There’s something elegant about the simplicity of Benton Park West and Gravois Park architecture; clean lines and some ornament create beautiful houses in these neighborhoods.
Trees obscure the facades of many buildings, but I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing. The green contrasts perfectly against the red brick.
I’m fascinated by faded signs on the side of brick walls; it’s fun to see if you can figure out what it once said.
I remarked one time that it’s interesting that the architecture in general doesn’t reflect German or Irish tastes in architecture, but instead conforms more to the prevailing style of America at the time. Perhaps the process of assimilation had already begun, just years after these immigrants built Dutchtown.
I once read that the definition of Art should be that which "raises the standard of public taste like an architect who designs home of charm and beauty of the working class" – And that is something we can all enlist in with a will. St. Louis always reminds me of that when I see your photos.
I'd wager that the corner store was once a confectionary and the faded sign was for a soda brand.It's pretty neat that for even a plain commercial building that the builder put those little "towers" at the corners of the roof – and even in the back (sorry – I don't know the architectural term for those).