While unfortunately marked as being one of dozens of parishes that closed on August 1, St. Martin de Porres Roman Catholic Church is an exceptional example of Modernist architecture in North County. Showing clear influence of Notre-Dame de Haut in Ronchamp, France with its graceful reinforced concrete roof, it also is anchored by three white…
Tag: North County
Kühn House and Harrison Avenue, Florissant
The original central five bay wide Kühn House was built in 1840, an example of a central hall Greek Revival house in Florissant. As is typical of the style, several wings were added, but kept in a bisymmetrical balance on both sides. As would be expected by the name, it was built by a member…
Moller House and Washington Street, Florissant
You’ll have to take my word for it that there’s a really historic house back behind the dense undergrowth. It’s the Moller House, built in 1830. Greek Revival in form, it seems to still be painted white as it was back in 1933. Of course, it would not have been painted originally. The brick is…
St. Francois Street, Florissant
There was never really a “Main Street” in colonial and pre-World War II Florissant, but after the onset of suburbanization, St. Francois Street became a de facto shopping strip. The commercial buildings that were built look like your standard small town storefronts. Below is the Otto Ripple House. It is a bit of an interesting…
Around Sacred Heart, Florissant
I’ve looked at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church before. which despite Florissant’s French roots, was originally a German language parish. Many of the buildings surrounding the church likewise have historic ties to the community, as well. Hendel’s Grocery Store was built in 1873, and was operated by that family from 1915 to 1993. It is…
Two Houses on Dunn Road, Florissant
Saved from demolition twice now, the John B. Myers House, sits just north of the intersection of interstates of 270 and 170, though it once lay along a quiet stretch of Dunn Road (now a glorified frontage road). Constructed in 1878, it is often described as Classical Revival, but I should point out that it…
Taille de Noyer, Florissant
Dating from around 1790, Taille de Noyer was built by the Mullanphy Family and served as a fur trading outpost. This same family grew to great wealth and prominence, and helped found the Mullanphy Hospital. Saved from demolition for the construction of McCluer High School, the Taille de Noyer House (“walnut-pruning”) now sits to the…
Cold Water Cemetery
We’ll start our look at the historic roots of Florissant by first visiting Cold Water Cemetery, which was part of the John Patterson lands, which was settled as early as 1797. It is a fascinating and incredibly isolated place, accessible down a narrow gravel lane off Old Halls Ferry Road. There are two Revolutionary War…
Walnut Grove Hills, Florissant
Walnut Grove Hills sits in that little wedge of land just south of Interstate 270, still in Florissant but sort of a world away from the main part of the city. McCluer High School keeps it company to the north. Regardless, it is an immaculately cared-for subdivision, with beautiful lawns and houses, representing a piece…
De Smet Subdivision, Florissant
The De Smet subdivision sits north of Lindbergh Boulevard and northwest of old town Florissant. Of course, we need to remember that Lindbergh had already been laid out decades before as part of the US highway system (not the interstate system). The main entrance, above, makes me believe there were grander plans for an elaborate…