Carol, "Boards" signifies that someone lived at that household. Sometime the address was for a boarding house or where a person rented a room but often a person is shown as "bds" or "boards" when they lived at that address but didn't own the property or weren't the primary renter. Often sons or daughters are listed as "bds" in the household that is also listed as "r." (residence) for the father or mother. If you found this listing using Ancestry, you can also search the same directory database by leaving both first and last names blank and just putting the address in under "Keyword". You might just discover whether or not the person you're researching is living with relatives or if they're just in a household that rented rooms. Tracy in AK > Subj: [StL-Metro] Address in 1890 City directory > Date: 10/8/03 8:38:48 AM Alaskan Daylight Time > From: <A HREF="mailto:carolaa@fidnet.com">carolaa@fidnet.com</A> > > In looking up possible address for ggrandfather in th 1890 St.Louis > directory I found the following-"boards 804 N. Broadway". Could someone tell me what > "boards" meant? > > Carol >