#IRON-WILLED
South Side District
July 19, 2017
DEFINITION: A burning determination that cannot be stopped or hindered by anything; Extremely resilient.
The Southside Fall Festival, the best steaks in town, and baseball. There’s a lot to love about St. Joseph’s Southside. This tight-knit community is making a major comeback.
The South Side has long contributed to the city’s economic growth. Some of its more mature residents reminisce about the glory days when the district was THE hot spot in St. Joseph, boasting rodeos, fine dining at one of the Midwest’s earliest resorts, and a popular amusement park at Lake Contrary with elephants, bathing beauties, and roller coasters.
As flood waters and fires plagued some parts of the district over the years, the development of the city moved east and north while the South Side began to fade from the spotlight. South Side Rotary Club member Martial Thevenot says, when his business, Perka Buildings, first moved to the district, he was warned about the area’s unfortunate aura. What he found, however, was the polar opposite of negativity.
“The people are very down to earth in this part of town. They’re very neighborly.”
Thevenot also compliments the businesses and organizations working to fix up aging properties.
Wanna sink your teeth into a juicy, hand cut, wood fire grilled steak? Hoof and Horn Steak House is ready to take your order! This century old staple in St. Joseph’s landscape was recently reopened by new owners who received help from Missouri Western’s Craig School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship. Got a hankerin’ for some garden fresh fruits and veggies? Check out the South Side Farmer’s Market at The Junction! In addition to being a delicious source of local produce, this revitalization project is working to develop an arts and entertainment destination. Don’t forget the legendary breakfast served up at Betty’s Cafe or a torpedo sandwich for lunch at Marek’s.
And there’s no better place to work off some of those added calories than the 2,300-acre Bluff Woods Conservation Area. Just a few minutes from the South Side, this 2,300 acre hiker’s paradise features rugged trails, accessible Missouri River scenic overlook trails, and bird watching opportunities.
The South Side also is a hub of St. Joseph’s baseball culture. The South Side is home to the Hyde Park baseball fields, where most Little League games in St. Joseph are played and Marek Baseball Academy, which trains young baseball and softball players from around Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas.
And lest we forget, it’s not officially autumn until you’ve been to the South Side Fall Festival.
Georgetown History and Present Day Economic Development
#TIMELESS
Walking into Café Belle Epoque takes you back in time. The copper tin ceiling, marble table tops, hardwood floors, wood-burning stove and jazz music seem to transport you to a period of economic glamour in historic St. Joseph.
#POWERFUL
More than a decade of service later, the program continues to grow. Most of the kids who live in this St. Joseph neighborhood receive free or reduced priced breakfast and lunch during the school year, but have limited food resources in the summer.
#LEGACY
It’s difficult to describe Dr. Jimmy Albright, and the legacy he leaves for St. Joseph.
#INVENTIVE
For several area students, a summer afternoon doesn’t involve much channel surfing. Instead, they’ll be practicing new skills and refining others, such as giving commands. Building functions. Envisioning new virtual worlds. Making specially-created animated heroes. Working within the access interface. And coding on the back-end, for front-end awesome action and results.
#DEDICATED
Striding through the doors of Artcrafts Engraving Co. transports you from the modern streets of St. Joseph back through our history in manufacturing.