Always take that strange narrow road and see where it goes. We were recently visiting Faust Park in Chesterfield to look at the collection of historic West County structures on display there (see them here and here) and noticed there was a little road going to the east. Before we knew it, we had discovered the original estate buildings of Leicester Busch and Mary Plant Faust, who had donated the former Thornhill estate to St. Louis County in two parts, the first in 1968, and the second part, with the house and other farm buildings in 1997 with the death of Mary. They are buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery. The main house, described as “Pueblo Revival,” was designed by none other than Thomas P. Barnett in 1919, whom I’ve written about before here.
But that is not the only surprise. There is an intact lamella roof barn, the first of its kind in St. Louis, built before the construction of the Arena, which was the largest. The roof type is famous for its lack of center supports, leaving a wide open unobstructed space. The gym of the former St. Elizabeth’s Academy is the other known surviving example.
Leicester Faust was the grandson of Tony Faust and Adolphus Busch. His father, Edward, was the son of Tony and married Anna Louise, and the couple raised Leicester in 1 Portland Place.
Out in front of the lamella barn, from 1925, seem to be the components of another barn or other structure that perhaps the park will be assembling soon.
On the road into the estate, there is a private residence that I suspect was originally constructed as a servant’s or caretaker’s house.
Descriptions of the property also describe a dovecote, and I suspect that is what this building is below, which is unique in its appearance.
The stable and garage with silo for presumably feed was designed by Maritz, Young and Dusard in 1935-6. It now functions as a park maintenance building.
The greenhouse was made by the firm of Lord and Burnham.
Wow! Thanks!
Great article.
The private residence was originally the first home Leicester Faust lived in when he go the land from his parents. It did become a caretaker’s house later on once the house was finished.
The dovecote, which was actually a duck house, was across the road from that and is actually no longer standing. You can still see the layout of the pond that was once there. The building above is a chicken coop.
The Pacini Family lived on the Faust Property when I was a girl in the 1950’s. Their dauaghter and I went to a girls school together. I don’t see their name in any of this material. I also was friends with Lorraine and Allen Davis whose house is now in the park. Lorraine was my bridge partner. Spent many a lovely afternoon in their old home.