Magic Chef Mansion, Compton Heights

Edward Long School, Bevo

Read more about the great school buildings of St. Louis here, at Built St. Louis.

Historic Building Lost in Champaign

Hey Listen reported last week on the loss of a nearly completely renovated building in downtown Champaign, Illinois.

Hadley Township, Richmond Heights

By now most people are familiar with the abject failure of Richmond Heights to take over one of the last historically African-American neighborhoods in Central St. Louis County. Hadley Township, while suffering from deferred maintenance (brought on by the fear of demolition by eminent domain), is a compact community in the heart of the metropolitan area. No wonder developers want to sink their talons into it.
Houses have been abandoned, out of anticipation of eventual forced removal.Read some more commentary over at Urban Review St. Louis.
Here is an aerial view.
Basically, the government can take your house, threaten to take your house, destroy your property values, and annihilate historic communities--or not. Pray if you're ever the target of eminent domain that either you win, or when you lose, the company that is buying your property doesn't bail after your house has lost most of its value.

The larger issue is government still taking the 1950's attitude towards development; if a community doesn't fit its image of a healthy neighborhood, it must be destroyed.

Downtown Alley Bridge

Apparently there are apartments on each floor of this old bridge. God, those must be cool apartments.

Geese, Family Farm

Murder

A girl is dead, and this is all the Post has to say about it?

Cattle Barn, Family Farm, Deer Creek, Illinois

New Post at Chicago Patina

View recent pictures of the Haymarket in the West Loop at Chicago Patina.

Mallinckrodt Tomb, Bellefontaine Cemetery

Wainwright Tomb Interior

Historic Downtown Views

This is one of my lame attempts of photographing out of book without a copy stand.

Family Farm, Late October 2008

My father was visiting the family farm this weekend to work out a border dispute with our snotty new neighbors. He had the opportunity to photograph our recently painted historic barns.Ignore the 1901 date; the horse barn dates to at least a decade earlier.My maternal grandmother's grandparents' tombstone was leaning precipitously until recently, when it was properly restored by professionals. The arch apparently represents a married couple in the late 19th Century.

All photos courtesy of David Naffziger

First Weekend in St. Louis City

Wow, what a great first night living in St. Louis.

Westmoreland and Portland Places

I successfully infiltrated Westmoreland Place with my parents' Mercedes-Benz, to bring you, my dear readers, exclusive images of what they're trying to hide.Which are some of the most beautiful mansions in the United States.