While certainly I wanted to show off the beauty of Dutchtown for two weeks, that was also cover for the fact I was traveling in Europe for over a week, specifically in Paris and throughout northern France. I took over 1,000 photos, which is slacking off a bit considering I took over 2,400 photos back…
Tag: Apartment Buildings
One More in Tower Grove South
Just north of Dutchtown across Chippewa Street into what is technically Tower Grove South is this beauty built in 1939 in what I would call a sort of Streamline Moderne, proto-Modern style. It reminds me of buildings that would spring up further west in St. Louis Hills in greater numbers. Tomorrow, we’ll head in a…
The Beauty of Dutchtown, 87: Southeast Corner of Alexander Street and Dunnica Avenue
Constructed in 1930, the apartment building at the southeast corner of Dunnica Avenue and Alexander Street warranted Isaac Siever’s attention when he photographed it on May 4, 1931. Sadly, when I came by to photograph almost a century later, the northern half of the building is not boarded up and abandoned. But there is so…
The Beauty of Dutchtown 86: Ray Avenue
Constructed in 1929 on the one block stretch of Ray Avenue, hemmed in on the sides by Meramec and Keokuk streets, this building is actually shaped like the letter C. It is perhaps one of the most simple, and while the ornament still uses precast terracotta heraldry, it is sparse. The two flanking spires sort…
The Beauty of Dutchtown, 85: South Grand Boulevard and Delor Street
A little bit further south and a bit of an outlier, this building built in 1930 is an interesting mix of styles. Constructed in 1930, this complex has two distinct sides. There was the more conservative public and commercial side facing Grand, but then there is the more experimental side facing Delor. That less busy…
The Beauty of Dutchtown 84: The AnnaLou Apartments
The AnnaLou, with its big bold orange brick, jumped out at me on Giles Avenue just south of the large Tudor Revival complex on Alberta Avenue. Built in 1929, it also has a cool garage in back. I love the rich, dark orange that is used to set off the doors and windows, making it…
The Beauty of Dutchtown, 83: Gustine Avenue and Chippewa Street
Much later, this building built in 1937 shows the influence of the Streamline Modern on its design. The large limestone or cast concrete panels above the windows are a nice touch, with the stars. The orange brick runs up the walls in stripes, giving a sense of speed. I also would like to invite readers…
The Beauty of Dutchtown, 82: Northeast Corner of Gustine and Dunnica Avenues
Across Gustine, this building from 1931 seems to blend elements of the Tudor Revival with Art-Deco, which is logical from its later date of construction. Rectilinear panels with geometric patterns sits side by side with heraldic shields. And the design shows a sensitivity to both Gustine Avenue, a major boulevard street to the west, and…
The Beauty of Dutchtown, 80: The Elm Tree Apartments
A smaller version of the giant apartments at Alberta and Giles, the U-shaped building built in 1931 now christened by a 1970s-era sign as The Elm Tree Apartments rounds out a row of complexes on Keokuk Street. Including two J-shaped halves linked by a Tudor Revival arch in the middle and plenty of half-timber jerkinhead…
The Beauty of Dutchtown, 79: The Leona
Randomly, some of the apartment buildings in this area, like this one from 1929, have names. This one’s known as the Leona, as the terracotta states very clearly. It’s boarded up and vacant right now, and judging from the seafoam great terracotta trim, I suspect the windows once possessed the same color, or perhaps the…