East St Louis Toodle-oo

An initiative started in 1997 by Bruce Goodrich of Biddeford, Maine. This Maine chef had an interest in Black history and was inspired by W.E.B. DuBois' account of the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riots. Bruce made the 1,300 mile trip annually and cooked up a free Toodle-oo stew for anyone that attended. Since that first year, many volunteers came forth to tend to the Fountain of Youth Park and help beautify the area. Larry Wallace, an East St. Louis Hospital employee, spent numerous hours planting trees, flowers and developing the park area. The Bobbie Williams Band also provided the musical entertainment for this annual event held on the 4th weekend of September.

If you wanted to help out, meet some fine people, and have a fun day, you probably attended one of these annual events.

Sadly to say, with Bruce's death in December of 2005, The East St Louis Toodle-oo is no more. It is my understanding that it was Bruce Goodrich's intent that his ashes would be scattered at the Park in East St Louis.

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