Falstaff Brewery Plant Two, Former Otto Stiefel/Union Brewery

There's not a whole lot left of Plant Two, other than a couple of periphery buildings. The central triangular block of brewery buildings were torn down decades ago for a parking lot, sadly typifying much of Gravois Avenue through the city.

There are a couple of reminders, however, such as the office entrance that still bears the name of the previous owner of the brewery, Otto Stiefel, who committed suicide in the wake of Prohibition.

This other building, facing Michigan, has the characteristics of the architecture of many other breweries in the city, so I suspect that it was also part of the brewery. The brewery is unique in that despite its age, it never possessed caves underneath, as most of the other breweries at the time did.

The Clowder House, a home for cats, was also a brewery building. I can only imagine the hustle and bustle that once filled these now empty streets as beer kegs and other supplies traveled back and forth between the brewery buildings.

Please visit this great Falstaff Beer site, where I learned most of my information about the old brewing company. Also, I want to thank Andrew Weil, director of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, for additional information.

Vibrant Streetscapes at Grand and Gravois

The intersection of Grand and Gravois can be a bit intimidating, but looking closer, it's a teaming, vibrant mass of humanity of people from all over the world. What do the people from other countries, now making their home in the neighborhoods around South Grand, think of their built environment?

The Afghan market is a great example of an entrepreneur rebuilding after his other shop burned last year. He's back, and still in the neighborhood.

I love this terracotta element shop on Gravois; centuries after brick was first made in St. Louis, the red clay is still influencing the appearance of this city.

STL-Style Mascot

Another Look at Gravois Park #3

Gravois Park shows different eras of buildings, from the late 19th Century to the early 20th Century. Below, these three houses demonstrate how the passage of time causes each house to slowly individualize even though they were built at once.Other buildings are clearly the same design structurally, but were individualized while being built.
The result is a sense of architectural unity while at the same time each building has its individuality.While red brick predominates on the front of buildings, tan and other colored brick begins to sneak onto the streets.

Another Look at Gravois Park #2

There's something elegant about the simplicity of Gravois Park architecture; clean lines and some ornament create beautiful houses in this neighborhood.Trees obscure the facades of many buildings, but I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. The green contrasts perfectly against the red brick.I'm fascinated by faded signs on the side of brick walls; it's fun to see if you can figure out what it once said.I remarked one time that it's interesting that the architecture in general doesn't reflect German or Irish tastes in architecture, but instead conforms more to the prevailing style of America at the time. Perhaps the process of assimilation had already begun, just years after these immigrants built Dutchtown.

Another Look at Gravois Park #1

Gravois Park features some beautiful architecture, and was once known as the northern part of Dutchtown, hence the old, battered signs that say "You are in Dutchtown" in this neighborhood.I love the house above; if you look closely, you can see there is a portrait bust of a bearded man in the terracotta medallion on the upper portion of the facade.No neighborhood in the city would be complete without a corner store, and this area features many, including this one which is in the process of being renovated.I also really enjoy the multi-family residences on the block, such as these two buildings with Arts and Crafts elements.

Eisele's Black Forest/El Lenador

Do you remember dining at the Black Forest back in the day, or any of the old German restaurants in South City? I'm interested, as there really doesn't seem to be much of a written record for these vanished but venerated institutions.

Rusty Cat

Jeff and Randy Vines

Cherokee Street

The diversity of new and old businesses along Cherokee Street is really getting to be exciting. Come to City Affair this Thursday and meet some of the new business owners along the street.

Gravois Park

I'll be honest, other than the picture of the actual park, I'm not sure if these houses are in Gravois Park. But they sure look like they could. Part of the beauty of the South Side inside Grand is its architectural unity, which is so precious.