Riverside City History
Founding Fathers

The founders of Riverside were a unique group. Filger and Young, especially, represented a combination of inventive entrepreneur spirit and community commitment.

Ferd F. Filger Sr.
Filger, who eventually served as Riverside's mayor for 20 years, began Filger Oil Company in 1936 at 4533 Gateway. This office was an unofficial Riverside historic site to many residents. The building was originally a small cafe. A garage was added and it became a Texaco station. Not long afterward he added a warehouse. The building has long since been closed and unfortunately no remnants of it are visible today.

Filger lived in the Riverside area since his birth in1896. He was born on the Filger farm, off Englewood Road, to Peter and Emma Filger. Like most boys, he helped out on the farm when he was not at school. He attended Englewood School at Englewood Road and North Oak when it was just a frame schoolhouse. Filger recalled that Englewood Road used to continue down and across Line Creek from the point where Englewood and AA Highway meet today. Another crossing was in Riverside down the hill behind St. Matthews Church. Filger was married in 1918, and his wife passed away in 1936.

He came to Riverside, started his oil business, and in 1938 married again. Filger had three sons and two daughters, eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He died Feb. 19, 1985. When asked about his years as mayor and if there was anything that remained vivid in his mind or any special occasion, he said, "Just keeping the city going those first years was enough of a challenge."

E.H. "Ed" Young
Young is widely known for his unique Red-X store. E. H. Young played one of the most significant roles in Riverside's history. Both visibly and behind the scenes, he was a community leader in the true sense of the word. Young operated one of Riverside's first "filling stations," he founded Red-X (which in many ways predicted the rise of discount stores such as K-mart and Wal-Mart) and most importantly, Young was a true community leader. Ed served as Riverside mayor and he donated thousands of dollars in funds and property. When Young died, he left a legacy of accomplishment that was shared throughout the community.

Young was born June 6, 1912 in Kansas City. He moved to Riverside in the late 1940s. After operating several businesses, including a gasoline station, he opened the Red-X general store in the early 1950s. He experienced many trials, such as two devastating floods and a major fire. After the 1993 flood, he set a new course with a lot of hard work and his patented humor. His Red-X advertising slogan became "The Home of High Water, Hot Fires and Low Prices." Riverside's incorporation was an early vision of Young's. He also served as an Alderman from 1951 to 1970 and held the office of Mayor from 1976 to 1980. Mr. Young often was the silent partner in area charities. Additionally he established the first Riverside park fund with a $5,000 donation; donated the 40 acre tract of land where the E.H. Young Riverfront park is located; he renovated a building providing a place for the Bell Road Players; he gave gifts to the Riverside Public Safety Department and supported the new Park Hill South High School Renaissance program. Young died July 2, 1999, at his home. Loved for his subtle sense of humor and commitment to Riverside, he left a legacy of accomplishment that was shared throughout the community. He was one of the rare individuals who was both loved and respected.

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