5600 Block of Labadie, Wells-Goodfellow, Summer of 2026

I specifically set out to try and find another block to explore other than the 5600 block of Labadie Avenue, but then I went and drove down it anyway. The first part to the west I first explored back in March of 2017. It’s in rough shape. Most of the buildings, some of which were…

Hodiamont Avenue, Wells-Goodfellow, Revisited

Posts at this website are one of two things: exploring new places, or revisiting somewhere to see how it has changed for better or worse. I decided to explore Hodiamont Avenue in Wells-Goodfellow, which I had first examined closely back in March of 2017. Foliage is doing well, as can be seen above. I’ve always…

Knapp, North Nineteenth, Helen and Benton Streets, St. Louis Place

I was wandering around St. Louis Place when I caught these survivors on one block stretches in between Mullanphy/Howard streets and Madison Avenue. The two buildings above and below are on Knapp Street. Below are the two survivors left on North Nineteenth. Helene Street has much more left, including a bunch of wonderful Second Empire…

Obear Avenue Between Kossuth and Lee Avenues

I came across this short block of Obear Avenue in the Fairgrounds neighborhood. It’s a good example of a street that has been battered by abandonment and demolition. But there are several houses left standing that are occupied.

Progress in LaSalle Park

I have some good news to report about the Second Empire corner storefront at 1000 Morrison Avenue in the LaSalle Park neighborhood which I looked at in June of 2019. Due to the efforts of Landmarks Association of St. Louis and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, control of the building has been wrested away from…

Former Christian Hospital, Abandoned

I looked at the former Christian Hospital back in October of 2021 when it had turned into the Prince Hall Senior Services building, and it looked perfectly fine. But now it’s abandoned and totally trashed! What the heck happened?

Northeast Adams Street, Northeast Peoria, Late June 2026

The primaries for the 2026 midterm elections are coming up, so it’s time to see how Peoria is doing, and in particular, I like to look at Northeast Peoria. I drove up Northeast Adams Street, which is one-way to the northeast through much of downtown and northeast of the central business district, paired with Northeast…

Washington Boulevard, Revisited June 2026

I’ve looked at Washington Boulevard before west of North Jefferson Avenue, but I took another look a few weeks ago. Nothing has happened at the Jamison Memorial Church since the fire. Above is Central Baptist Church, an African American congregation which is over 180 years old, and I’ve always like its current Modernist home. This…

End of Spring 2026 Odds and Ends

It’s that time of year, so it’s time for odds and ends! Above is a spandrel from a storefront in downtown Belleville, looking suspiciously like something Louis Sullivan would design. Below is just another house we found while driving around town. Cleveland High School is looking really, really bad compared to earlier visits; I first…