The Mound City Roofing Tile Company sat right on the other side of Fyler from this row of houses, and I strongly suspect that workers from that business lived in these small homes. The street is extra wide here, as well, no doubt to handle delivery wagons and trucks.
I’ve watched them over the years, and it’s been interesting to see how they’ve been bought up and rehabbed as Tower Grove South has become more affluent.
Back when I was house hunting in the summer of 2008, they were all more or less preserved and a little rough around the edges, and dirt cheap, I might add.
But that has changed, as well as their prices! I think that like many of these houses, the kitchen was originally in the basement, which is half above ground.
There is a ton of these little humble houses around the western edge of the neighborhood, drawn first for the coal and clay mining, and then clay and terracotta manufacturing, and now as the eastern end of Tower Grove South becomes so expensive.
Chris, I really enjoy your effort and passion for what you give us every day. Thank you!
Thank you!
If I ever move back to St.Louis I want one of those little houses.
They’re great starter homes and also have extremely low utility costs.
Isn’t this what was called “Shot Gun Houses”???
I think you could consider these shotgun houses.
There are so many of these small houses scattered throughout the region. Was the intent of these houses to house the worker only temporarily during a set period of time on a job? I know large families would cram into these houses also, but it would seem like having one extra room would make a world of difference back when there were mom, dad, & 6+ kids under one roof.
I think these were intended to be permanent, easily affordable houses for workers. Considering I once talked to a woman who grew up sleeping nine siblings to a bed, crowding was not a consideration.