Early History of Clifton [Terrace]
Clifton [Terrace] Newspaper Articles
In the extreme southwest corner of Godfrey Township, at Clifton
Terrace Road along the riverfront, was the town of Clifton. It was
laid out by Daniel Tolman and Hail Mason (a pioneer Godfrey
preacher) in 1836, and the plat recorded October 10, 1840. Clifton
boasted a good, natural steamboat landing, a steam sawmill (which
had been in operation since 1833), an extensive steam flour mill,
excellent timber, limestone, extensive bed of free stone, and a
quarry. Stone from the quarry was used to build the Eads bridge in
St. Louis. Clifton also had an abundant supply of excellent spring
water. Hail Mason died in 1840 at the age of 49, and Daniel Tolman
died in 1844 at the age of 45.
In 1837, Clifton comprised of a store, schoolhouse, ten dwelling
houses,
blacksmith shop, and a population of 67 people. Tolman sold his
sawmill in 1837 to Alton Lumber Company, which continued operating
the mill for some time. A cement mill was established at Clifton,
and quite extensive arrangements were made for the manufacture of
cement, but it was never operated with much success.
In 1850, Louis Stiritz settled in Clifton after traveling in an
effort to find a place that resembled his old home in Germany.
Clifton was the site the selected, and he had the grounds terraced
like those of his former home. It was from the terraced terrain that
Clifton earned its new name – Clifton Terrace. Stiritz planted his
vineyards, and his wine became famous among the patrons of his
Clifton Terrace Hotel, which he established in 1874. The hotel
became a favorite resort for many Altonians and St. Louisans. It
consisted of 300 rooms, a pavilion, pool and bowling alley. The
hotel offered swimming, boating, bowling and billiards. A wine
cellar was located in a cave behind the hotel. After the death of
Louis Stiritz in 1909, his daughters, Dora, Julie, and Molly,
continued to operate the hotel until 1934, when it was sold to Mike
Whitford. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1968.
Another hotel was erected in Clifton in June of 1894 by Mr. H. A. Fisher. “The Tavern” was a 40-room hotel located “at the foot of the hills just south of the Stiritz hotel.” On opening day, the Illini Yacht Club, a special Bluff Line train, and a procession of carriages left Alton to attend the grand opening. The guests were shown through the parlors, dining hall, verandahs, and dance hall on the third story. Over two hundred guests registered shortly after the opening. In 1900, The Tavern was managed by A. L. Daniels. In 1902, the owners of The Tavern were negotiating with Mrs. D. Kuhn, wife of a prominent St. Louis physician, to take over the hotel and use it as a summer hotel for women, however that deal fell through. Mr. Julius Schneider, the well-known Melville capitalist who owned a large interest in the hotel property, decided to re-open the hotel himself, however he changed his mind, and the hotel remained closed for the 1902 season. The hotel was destroyed by fire April 7, 1903. At that time, the hotel was owned by George F. Kirsch and Julius F. Schneider. In August 1905, Mrs. Maud A. Simpson of St. Louis purchased the eight acres where The Tavern once stood, to convert the ruins into a fine garden and lawn. She erected a summer home north of the old hotel.