North of Whittemore Place is Albion Place, named after the archaic appellation for Britain. The street was nothing but open land and a sinkhole in 1876; even Park Avenue remained to be developed. An allee of trees may delineate the future alley, but I am not sure. Like its neighbor to the south, it was fully developed by 1908.
The architecture is much more varied than the typical Italianate and Second Empire of Lafayette Square fame, however, and this might be one of my new favorite streets in St. Louis.
Houses such as the one above show a love of both the Romanesque and Renaissance Revival, with some other eclectic elements thrown in. It was built in 1892 by Anna Krause, the widow of Emil Krause. She lived on the first floor with her youngest daughter while her second daughter, Hattie, lived upstairs with her husband Albert Stocker. Below, this house is Second Empire with the influence of German Mannerist Revival architecture, as you would expect to see in old burghers’ houses in cities such as Bremen or Hamburg.
The houses may be of different sizes, but they have a rhythm that creates a harmonious composition even though they were built at different times.
Moving along east away from South Jefferson, there are more houses that buck the normal trend of houses in Lafayette Square, with more detailing that is more akin to the 16th or 17th Centuries than the Second Empire.
This house below is spectacular, and again shows the influence of northern European architecture, with the move away from wooden decorative elements toward cast iron and terracotta instead.
The bay window is perhaps one of the best in St. Louis, but I also want to draw attention to the scars on the brick, which could mean there was additional ornament that has been removed.
The house also owns the lot next door, allowing for a solarium to the east.
Then there is a more “normal” Italianate house next door.
At the end of the block is the former Lafayette Park Presbyterian Church, which was heavily damaged by the Great Cyclone in 1896. They repaired the church, and it was eventually converted into condominiums.
Amazing bay window…I agree one of the best in St Louis. The blue paint is so unique and beautiful.
Thank you, Chris. 48 years and counting on Albion Place. Two sons both born in this house. Great place to live and raise a family. Still finding and recognizing little unique features of this house.
Duke, Thank you for sending. I never saw it before. It is a keepsake. It nearly brings tears to my eyes. Not only did I live on Albion for 17 important years, after we moved, for nine years I was in St. Louis, often at your house on the third floor, once a month for about four days. Plus ten days for July 4 and ten for Christmas. When we moved to SC, we were down to just July 4 and Christmas. We did that for 23 years after we got here. If I add it all up, in addition to the 17 years, it would have been another three years, I guess, that we were there. Albion has all the connotations of the Sacred to me. Blake wrote a monumental poem, The Daughters of Albion. One Christmas I made copies of the poem for all the Albion ladies of two generations.
Soo great to hear about all your memories! It makes what I do worthwhile.
Hey Chris, Are there more photos from the time period of the 2334 Albion picture. I have not been able to find any other than from after the tornado. And our house, 2343, was spared from most of that. I’d appreciate any leads.
Thank you, Duke Haydon