The cock roaches are still alive and well in the sewers. Down under Anheuser Busch they feed off all the hops and beer suds. They grow to an enormous size. I have seen them three inches long--not counting the antenna length. They come up the drain pipes in the surrounding businesses at night. I see them when I work night shift at the old arsenal next to the brewery. Unfortunately for St. Louis entire blocks of homes are disappearing either due to decades of decay or by arson. New homes are going up in many places--such as the burned out area north of the Hill, on the opposite side of the interstate. In north St. Louis, the clearance of decayed buildings offers a chance to run out the drug gangs. Perhaps offer vacant land for new businesses. Thank God Crown Candy Co. has stood its time. If anyone has a gumption to photograph old neighborhoods and what is left of them. (especially with a digital camera), I'll be happy to host the photos on the USGenNet site I manage. It's part of their Legacy Site program so it is time protected from any disappearance of the webmaster or if he fails to make a payment. (but I don't plan to disappear anytime soon). Individually I just can't keep up with the rate of disappearing buildings (even those in north county where I live--south county, west county--forget it I can't keep up with the development). It would be nice to get photos of the old vanishing homes before they are gone (how precious that would be to descendants of those that lived there) but it will take a small army of people armed with cameras to catch it all before it is history. But I am taking volunteers if anyone is inclined. Scott K. Williams, History's Time Portal to Old St. Louis http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/