I guess I never posted my pictures of the former DePaul Hospital from over a decade ago, so I went back early on Saturday to photograph the massive structure designed by the firm of O’Meara and Hills, opening in 1930.
It was commissioned by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who also operated St. Vincent’s Insane Asylum and Marillac College at one point.
I get a kick out of the building since it is Italian Romanesque Revival, like we see in Milan, Italy, and other portions of the peninsula north of the Apennine Mountains.
There were awkward attempts at modernization in 1958, and ultimately it was closed for a northwestern location in St. Louis County in 1977.
They were the first hospital to be lead by women at one point in St. Louis history.
The front entrance portal, now blocked by some incongruous pine trees, features a keystone of St. Louis in bas-relief.
Nice pix, Chris. Although I am born in St. Louis, I cannot help but say that the architecture there certainly is better than here in coastal California. There are some high spots here, but St. Louis remains a better place.
I agree with fellow Californian Mark P that old St. Louis has the better architecture.( But our new home has the best weather). And I still am a St. Louis booster. And I love this site. Chris, please include the neighborhood or cross streets so I can orient myself better. And more north St. Louis, especially Walnut Park, for me.
Thank you! Unfortunately, streets are missing so much that sometimes I have a hard time figuring out where I am. I can look at Walnut Park more (though technically some of these recent photos are in the “official” city-recognized neighborhood of “Mark Twain”–did anyone call it that back in the day?).
Look closely above the windows above the front door, there is two stone lions, I have tried to photograph them before, they are way up there…
I have also noticed there are a lot of windows missing on the top two floors, and there is an attached building in the back that is boarded up..
I noticed those windows, too, and those have been like that for a LONG time. I can’t explain it. At least that building in the back is boarded up now–when I first saw it, it was completely open to the elements and trespassers.
I also lived 35 years in coastal California after being born in DePaul Hospital,twhere my grandfather was among chief medical personnel, and raised in STL. What is going on with that building now?
Most of it is now a retirement community, though portions are abandoned.
I was born in the Former DePaul Hospital. Year 1953.