Update: I went back and revisited this block in July of 2020.
My first post ever for Dutchtown was this block of Iowa between Osage and Keokuk streets, where the old St. Thomas of Aquin Roman Catholic Church stands. It is now occupied by another congregation, which is maintaining the building admirably. Sadly, its old parish school is still sitting abandoned, as I documented back in back in August of 2017.
I love the architecture of this church; it is simple Gothic Revival with that interesting Bavarian-like bell tower on the side. The convent is across the intersection, from what I was told.
Update: It turns out this tower was not original, but once held a much higher spire, which in hindsight would be much more in keeping with the overall style of the church. The front facade seems to have been simplified, as well.
The house below was seemingly in good condition when I photographed it over a decade ago, but apparently the red paint was hiding some serious tuckpointing and masonry issues, which are now being fixed.
Below, we can see how the front of this house was simplified, with the peaked roof on the facade removed and capped. But the stains from where the cast-iron details still show on the brick.
The bottom house is the one I grew up in. The glass blocks on the basement were not originally there but added later. The windowsills in front were almost sand like and did not withstand the elements. Windowsills on the sides and back were wood.