Mr. Mark Dobalina
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archcityhistory.bsky.social
Mr. Mark Dobalina
@archcityhistory.bsky.social

Urban Historian. Focus: Neighborhood Organizing/Displacement/City Planning

None of my opinions reflect those of my employer, not even the good ones

St. Louis, Misery
While walking the area a couple years ago with an old friend we spotted one still in place, painted over.
November 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Jaycees locally did a real big well researched and financed historic marker program in the 30s. Especially around the old riverfront. And about 3 plaques remain, only one in its original spot on the side of the MA Bell building near Crunden Martin.

SHSmo had a great collection on it w/ pics
November 29, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I am once again asking you to put your lives at stake to come buy my prints, inside, at the foundry. Today and tomorrow.
November 29, 2025 at 2:09 PM
something like this
November 29, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Weather is going to be perfect this weekend. Don't believe the fake news. Go out and support small businesses and artists. Help us at least break even.
November 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Someone just said dick to dick to me, and it instantly unlocked a core memory.
November 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
It may surprise you to learn this man used to have his finger on the pulse of St. Louis. He used to cook.
November 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Saw some papers referencing Mullanphy park as still being there/updated with landscaping as late as the early 1970s, but it seems to have gone down hill fast as by the mid 80s, Schoemehl was trying to sell it to a private developer.

The entire block is Northside Regeneration now.
November 26, 2025 at 4:32 AM
relatedly, in the midst of a colorization of a Mullanphy Street Playground scene. The scene of the site today is different. (This is all very recent according to google streetview)
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Got a bunch of new lemen photos tonight after I requested them for art purposes. Love this view of both Sumner High School but even more exciting, a view of the old Tandy Park baseball diamond
November 26, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Back in the saddle
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Civic Progress not even hiding the fact they're an elite organization and that's why they succeed, by keeping the peasants and diversity clear of the picture
November 24, 2025 at 1:31 AM
It was assumed that the wise old men of Civic Progress would themselves draw up the outline of what the massive bond issues of the 1950s would contain, because as we all know, the CEO of the local arms manufacturer is all knowing.
November 24, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Another interesting thing, a litter from Mayor Darst to the executive board of the newly formed Civic Progress organization outlining some of the things he thinks they should do and can do, by nature of who that group is composed of.
November 24, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I often remark that I have a fascinating google drive, consisting of 10+ years of scans from research projects/boredom and tonight I surprised even myself stumbling across a pdf containing handwritten notes from the LCRA for land acquisitions re: Mill Creek Valley.

1st one is Union Memorial ME
November 24, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Relatedly, a Lafayette Square Park piece done the other day
November 22, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Managed to somehow get the photoshop backup to work even though I had to force shutdown/restart and got this done.

Gravois Park Pavilion from the Lemen street photograph collection
November 22, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Clearly pissed Scott off with a reply on some random Facebook post for him to angry laugh at all my public posts on my profile
November 21, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Started on a new park piece, this time from Lafayette Square Park
November 20, 2025 at 3:21 AM
This quote is the last remnant of something I really wanted to have in the exhibit, a discussion of the 1962 bond issue and Tandy's strong opposition to city intervention for "rehabilitation/renewal" there.

Basically the first instance of strong united pushback using Mill Creek as the motivator
November 19, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Unrelated (sorta lol) one for @gconnolly314.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Writing a piece on...when/if ever the Post began to show remorse about Mill Creek...annnnnd the answer is closer to the present than you might think.
November 19, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Have avoided coloring this for 4 years because of the trees. I hate winter trees. But just decided to say fuck it, and if I color over some branches, so be it.

(Homer Phillips Hospital)
November 18, 2025 at 2:12 AM
It's here
November 15, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Since I started using layers, which is relatively recently (this spring) it's allowed me to greatly, I mean GREATLY, diversify my greens and create layered landscapes. I mean duh, but for so long I was stubbornly stuck to the idea of coloring against the background.
November 12, 2025 at 4:30 AM