Ladue Style

Here’s a little bit about the past owners of my listing located at 1601 South Warson Road (visit website here.) Who knew they did so much for their community of Ladue!

Horton Watkins, an original trustee of the Village of Deer Creek, and his wife, Ruth, wanted to make a difference in their children’s education in Ladue. Their legacy is Ladue Horton Watkins High School, established in 1952. Watkins was born near Nashville and moved to St. Louis in 1905 to run the Roberts, Johnson & Rand Shoe Co.’s St. Charles Factory. Watkins’ expertise for buying leather came from working in the Tennessee State Prison shoemaking Shop. When International Shoe Co. was formed in 1911, Watkins became vice president and held the position until retiring in 1939.

Ruth, was born in Washington Georgia, and arrived in St. Louis at the age of 6. She later attended Mary Institute and graduated in 1913 from Vassar College as class president and Phi Beta Kappa.  Continue reading “Throwback Thursday: Horton and Ruth Watkins | 1601 South Warson Road”