Ep 3.06: The Big Cinch and the Other St. Louis

This episode contrasts the two worlds of St. Louis at the dawn of the 20th century—the prosperous elite shaping the city’s future and the impoverished families struggling to survive in its neglected neighborhoods. Monsignor and Teresa begin with the city’s post–World’s Fair boom, where skilled artisans, stable banks, and expanding industries fueled westward growth and filled the Central West End with architect designed mansions. They introduce the powerful inner circle known as the “Big Cinch,” the businessmen and civic leaders who dominated St. Louis commerce, politics, and culture, and whose fortunes and influence would soon intersect with Archbishop Glennon’s major projects.