9623 Saint Charles Rock Road
Breckenridge Hills, Missouri 63114

CHAPTER FIVE - Incorporation

Incorporation:   The land called Breckenridge remained as mainly a residential community over the years. Part of the area, along Woodson and Edmundson Roads was incorporated as part of Uniondale on December 3rd, 1915. The incorporation was short lived because in October, 1919 the citizens voted to disincorporate.   There was no further attempt at local government for the area until the Spring of 1942 when Overland voted to annex all the Community Fire District which included the Breckenridge area. The citizens of the unincorporated area were stunned by the action since they were not residents of Overland and therefore not entitled to vote on the decision to be annexed. An organization called the 'Ritenour Protective Association' campaigned vigorously and slipped into office in the April 1943 elections. Mr. Herbert Locke of the 4th Ward was the representative from the Breckenridge area. The new board of alderman held a special referendum on July 6th, 1943. Voters approved the deannexation of the incorporated areas from Overland by an overwhelming majority. The aldermen had put themselves out of a job in three months.   In 1950 Breckenridge Hills incorporated as Saint Louis County's eighty-first municipality. There still seems to be some doubt in the minds of many residents as to how incorporation actually took place. The court appointed Board of Trustees (W.R. Allen, L.M. Brooks, J.K. Stutes, W.T. Rabenneck and J.L. York) held the first meeting on February 27th, 1950 in the Hope Lutheran Church. Three ordinances were passed at this meeting; the name of Breckenridge Hills was chosen, the boundaries of the then called village were set and laws governing elections were established.   The first 'village' elections took place on April 4th, 1950. The first elected Trustees were Marvin Moutrie, Clarence Fritz, Harvey Oliver, Vincent Ballman and Walter Clark. At the third meeting of The Village of Breckenridge Hills on April 12th, 1950, Mr. Oliver was named the first 'Village Marshall'.   Problems persisted for the next two years. In the April, 1952 elections none of the twelve candidates received enough votes to be elected. However, five write-in candidates did receive a majority vote. The Board refused to seat the five 'write-ins', declaring them illegal. The problem was taken to the courts. The 'write-in' Trustees were seated only to be ousted at a special election held in December, 1952.   After these original difficulties the 'Village of Breckenridge Hills' settled into a period of steady growth and improvement. In 1953, due to increased population, the number of trustees was increased to nine. Also that year, The City Hall, which was originally held at 9766 Saint Charles Rock Road, was moved to 3313 Woodson Road. On December 8th, 1957 was moved north to 3120 Woodson Road. In April 1993, the city hall moved back onto the Rock Road in the office building at 9623 Saint Charles Rock Road.   In April 1990 the 'Village' of Breckenridge Hills became the City of Breckenridge Hills when the charter was amended in order for the community to take tax and grant money advantages. The charter changed the at-large trustee system to an elected Mayor and the establishment of the four ward city council system still in use today.   Over the years the city streets have been improved, street lighting, storm water drainage, and a sewer system have been installed and improved. To this day, garbage service is still a benefit of living within the City of Breckenridge Hills and is paid for by the city. Most recently the Breckenridge Road creek bridge as well as bridges on Marvin Avenue, Coles Avenue and Edmundson Road have been replaced in an effort to streamline the creek and the flooding that sometimes occurs.

Onto CHAPTER SIX - Future!