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One Taylor Swift song with a St. Louis connection

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2023

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ST. LOUIS – As tens of thousands of “swifties” attend Taylor Swift’s Kansas City shows this weekend, it’s worth noting she has a song that mentions Missouri’s next biggest city on the other side of the state.

It might not be as well-known as her top Billboards hits like “Blank Space” and “Shake It Off,” but Rolling Stone ranks it 18th among her 237 career songs released to date.

The song… “The Last Great American Dynasty” from Taylor Swift’s 2020 Folklore album.

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According to Rolling Stone, the song is inspired by the life of American socialite Rebekah Harkness. She was born in St. Louis in 1915, raised in the area with the last name West and briefly studied at John Burroughs School. According to the New York Times, her grandfather founded the St. Louis Union Trust Company.

In the early 20th century, Rebekah married into more fortune, tying the knot with William “Bill” Harkness, a wealthy attorney and heir to Standard Oil Company Inc.

According to Glamour Magazine, Rebekah inherited Bill’s mansion in 1954 when he died. She would use it throw “over-the-top parties,” but it led to a life filled with gossip. Many decades later, Taylor Swift purchased the house.

That marks the origins of “Swift’s song with a St. Louis connection. “The Last Great American Dynasty,” and she uses the song to reflect on parallels between their lives.

As for the St. Louis reference, it comes very early within the song. The first few lines of the opening verse goes as followed:

“Rebekah rode up on the afternoon train. It was sunny.Her saltbox house on the coast took her mind off St. Louis.”

Rolling Stone says the song has acquired a strong taste in recent years. The review?

“‘The Last Great American Dynasty’ initially seemed more a gimmick than a song, with a clever twist that would wear off fast. But the intricate details just grow over time — melodically, production-wise, most of all vocally. Taylor’s in a haunted house where Rebekah is just one of the madwomen in the attic, and the ghosts make her feel right at home.”

So even though Taylor Swift isn’t visiting St. Louis this summer, there’s still a unique place for it in her career.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

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St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

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Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

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