Lincoln Trail, St. Clair County, Illinois

The so-called Lincoln Trail is no longer a trail, but more akin to your standard strip mall artery. I saw traces of interesting roadside motels and drive-ups, but like so much of America, it's all just sort of looking the same now. I probably could have labeled this Manchester Road, and a lot of people couldn't have told the difference. Is this what we want America to become?

St. Clair Square, Fairview Heights, Illinois

I'd never been over to St. Clair Square Mall, and I wanted to view this important component of sprawl out of East St. Louis in the 1960's. The old Famous Barr dome brings back memories of the now lost West County Mall counterpart, though I found the latter more elegant.

Brutalism abounds, as can be seen in the JC Penny, which in its shear size and massive bulkiness almost pulls off a certain level of beauty.

I like the clean shadows and lines cast by the corner of the department store as well.

The Sears continues the trend, as well. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this mall was how it had seemed to completely weather the economic storm that has closed so many other malls built at the same time on the Missouri side. Renovated recently, the mall, much like West County and South County Malls, seems to have been judged by the shopping center gods as healthy, and will not be a victim of triage as other malls have seem to fallen victim.

River Bottoms, St. Charles County

Some parts of the metropolitan region will never be developed hopefully. I had spotted this swath of river bottom north of the Missouri River from Google Maps in the past, and last weekend we drove out and took a look around.Despite having hundreds of thousands of people living around this river bottom, you'd think you're out in the country considering how isolated it is. I hope it stays this way, since river bottoms inevitably flood, so agriculture is the best use of the land.

Daniel Boone Home Village

Spolia #6

They almost seem to be crying out in pain, having lost the building they were attached to behind them.

St. Albans McMansion Revival

Just when I think they can't get any more creative with a 4 million dollar price tag, they prove me wrong.

Main Street Details, St. Charles

Other Victorian Period Houses, Main Street, St. Charles

Beaux-Arts Bank Building, Main Street, St. Charles

Front or Back Porches? Main Street, St. Charles

A tour guide once told me these were actually the fronts of these buildings, not the sides facing Main Street. Tour guides tend to make up stuff, so I don't know if this is true or not. It might make sense, as it would be facing the river.

Italianate Row Buildings, Main Street, St. Charles

Second Empire Mansards, Main Street, St. Charles

Blanchette Chouteau Mill, St. Charles

When I was little, I loved this mill. Unfortunately, I don't think the waterwheel is real anymore, but rather the water is pumped up to the headrace and then it goes over the wheel. For a great book about mills, read David Macauley's great book on the subject.

Portage des Sioux Demolition Going Through?

back in January, I visited Portage des Sioux, and reported on the potential demolition of an abandoned house whose legal wrangling had lasted for sixteen years. Just recently, the city of Portage des Sioux has ordered the building demolished. Read about it here. I'm a little confused about the decision; I personally looked at the house in question, and though it has its problems, it is in better shape than some of the other occupied houses in the town.

St. Albans Missouri River Bluffs

The planned suburb of St. Albans is still a decade or so from being complete, and one time my parents and I headed out to the house tour one year. Our favorite McMansion was this giant Gothic Revival house clocking in at four million dollars. The view is incredible, admittedly, though dominated by the Labadie Power Station.

St. Charles Demands Answers from Developer

St. Charles Council Members are demanding to know why a developer has dropped many aspects of its new-urbanist design for the former site of the Noah's Ark. Really!?

Seeing the Light, Armour Meatpacking Plant

Light filtering down through a hole in the floor into the basement of Armour Meatpacking Plant.

Cold Storage, Armour Meatpacking Plant

Imagine hundreds or perhaps thousands of cattle carcasses dangling from the ceilings of the massive refrigerator rooms at Armour.Built of thick concrete and foam insulation, the room was still cold on a sunny day in March.Remarkably large stalactites and stalagmites have begun to form on the ceilings and floors.