The Building of the St. Louis Eruv
A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY ERUV 10/25/93 - 12/9/94
Initial meeting to review history of prior efforts to obtain necessary approvals for a proposed St. Louis Community Eruv and to discuss plans to seek approvals necessary for a St. Louis Community Eruv. 10/25/93
Political Strategy Planning 11/18/93 - 12/13/93
Consultation with Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and other advisors 11/20/93 - 12/30/93
Drafting, revising and editing of the Eruv Fact Sheet 11/17/93 - 3/5/94
Begin Investigation of Alternative Feasible Eruv Boundaries 11/1/93
Gathering Information Concerning Eruvim in other communities 11/17/93 - 2/28/94
Gather information concerning electric and telephone companies utilities in other communities who assisted in developing an Eruv within their service areas 11/17/93 - 2/28/94
Gather information from other cities with Eruvim concerning safety experience 11/17/93 - 2/28/94
JCRC Board Meeting and Endorsement of the Eruv 12/14/93
Incorporation of St. Louis Community Eruv, Inc. 12/20/93
Requesting and Obtaining Support & Support Letters for the Eruv from:
U.S. Senator John Danforth 1/3/94
U.S. Senator Christopher Bond 1/4/94
U.S. House of Representatives - James Talent 1/25/94
Missouri Senate - Wayne Goode 2/2/94
Missouri House of Representatives - Ilene Ordower 1/27/94
Missouri House of Representatives - Joan Bray 2/24/94
Mayor of the City of Clayton 1/27/94
Mayor of the City of Olivette 1/20/94
Mayor of the City of Richmond Heights 1/27/94
Mayor of the City of St. Louis 1/18/94
Mayor of the City of University City 1/11/94
Governor of Missouri 3/7/94
Jewish Federation of St. Louis 1/20/94
Jewish Community Relations Council 1/31/94
St. Louis Rabbical Association 2/25/94
Meeting with County Executive, Buzz Westfall, to request rental of St. Louis County for the Eruv 2/10/94
Discussions with Merle T. Welshans concerning approach Union Electric Company to obtain Union Electric Company's cooperation. 2/12/94
Inspection of the Eruv by Rabbi Shimon Eider and meeting with Rabbi Eider to discuss proposed Eruv and requirements concerning the Eruv 2/15/94 - 2/16/94
Meeting with County Executive, Buzz Westfall, to obtain Proclamation and enter into the contract with St. Louis County for the rental of St. Louis County for the Eruv 2/22/94
Preparation of proposals to Union Electric Company and Southwestern Bell Telephone Company 2/1/94 - 3/10/94
Letter to Charles W. Mueller, President of Union Electric Company from Merle T. Welshans regarding the proposed Eruv and the need for assistance of Union Electric Company 2/12/94
Meeting with Local 1439 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 3/7/94
Obtain support and safety confirmations from IBEW 3/9/94
Meeting with Local 6310 Communications Workers of America (CWA) 3/11/94
Letter from St. Louis Community Eruv, Inc. to Charles Mueller, President of Union Electric Company including the Proposal to Union Electric Company 3/11/94
Meeting with Union Electric Company concerning Proposal 3/14/94
Obtain support letter and safety confirmation from CWA 3/14/94
Conference with Union Electric Company to confirm agreement in principal with respect to the Eruv 3/18/94
Meeting with CWA and Mike Smith, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, to request assistance of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and review the Proposal 3/18/94
Conference with Mike Smith confirming approval of agreement in principal with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company permitting pole attachments for the Eruv 3/25/94
Meeting with Union Electric Company concerning terms of approval of Pole License Agreement and related Matters 3/31/94
Search and examine alternative routes for Eruv boundary and review issues concerning poles, towers, fences, walls, creeks and other Eruv boundary features 4/1/94 - 5/31/94
Meet with Agents of Parkview neighborhood concerning closure at breaks in the Parkview neighborhood walls along Skinker 4/13/94
Meeting with Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. to request rental of the City of St. Louis for the Eruv and enter into contract with the Mayor for rental of the City of St. Louis for the Eruv. 4/22/94
Seed Money Campaign to pay planning expenses 6/20/94
Discussions with Rabbi's concerning questions and requirements for the Eruv boundaries 6/1/94 - 7/10/94
Visit with Rabbi Nathan Greenblatt to examine the Eruv and to review questions concerning Eruv requirements 7/11/94
Change and improve the Eruv Boundary 7/12/94 - 7/31/94
Determination of Proposed Revised Eruv Boundary 8/23/94
Meeting with Union Electric Company concerning Revised Eruv Boundary and Pole License Agreement 8/29/94
Obtain Commercial General Liability Insurance Coverage 9/16/94
Send Certificate of Insurance to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company 9/16/94
Sign Pole License Agreement - Union Electric Company and send Certificate of Insurance and Pole License Fee to Union Electric Company 9/18/94
Conference with Mike Smith, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company concerning Eruv Boundary and permission to install pole attachments on telephone poles 9/19/94
Meeting with Local 1431 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to discuss construction of the Eruv 9/23/94
Meeting with Local 6310 of the Communications Workers of America to discuss construction of the Eruv 9/29/94
Planning for the installation of the pole attachments on the utility poles. 10/3/94 - 10/7/94
Preparing materials, equipment, maps and instructions for the construction of the Eruv. 10/3/94 - 10/7/94
Training of volunteers concerning the rules for construction a community Eruv. 10/6/94
Working with 29 volunteers from Local 1439 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and community volunteers to install pole attachments on the utility poles. 10/9/94
Meeting with the City Manager of Clayton to obtain permission maintain a string in Oak Knoll Park from the west park fence to a utility pole in the park. 10/10/94
Construction and installation of non-utility improvements along the Eruv boundary (strings, plexiglass and railroad ties) 10/16/94 - 10/30/94
Inspection of the Eruv boundaries by Rabbi Sholom Rivkin to confirm compliance with applicable requirements. 10/20/94
Raising funds to build, administer, operate, inspect, maintain and repair the Eruv. 10/3/94 - 11/15/94
Inspection of the Eruv by Rabbi Sholom Rivkin and Rabbi Nathan Greenblatt 11/3/94
Construction changes and alterations to the Eruv boundary 11/6/94
Additional pole attachments and alterations 11/7/94
Activating the Eruv telephone Hotline 11/8/94
Inspection of the Eruv by Rabbi Sholom Rivkin and Rabbi Nathan Greenblatt 11/15/94
Approval of the Eruv by Rabbi Sholom Rivkin and announcements to the Community. 11/15/94
Posting of the Eruv Map in each of the synagogues within the Eruv.11/15/94
Inspection of Storm Water Channels 11/17/94 - 11/29/94
Additional pole attachments made and strings replaced with pole moulding and other attachments. 11/20/94
Closure of Storm Water Channels 11/20/94 - 11/29/94
Resolution of Golf Course Water Traps 11/29/94
Application for Tax Exempt Status Filed with the IRS 11/30/94
Repairs, Adjustments and Inspection of the Eruv 11/30/94 - 12/1/94
Additional pole attachments, repairs, adjustments, tree trimming and inspections. 12/4/94 - 12/6/94
Change of boundary at northwest Olivette section of the Eruv to exclude unpaved portions of the storm water channel at railroad overpass east of Dielman Road west of Woodson and to use fences and utility poles for new boundary. . 12/7/94 - 12/8/94
Tree trimming and inspections of the Eruv boundary. 12/8/94
Tree trimming and inspections of North Price Road, transition from fence to utility pole, and transition from Dielman storm water channel to utility pole. 12/9/94
First Sabbath with a functioning Community Eruv (7th of Kislev - Parshat Vayigash) 12/9/94 - 12/10/94