Sitting on the west side of Franz Park, John J. Roe Elementary School has existed in two forms over the last century. The first iteration was a Romanesque Revival school, as was typical of many of the more rural buildings in the system.
It was replaced in 1919 by a design by Rockwell M. Milligan, who along with William Ittner, designed the vast majority of schools in St. Louis.
As was typical of many of their designs, there is a central portal with a main massing, and then as was needed, one or two wings could be added as needed. In this case, a second wing to the south was never constructed to match the completed northern one.
Unlike some of Milligan’s more adventurous designs, this school is in the Tudor Revival style, which his partner William Ittner preferred.
John J. Roe was a pork packer, and owned an estate at Lafayette and South Compton avenues, having first stopped in Cincinnati on his way west, as so many other entrepreneurs who made it big in St. Louis.
Like so many other public schools, Roe also featured a library and auditorium.
They were both entered through separate entrances flanking the main portal to the school.
I attended this school from 1950 — Miss Berg — to 1954 — Mrs. Sanders. It was a wonderful school with a great library. I wonder if any of my classmates are registered here.
Yes Nicki, I went there. Your Dad was my mentor.
Please edit this account – there are grammatical errors everywhere and at one point the school is even referred to as Rose instead of Roe! Interesting information but painful to read…..