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The Ville, Northside, Riverview
Colored School # 11 - Aldridge Elementary School
Switzer and Christian Avenues
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Ira Aldridge, for whom the school was named, was an internationally famous black actor. The son of a Presbyterian minister, he began his career as a teenager with cameo roles and plays presented at the African Grove Theatre in New York. Later he studied acting in England and became a star.
In Shakespearean roles, he made his debut in Othello at London's Covent Garden on April 10th, 1833. For the next 30 years he performed throughout Europe. He was awarded medals by the Kings of Prussia and Austria in recognition of his talent. Aldridge, who became a naturalized British subject, planned an American tour soon after the Civil War, but he died before he could carry it out.
Aldridge Elementary School, then called Baden Colored School, opened in a 2 room building on the site during the late 1870s. In 1890, the school was renamed for Ira Aldridge. It closed in 1908.
SOURCE: The historical information presented on this page is adapted with permission from Discovering African American St. Louis: A Guide to Historic Sites by Dr. John A. Wright, Sr. We are honored to share his invaluable research and historical insights, made available through the generous consent of Dr. Wright and the Missouri Historical Society Press. Their dedication to preserving and celebrating the rich legacy of Black St. Louis is a gift to our community—a testament to those who came before us and a guide for those who walk the path forward.
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Switzer and Christian Avenues