Named one of 2011’s “best regional books” by St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Celebrating 100 Years of the City’s Rural-to-Regal Past

By Charlene Bry

Well-known St. Louis resident, business woman and author Charlene Bry documents and illustrates Ladue’s rural to regal past in a newly released book entitled “Ladue Found.” Before $10 million Colonial-style brick homes, 70-foot oak trees shading promenades, and six private clubs, there were  immigrant farmers and shacks in the St. Louis suburb of Ladue, which today is one of the nation’s wealthiest communities. This documented history of Ladue not only tells the story of the city’s transformation from a rural to regal locale, but also features stories of charming characters including a madame, bands of Gypsies, Peter A. Ladue and notorious residents whose names grace the community’s streets. An extensive collection of original photographs and documents illustrate the work throughout, transporting the reader back in time to explore Ladue’s fascinating first 100 years of history as the city celebrates its 75th Anniversary.