Most people in town know that Florissant is a bustling suburb of Saint Louis. Others even know that Florissant was once home to actress Kate Capshaw, comedian and actor Cedric the Entertainer, comedian Kathleen Madigan, and singer, composer and former Doobie Brothers musician Michael McDonald, to name only a few. What most folks probably would be surprised to discover is that, tucked away in a quieter part of town is “Old Town Florissant,” where several historical sites exist for visitors and residents to explore, including Casa Alvarez, the only remaining home linking Florissant to Spain, having been acquired by Augustus Alverez in 1844; Cold Water Commons Park, adjacent to Cold Water Creek, on whose banks the original village of “Fleurissant” was platted; Narrow Gauge Railroad Station, built in 1878; Spanish Land Grant Park, a gift of the Spanish King to the inhabitants of the village of St. Ferdinand (what the Spanish called Florissant at the time) where many early settlers lie in unmarked graves and in which was the former site of the Place d’Armes, where the militia drilled; and the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine, the oldest Roman Catholic Church building still standing in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. Call or visit our local Cross Keys Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers for all of your tire and automotive maintenance and repair service needs, including brakes, alignments, oil changes, and more.
