, the current owners of the Mansion, worked with members of the Royal Vagabonds to help them become owners of this prestigious residence. At that time, it was unheard of, for African-Americans to own property in the Central West End neighborhood. During a storm in February 1959 a series of tornados, one increasing to the strength of an F4, swept through the St Louis region starting in Ellisville, MO and ending in East St Louis, IL. Many brick apartments and family restaurants at Olive St. and Boyle Ave. (referred to as Gaslight Square) suffered major damage. During the heyday of Gaslight Square from 1959-1972, many of the business owners bought houses on Westminster Place, which was just one block south of the square. Once Gaslight Square had failed by the late 1960s, the houses on Westminster Place began to deteriorate as well. However, all but five of them were saved and restored in the 1980s, and all traces of their time as boarding houses were removed. Today, the 4300 and 4400 blocks of Westminster Place are listed on the National Register, and the street has been renamed Fullerton’s Westminster Place in honor of the man who developed it. The Mansion now serves as the headquarters for the Royal Vagabonds Incorporated and Royal Vagabonds Foundation. The Royal Vagabonds accept the responsibility of upholding the original vision of Pierre Maffitt of anchoring the eastern boundary of the Fullerton Westminster Place. |
Henry C. Scott Mansion, #64 Vanderventer Place
The first floor architecturally has the most intriguing design by no accident by Mr. Maffitt, the front of the mansion and entry is a Greek revival style history lesson waiting to be told. The rooms tell a story from the padded tapestry walls to the intricate breathtaking hand painted canvas panels in the grand foyer. The story continues with glamor of the grand parlor and formal dining room combination that would be elegant by itself, but there is also a stately paneled library located on the first floor with built in glass door book shelves.
A destroyed three-story house at the corner of Whitter St. and Delmar Blvd. saw its lower floors completely collapse, causing the attic to completely cave in on the structure while remaining largely intact. Eight people were killed at this location.