Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum is a key cultural institution in St. Louis, offering visitors a beautiful atmosphere for exploring history, art, architecture, and nature. We have a 3.7-mile newly-painted white line to follow while in your car, on your bike, or foot for your self-guided tour. An interactive map is available on our website, or you can find a paper copy outside of our office doors, highlighting 38 historic stops along the white line.
Our seventh stop on the white line tour belongs to Susan Rassieur Buder. Susan's last name may sound familiar to St. Louisans; there is a park, school, community center, playground, and library named in her honor. A notable German immigrant, Susan owned a jewelry company with her husband, William. She continued to run the business and raise five sons on her own in his absence. At the time, jewelry was a sideline to watches for St. Louis merchants. Susan revolutionized the jewelry business in St. Louis, a testament to her acumen that her enterprise prospered greatly. Susan became very wealthy and was able to focus on charitable works while living at 2025 Park Avenue. Susan was referred to as "The Little Mother of the South Side" because of her generosity and concern. Susan was genuinely interested in the welfare of children. According to her wishes, a public bathhouse, a swimming pool, a playground, and a community center given to the children of St. Louis. Later, her sons gave more than 100 acres along the Meramec River to the city for a recreational farm for the general public's use.
After her death, the South St. Louis community where she had lived petitioned the Board of Education to name a South Side school for her. Each member of the first graduating class of the Susan R. Buder School was awarded a scholarship to Washington University through a fund donated by her sons.
Like many great St. Louisans, Susan is laid to rest here at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. Please enjoy this short video highlighting Susan R. Buder, stop #7 on Bellefontaine Cemetery's white line tour. Bellefontaine Cemetery is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. Cemetery gates are locked promptly at 5:00 pm. Learn more about self-guided tours: [ Ссылка ].
