I found an old cemetery out in Babler State Park; dating from the early 19th Century to the mid 20th, it represents a broad cross-section of different types of grave markers over the last two centuries. It also reminds us that the area has been settled for much longer than it sometimes seems.
Seriously, could they have made this sign any more ugly on the side of an historic St. Louis landmark?
I literally had not visited Queeny since my high school graduation in 1996. Little had changed, though they have painted the bad mansards a weird forest green. I know nothing about this building, but it looks to be from the early 1970's. Here's all sorts of great information on the park.
The History Museum is still a great building, even if it has the awful addition out the back that obscures its back facade.
Enclosed since at least the earl 1980's, the main hall is a great public space.
We stumbled upon this church at the intersection of Highway 40 and Mason Road, set back from the road a bit.
I'd driven by a million times, but this was the first time I looked at the church up close.
We talked to one of the two Readers, and she said a member brought his cherry picker over one time and cleaned off the pillars out front.
Overall, the church has been carefully preserved, with no crumby vinyl sided additions or other poorly matched repairs.
This congregation certainly understands the importance of maintaining its church.
I like the original light fixture set on the side of the building as well.
The rock wall serves as a nice balance for the accordian-like stone pattern interspersed with colored glass.
What looks to be the library has large windows that face out onto the grounds of the property. From what I could see, there was a large balcony wrapping around the two story room.
Finally, I don't know what this curved room is; I know in Catholic churches this would be a baptistry.
Another nice feature is that the vast majority of the parking is concealed around back, and the front lawn is unadulterated by blacktop.
This stunning central plan church, on Mason Road in Town and Country, is one of the masterpieces of the early Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum architectural firm.
To see pictures of the inside, click here to go the Parish's website.
You can read more here at Andrew Raimist's website as well.
I was really amazed, having driven by the building countless times, how beautiful it is up close.
What the heck? The new parking garage that replaced the failed St. Louis Centre looks like the old mall, except that it's black instead of white. See my old pictures of the mall here and here before redevelopment.
I like the black entryway for the red granite building; I guess it makes sense.
I like this sculpture as well; it looks like it is studio surplus from an old Star Trek episode.
So we're left with yet another dead block in downtown. Terrific!
See some very old commentary I wrote on the mall here.
Has anyone ever heard of the Sporting News? This sign, of unknown age, is on the top of a building near Washington Avenue.
A brownfield site, the former Carter Carburator site sits empty, home to the occasional illicit dog fight, huge piles of clothing, and only the memories of the industry that occurred here.
It's hard to get a good picture of St. Cecelia's because the church is surrounded by so many houses.
Which is a good thing, as the neighborhood is still strong, with very few abandoned houses and no vacant lots that I could see.
The church itself is a nice, solid Gothic Revival church with a wonderfully decorated interior.
This is the Mexican national church of St. Louis in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese.
Carr School has been better documented on other websites, but I realized I had never really looked at the building up close.
The influence of Italian architecture is clear, with some nice nods to Renaissance models in Florence and other Italian cities.
It is in a severe state of disrepair, and at the bare minimum now, it would probably have to be gutted to save the exterior walls. The roof tiles are wonderful, and perhaps could be reused in a new rood.
Bethlehem Lutheran's owners apparently want to tear the church down, but lack the money to do so. Thank God, as it is an incredibly beautiful church that should still be here when Hyde Park rebounds, of which it is already showing signs.
The church is in bad shape, but obviously not past the point of rehabilitation.
In a city dominated by beautiful Roman Catholic churches, it's great to see the Lutherans representing as well.
Yes, this is the home of the infamous Jesus statue in the cellar. I love how this church dominates the view of northbound North Florissant Avenue.
I realized I needed to check up on some of my favorite houses in St. Louis Place and see how they were doing. On my way there, I encountered these victims of brick theft.
The houses I have documented in the past couple of years still cling to life, if in the most extreme sense of the expression.
I really don't think there's any hope to save these weather ravaged buildings, stripped of their most important structural element: their exterior walls.
In the shadow of St. Augustine, the brick/junk yards are operating still, even if a couple have been shut down recently. If the City actually enforced its own laws, all of them would be closed, as anyone can see they are not reputable businesses from the street.
I mean, when was the last time you saw a bunch of shady guys standing around a barrel burning garbage in front of an Applebee's? I'm worried they're going to decide that the dark tan bricks of St. Augustine's will make them money, and it will be attacked as well.
