Join the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc.
in the St. Louis celebration of
HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH 2003

That's right -- there's so much going on in St. Louis we've stretched "preservation Week" into an entire month!

We hope you'll join us in celebrating by attending as many of the events from "Making Sense of St,. Louis" on May 1st to the Old North St. Louis Tour on the 31st, but we want to feature the 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHAW PLACE on May 4!
These ten Victorian houses present a unique development in St. Louis architecture and subdivision planning. Designed between 1878 and 1882 by the St. Louis firm of George I. Barnett & Isaac Taylor, the houses were constructed for philanthropist Henry Shaw to provide an endowment for his nearby Missouri Botanical Garden. The inspiration for this small development may not have been the contemporaneous St. Louis private street concept where individual owners were subject to deed restrictions dictating general design guidelines for their houses. British-born Shaw’s suburban enclave was an architecturally consistent unit designed to be maintained as rental property—suggesting an English prototype.

On December 21, 1878, building permits were issued to Shaw for the first four houses. Estimated to cost a total of $10,000, they featured distinctive patterned brick chimneys and limestone trim at the windows (see above) and were identical in plan and elevation. Vouchers in the Missouri Botanical Garden archives signed by the architects for materials and labor indicate construction was complete in January 1880 when rental advertisements began to appear: "Those fine new double houses in Shaw Avenue Place; all conveniences, nine rooms and large lots combining all advantages of city and country; gas and water, rent $450 per annum." All were rented by the end of April 1880. Bids ranging from $19,878 to $21,796 for the next four were received from seven contractors on August 7, 1880. These houses are larger and introduce a stylistic variation. The last two—started in late 1882, finished summer 1883—contained somewhat more richly detailed interiors. (That fact may account for the initial difference in rent between $55 and $50 per month.)

Garden Trustees continued to rent the Shaw Place houses for 25 years after Shaw’s death before selling to Welfare Realty Co. for $55,000 in 1915. The company added central heat and electric lights, established private street single-family deed restrictions valid for 40 years, set up a Board of Trustees to manage the property and sold off the houses in 1916. Over the years the owners have extended the deed restrictions, maintained the oval park, acquired the central "Leda and the Swan" fountain and restored the houses.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH 2003

Thursday May 1
"Making Sense of St. Louis"
Ranken Technical College
Newstead at Finney
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Attend Landmarks’ final "Making Sense of St. Louis" class for a presentation featuring the immediate Ranken neighborhood followed by a tour of the impressive core campus designed by Eames & Young in 1907 and 1912. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Friday, May 2
Eleven Most Enhanced Awards
Continental Building
3615 Olive
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The long-awaited renaissance of the Beacon of Midtown is one of eleven dramatic projects to be honored at our annual ceremony and reception. The program starts promptly at 5:15; tours offered before and after. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Saturday, May 3
Downtown Housing Tour and New AIA Office
Lammert Building
911 Washington Avenue
Noon to 2 p.m.
Meet at the Lammert Building to view the zippy new streetfront AIA office before heading to Rudman on the Park (13th and Washington) for a festival and tour of downtown housing (complimentary shuttle until 5 p.m.) available for sale or rent. Free, but reservations requested. For further information (314) 436-6500.

Saturday, May 3
Central West End House Tour
Westmoreland Place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Experience Gilded Age splendor as you stroll through eight lavish houses on Westmoreland Place—a prestigious private street opened for development in 1888. Tickets are $17.50 in advance; $20 on tour days. For information and/or tickets call (314) 367-2220.

Sunday, May 4
Central West End House Tour
Westmoreland Place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(See above)

Sunday, May 4
Shaw Place 125th Anniversary
Shaw Place and Compton Water Tower
1 to 4 p.m.
Climb to the top of the water tower before or after visiting six houses and one garden in distinctive Shaw Place (see lead story). Celebrate this historic anniversary with free wine sampling from River’s Edge Winery and for-sale homemade strawberry shortcake. The house tour costs $15 per person ($3 discount for Landmarks’ members) with tickets at Botanicals on the Park or Surprise Flowers & Gifts (both on South Grand) or by calling (314) 776-2204.

Tuesday, May 6
Civil Courts Promenade and Eastman Kodak Reception
Civil Courts Building
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Eastman Kodak 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. From the monumental to the diminutive, experience the variety of masterful Art Deco designed by Klipstein & Rathmann. Start at the top of the now-renovated Civil Courts Building (bring your camera), visit the law library and then walk to a reception at the eye-popping Kodak Building at 1009 Olive restored by Mark Pitliangas. The tour and reception cost $15 per person in advance; tickets held at the door. Send check to Landmarks, 917 Locust, 7th floor, St. Louis MO 63101.

Friday, May 9
Café Music
Blanke Building
1310 Papin
7:30 p.m.
Crossings concludes its second successful season of "House Music" at the fabulous Sextro family loft with selections by artists from the Saint Louis Symphony, the Nuevotango group and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Suggested donation $25; reservations advised (314) 726-3426.

Saturday, May 10
De Hodiamont House and Concrete Block Historic District
951 Maple Place 10 a.m.
5920 Julian 10:45 a.m.
Stop by work-in-progress at the charming De Hodiamont House before joining a walking tour of unique Oakherst Place (all built in 1906) with Landmarks’ staff and the new Alderman who is committed to a future for this endangered National Register Historic District. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Sunday, May 11
Delightful Disarray at Campbell House
Robert G. Campbell House
1508 Locust Street
1 to 3 p.m.
After spending $2.5 million, a once-familiar museum house has become an intriguing whodunit with exposed layers of history illuminated by great visuals and an enlightened staff. See it now at a critical point during the most meticulous restoration in St. Louis history. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Tuesday, May 13
History of St. Louis Terra Cotta
The Masonry Institute
1429 S. Big Bend Blvd.
Noon
Bring lunch and enjoy architectural conservator Peter Wollenberg’s slide talk on the history of architectural terra cotta in the city renowned for the malleable material’s manufacture and use. Free, but reservations required. (314) 421-6474.

Wednesday, May 14
Image and Documentary
East-West Gateway
10 Stadium Plaza, 2nd Floor
Noon
Our second lunchtime video, "Grand Endeavor," opens with scenes from historic Midtown before chronicling the recent construction of the Pulitzer Foundation Building from the perspective of client, architect, contractor and artists. Free, but reservation requested (314) 421-6474.

Friday May 16
Concert Duo
Palm House in Tower Grove Park
6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Virtuoso Stephen Porter of Webster University will inaugurate "Seasons of Music" (a premium fund-raising series designed to support free concerts in Tower Grove Park) with back-to-back piano concerts accompanied by food and libation. Each distinct program costs $75. Information and reservations (314) 771-2679.

Saturday May 17
Cherokee-Lemp History Weekend
Cherokee Street east of Jefferson
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A free trolley will take you up and down the street past live entertainment to booths with rehab specialists, shops of antiques and collectibles, talks by historians and proprietors, tours of art galleries and historic buildings including the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion where Landmarks will offer our new guidebook for a special price. Obtain a history scavenger hunt form at any business; prizes awarded Sunday, May 18 at 4:15 p.m. Further information (314) 424-5371.

Sunday May 18
Cherokee-Lemp History Weekend
(See above)

Wednesday May 21
"What Are Buildings Made Of?"
Old Courthouse Rotunda
10:00 a.m.
Join 4th grade students from Mallinckrodt School (St. Louis City) and Landmarks’ docents as we learn more about the Old Courthouse and St. Louis building materials with hands-on experience, slides and a short downtown tour. Free, but reservation required. (314) 421-6474.

Thursday May 22
"What Are Buildings Made Of?"
Old Courthouse Rotunda
10:00 a.m.
Join 4th grade students from Gundlach School (St. Louis City) and Landmarks’ docents as we learn more about the Old Courthouse and St. Louis building materials through hands-on experience, slides and a short downtown tour. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Saturday May 24
Carondelet Stone Houses
Charles Schlichtig House
300 Marceau
10 a.m. to Noon
Find your way to the 1852 Schlichtig House (located east of Broadway) and meet the new owner, then visit the 1859 Anton Schmitt House relocated to 7727 South Broadway for an update on the new historic center and a self-guided map of other historic stone houses. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Saturday May 24
Stockton House Garden District
Robert H. Stockton House
3508 Samuel Shepard Drive
1 to 3 p.m.
Tucked south of Powell Symphony Hall is a cluster of fine, 19th century homes linked by gardens created by Frederick Medler, a pioneer rehabber who started work on the Romanesque Revival Stockton House some 25 years ago. View progress at his house, enjoy the gardens and learn about Midtown projects. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Tuesday May 27
Old and New Architecture in Forest Park
Jewel Box
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
First stop on our special tour led by park staff is the Jewel Box, recently renovated by Christner Inc., then on to the Lindell Pavilion (in-progress rehab by Mackey Mitchell) and under-construction boathouse by architect Laurent Torno with lunch (on your own) at the new Golf Club designed by Powers/Bowersox. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Wednesday May 28
"What Are Buildings Made Of?"
Old Courthouse Rotunda
10 a.m.
Join 4th grade students from Herzog School (St. Louis City) and Landmarks’ docents as we learn more about the Old Courthouse and St. Louis building materials through hands-on experience, slides and a short downtown tour. Free, but reservations required (314) 421-6474.

Thursday May 29
Laclede Power Plant
Tap Room 2100 Locust
5:15 to 6:45 p.m.
Have you seen plans for the powerhouse built in 1902, the one destined to become trailhead for the Riverfront Trail? Since it acquired the eerie 17,000 square feet, Trailnet has added a bike ramp by the irrepressible Bob Cassilly and held a design charrette to consider combining adaptive reuse and green architecture. Tim Tucker, project manager, will lead our discussion. Cash bar. Free, but reservations requested (314) 421-6474.

Saturday May 31
Old North St. Louis House Tour
Old North St. Louis Office
2800 North 14th Street
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Conclude Preservation Month with self-guided tours of eight homes and two gardens in this affordable, work-in-progress National Register Historic District. Tickets @ $10 include a free ice cream cone from landmark Crown Candy located across the street from the neighborhood office. For information call (314) 241-5031.

Sponsors:
LANDMARKS ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS INC.
LAWRENCE L. COHN
COMMERCE BANCSHARES FOUNDATION
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
BANK OF AMERICA
MEADE SUMMERS, JR. FOUNDATION