Historic aerial photography reveals that Bircher Boulevard used to be just that, a tree-lined, elegant boulevard in North St. Louis, separating the Penrose and Walnut Park neighborhoods. But then Interstate 70 came along, and annihilated it, turning Bircher Boulevard into… Continue Reading
Last March I photographed Penrose in the snow, but I came back in mid October to take more pictures without the snowflakes in the way. It is a beautiful neighborhood, but abandonment is beginning to creep in, and I worry… Continue Reading
I came back to see this church in the fall, after the snow had made photography difficult last winter. It is a beautiful church, and an example of the many German Lutheran churches that once existed throughout the city. Those… Continue Reading
Then there are the really old wood frame survivors, such as these on Aubert Avenue. Ironically, Post-Modernist in-fill has been added to the street, as well. Full circle? These houses below were clearly built before the street was graded, and… Continue Reading
Parts of Penrose clearly developed early, and these houses are great examples of earlier housing styles. It is a shame that so many of this period of time are abandoned. They make great houses. And as usual, I think some… Continue Reading
I like these little guys, often with a lot of panache even for a small house. I typically think of many of these one story “railroad bungalows” (I heard that term used once) with Dutchtown. Nonethless, they’re great starter homes… Continue Reading
Then there are all sorts of interesting four-family flats around Penrose. Unlike some neighborhoods, such as Wells-Goodfellow, there are not whole streets of them, but they appear in pairs or by themselves. I think that is a good thing; four-family… Continue Reading
Corner stores rarely exist in St. Louis anymore, as larger chains have taken over. If you own a car, it’s no big deal to go to your favorite store. If you’re on foot, it’s a different story. That being said,… Continue Reading
Update: See the church again in the fall of the same year. Originally constructed in 1898 as the Salem Evangelisch Lutheran and Reformed Church, this stately Gothic edifice is now the St. Peter’s AME Methodist Church, the second oldest African-American… Continue Reading
Continuing St. Louis’s tradition of hiding apartment buildings in the guise of a single-family house, these wonderful Arts and Crafts two-family flats exist in whole streets around Penrose. They are smart investments, as the owner can live on one floor… Continue Reading