What’s now Fanning Middle School, and what will soon be a vacant building, was originally an elementary school. It’s one of the most interesting and architecturally rich of the schools designed by William B. Ittner in 1907. Clear views of… Continue Reading
I love the Ainad Temple, right in the heart of East St. Louis. There had been rumors that they were going to close, but they instead made a commitment to stay in the city’s downtown. I’m glad, as it will… Continue Reading
The rehab of the old Shriners’ Hospital is complete, and it is now open as apartments. It won one of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis annual most improved awards for 2019.
Update: Construction was completed in 2019. The old Shriners’ Hospital, still receiving the finishing touches on its renovation in this photograph, is now open as apartments.
Update: See the Temple’s current location in this post from May of 2020. I never realized it, but the old United Hebrew Temple on Skinker was a Maritz and Young design from 1927. The strong Moorish inspiration is present in… Continue Reading
Another of the great Ittner/Milligan legacy, the Dewey School was designed by Rockwell Milligan in 1917. It has a great mixture of styles, including Romanesque and Moorish elements. Like many of their schools, there is no central portal, but two… Continue Reading
Don’t let anyone tell you that smaller cities in America are boring! After eating lunch at a great “farm to table” place downtown, I began wandering around the streets to the east of Bloomington’s center. I spotted this building, and… Continue Reading
After writing my recent St. Louis Magazine article about Centenary United Methodist Church, one of the oldest continually operating congregations in downtown St. Louis, and in the city in general, I became interested in the synagogue that backed right up… Continue Reading
The Moolah Temple’s original purpose, that of the Order of the Mystic Shrine, is now hosted in another building out west, and its new use as a movie theater works well. Moorish Revival architecture is interesting in that is Islamic… Continue Reading
I never really realized it, but the Majestic Theater in East St. Louis is one of the most amazing buildings in the entire metropolitan area. I hope help comes before it is demolished. The first floor shop is still open.… Continue Reading