More Factories and Warehouses, Up North

I’m intrigued by the early Twentieth factories up north in the so-called “Mark Twain/I-70 Industrial” neighborhood, as the City of St. Louis officially calls this area. All of the cool factories down along the riverfront, and the historic breweries, get lots of attention, and deservedly so, but I would like to bring more attention to these later additions to the industrial might of St. Louis.

I like this little Colonial Revival office building, sitting in front of the more utilitarian factory buildings which feature more austere ornamentation.

Update: as a reader pointed out, there is a much older former residential core to this structure. It is possibly the old Shreve Homestead, which you can see below in the Compton and Dry View.

This was the large Rexall warehouse, which I photographed way back in 2011.

It is a massive building, and once featured neon signs on the roof.

United Drug Company [United-Rexall Drug Company]. 3915 North Kingshighway. Photograph by Joseph Hampel, 1946. Joseph Hampel Album. p. 8a. Acc. # 1998.94. Missouri Historical Society Photographs and Prints Collections. NS 23692. Scan © 2007, Missouri Historical Society.

Now it stores large items such as boats, according to the signs out front.

6 Comments Add yours

  1. W. White says:

    That office building has vaguely Colonial Revival wings but the core is a much older Italianate structure. Note the cornice brackets, arched windows, and window sills. It would be interesting to know the history of it, since it looks like a much older house repurposed into office space in the 1920s or 30s. I would surmise that it is a remnant of the area’s pre-industrial use.

    1. Chris Naffziger says:

      Oh wow, you’re right! Good eye. See the newly added Compton and Dry Image for the possible identity of the building.

  2. John Mitchell says:

    The pictures of what you call “Rexall Warehouse” are incorrect. This building is a manufacturing building. Inside there was a lab, and several bottling operations for doing filling tablets and powders into bottles. I should know I worked there in the early 1970’s as.a production supervisor. After my first 2 years with the company I tranferred to the Goodfellow Warehouse where I worked as a shipping supervisor.

    1. Chris Naffziger says:

      Sorry, I was being imprecise in my description–thank you for letting me know! I have been told it is a warehouse today for bulk items.

      1. Bill Y says:

        John,
        Did you know someone by the name of Paul Stenger who also worked there?

  3. I think the old Rexall warehouse would be stunning if they converted into residential lofts

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