Delmar was my grandfather’s middle name. Grandpa Leroy’s middle name was in honor of his great-grandfather, Frederick Delmar Barmes a native of Bavaria, Germany, and a Civil War Union veteran. Grandpas own grandfather, the son of Frederick Delmar Barmes, was Jesse Delmar Barmes. Jesse Barmes and Frederick Barmes are my second and third great-grandfathers.

When I directed MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, I knew the Smith family took the Skinker Trolly from their Kensington Avenue home in St. Louis to the 1904 World’s Fair in nearby Forest Park. There was also a Delmar Trolly line. When I worked with my artistic team, I explained the trolly lines and commented that I wished the Smiths had taken the Delmar Trolly line due to the family name connection. In the end, my artistic team surprised me with the first view of the completed trolly. On the sides were emblazoned, “Delmar Trolly.” The team said they knew I insisted on accuracy, but they also wanted to thank me for my leadership.

I have lived on Shroyer Road for nearly twenty-one years. While waiting on the Dorothy Lane No. 28 bus, I looked across the street and was astonished to find the apartment building with “Delmar” carved into the stone. All these years of passing by the structure and I never knew it was named Delmar.