The Intersection of St. Louis and Marcus Avenues, July 2022

Update: I revisited the area in the winter of 2023. The building on the right above was destroyed by the tornado of May 16, 2025. I decided to check in on the corner of Marcus and St. Louis Avenues, which I first looked at way back in August of 2009. You can actually see the…

Vine Grove Avenue, The Greater Ville, Spring 2022

Update: Heavily damaged by the tornado on May 16, 2025. After I featured Vine Grove Avenue in two posts (here and here) back in January of 2019, the City began to demolish a large number of the abandoned houses on the one block long street in autumn of the same year. I wondered what had…

Mount Airy Missionary Baptist Church

Update: The wall that made up the air dome screen was destroyed by the tornado of May 16, 2025. I learned an interesting story about this church and its parking lot at the southwest corner of Marcus and Maffitt in the Greater Ville neighborhood. If you look closely, it becomes obvious that the large white…

In the Footsteps of Lillian Handlan Lemp

Many readers are no doubt familiar with Lillian Handlan, who would marry William Lemp, Jr., the heir to the Lemp Brewery. Later, their acrimonious divorce would make headlines around the country. But she also lived in many places around St. Louis, and I’ve identified several places she called home. There may be more, but for…

The Greater Ville and Western Lutheran Cemetery, Late Summer 2021

I decided to check up on the Western Lutheran Cemetery, which I had not visited January of 2021, and had not really looked at closely nor walked the grounds since January of 2019. I came down Ashland Avenue, and to my dismay, I discovered in the 4500 block one of those unique one story bungalows…

Natural Bridge Avenue Between Warne and Clay Avenues, South Side

Update: I continued west on Natural Bridge in July of 2022. Heading west on Natural Bridge Avenue, there are more surprises that can be enjoyed, including this massive duplex on the right above. There seems to be more single family houses west of Warne Avenue. Sadly, there is more abandonment, with some interesting houses that…

Natural Bridge Avenue Between Vandeventer and Warne Avenues, South Side

I know that many people, including business owners along Natural Bridge Avenue, have spoken out and criticized the “road diet” that has considerably narrowed the major thoroughfare through a multitude of North St. Louis neighborhoods. There were concerns that it would negatively affect business, and I would not ever claim to know how to run…