This row of Second Empire beauties looks like it comes straight from Paris–which of course where the style came from originally They have been carefully restored, and I revisited them yet again while walking down the street.
Tag: Fox Park
Russell Boulevard West of Ohio Avenue, Revisited Yet Again, Part 1
Starting with this rounded house on the northeast corner of Ohio and Russell, west to California, are some of the most beautiful houses in the city. I come back time and time again. Update: See a house with a similar square turret in Tower Grove East here.
Russell Boulevard West of Jefferson Avenue
After a humble but elegant alley apartment building, Russell Boulevard hits its stride, with one of the most stunning streetscapes in St. Louis. Eclectic, regal and carefully crafted houses show what the City looked like after the Civil War.
2600 Block of Ann Avenue, Part 2
Continuing east on Ann, there are more interesting houses, including this strange “cap” on the crenelated wall below.
2600 Block of Ann Avenue, Part 1
Update: The storefront above has become Savage, a critically-acclaimed restaurant. The 2600 block of Ann Avenue may be one of the most fascinating blocks in the city. It has little guys like this house above, sitting high up because it was certainly built before street grading. But there are all sorts of interesting houses, some…
The Back House, 2200 Block of Oregon
There doesn’t seem to have ever been any front house on this lot, where this house sits right on the alley line. It may appear on Compton and Dry, but the area had so little development in the 1870s it is hard to get bearings.
The Big Back Porch, 2100 Block of Oregon Avenue
This is quite the porch out back; I would love to know the story of this creation.
Jefferson Avenue South of Russell Boulevard
Update: The building below was destroyed by fire in June of 2024. There is so much potential along Jefferson, with so many buildings preserved to create a walkable environment. Too bad the cars are flying by at 50 mph. Rich people originally sought out major streets for their houses, such as this beautiful Romanesque Revival…
2600 Block of Armand Place
Update: I revisited the block in April of 2026. Armand Street has newer houses, from the turn of the Twentieth Century, and less of the Italianate and Second Empire prevalent on older streets.
Emmaus Lutheran Church
Update: The church held its final service on September 3, 2017. However, there are now renovations occurring as of the fall of 2020 and it will reopen with a new pastor. Emmaus Lutheran has a typical Romanesque Revival building for St. Louis–the ornament is Romanesque, but the massing of the church is really much more…