The people that make the signs that say "Morgan Ford" are probably talking to the people that call the neighborhood between Kingshighway and Hampton on the south side of Chippewa "South Hampton".

Maybe they all use the spell check over at the Suburban Journals?

RB

[Posted by rick on Sun., Jun 5, 2005 at 5:24 PM]

I always thought it was one word too. However, according to the city assessor's website the street is Morgan Ford. Who knew? I remember someone recently posting in the blogosphere that the library has a street directory that gives history on the street name. This one may be interesting.

[Posted by maggie on Tue., Jun 7, 2005 at 8:57 AM]

Is it Morgan Ford Avenue? Street? It would be kind of interesting, in a geeky way, if Ford was the equivalent of 'street'.

Those in the know could say, "I will meet Bill Waggoner's furnishings shoppe, on Morgan, about three blocks south of Arsenal."

[Posted by Butler Miller on Tue., Jun 7, 2005 at 10:54 AM]

My understanding is that it was a road that led to an actual ford, perhaps at a creek by old man Morgan's farm or something like that. If my memory is correct, then it should be two words like Lemay Ferry and our other old-time byways.

[Posted by Matt on Tue., Jun 7, 2005 at 11:35 AM]

To answer Butler's question, it's Morganford Road.

The "St. Louis Street Index" (Dr. Glen Holt and Thomas A. Pearson) has this to say: "MORGANFORD ROAD (N-S). Received its name because it led to a ford of the River des Peres operated by a man named Morgan. Until 1881, it was known as Russell Lane between Arsenal Street and Beck Avenue where it passed through the James Russell tract."

According to the "History of St. Louis Neighborhoods" (Norbury L. Wayman), "Morganford Road, as its name implies, was the route to a ford of the River des Peres, owned by a man named Morgan."

[Posted by Brian Marston on Tue., Jun 7, 2005 at 1:12 PM]

That's funny, I've always referred to it as Morganfjord.

[Posted by Jason on Tue., Jun 7, 2005 at 1:48 PM]