Jerome Bibb Legg was born in Schuyler County, Illinois in 1838 or 1839. Legg came to St. Louis in 1864 to attend Jones Commercial College, a decision that would greatly enhance his success in architecture.

After graduation he worked as a clerk and bookkeeper for George I. Barnett, who encouraged Legg to spend his spare time studying architecture. After a year in the building trades, Legg was given the responsibility of superintending the 1868-69 construction of Thomas Dixon's Centenary M. E. Church.

By 1878, Legg had a remarkable number of designs to his credit including the Manual Training School for Washington University, St. Paul's Church, Mount Calvary Church, Samuel Cupples' paper bag factory, D. Crawford & Co.'s Building, the Anzeiger Building and numerous houses in St. Louis as well as commissions in Illinois and out- state Missouri.

The promotional/entrepreneurial skills that would serve him well were first evident with his "Home for Everybody," published in 1876 with an edition of 6,000 copies mailed to prospective clients in over a dozen states.

In 1884, Legg was admitted to membership in the American Institute of Architects. That same year saw the construction of his most important St. Louis building to date: the Exposition and Music Hall.

By 1895, Legg maintained four out-of- state branch offices with a practice extending into twelve states. The firm's portfolio encompassed public buildings, banks, schools, hotels, colleges and theaters as well as "hundreds of residences."

In St. Louis, his new Police Stables had just opened in Forest Park, the Bofinger Memorial Chapel had been dedicated at Christ Church Cathedral and the Oriel Building at the southeast corner of 6th and Locust was one of the most successful office buildings in downtown. (Legg held a 99-year lease on the land and developed the building in 1889 in partnership with Col. John O'Day.)

Legg was also editor of the Building Trades Journal (which featured many of his buildings) and wrote the introductory section on architecture in Commercial and Architectural St. Louis. In 1902, he formed a two-year partnership with Charles S. Holloway, then resumed practice on his own. His last listing under "Architects" in the City Directories was in 1908.

Little in known about Legg's personal life. He resigned from the American Institute of Architects in 1899. His date of death is unknown.

All information and illustrations on these pages
are from the collections of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc.
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