Monday, April 9, 2012

Winkelmann Mansion, Almost Gone

I know that a lot of people love this house, and are very upset that it's made it to this point where a strong storm might very well collapse the rest of the house. I count myself as one of them.
Once one of many mansions along St. Louis Avenue belonging to wealthy German-American industrialists, it had found new life as a funeral home, which in turn closed long ago.
I've been looking at and photographing the house for years, and it's depressing to see it reach this point. See my earlier posts here and here.
I normally don't condone graffiti, but in the case of this house,the simple word "legacy" on the plywood is particularly poignant.
McKee promised to save what he called "legacy properties" to go along with his new development, and this one was supposedly going to be one of these properties.
Judging from the neglect shown this building, and its savaging by brick thieves, there isn't going to be much of a legacy left of this building in the coming years.

3 comments:

  1. Tom Maher - KirkwoodApril 9, 2012 at 2:31 PM

    Since McKee is apparently reneging on many of his promises, is there no way at least the beautiful porch with its wondrous supporting columns can not be saved by him (or others)? Perhaps as some stand-alone piece?
    Better views can be had in the link you provided to Built St. Louis, in its still-being-used view from 2003.

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    Replies
    1. I would love someone to salvage the front of this house.

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  2. It's such a shame to see this building decimated.

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A Blog detailing the beauty of St. Louis architecture and the buildup of residue-or character-that accumulates over the course of time.