The architecture of Memorial Day in downtown St. Louis

To the men & women who have served, or are serving, in our armed forces -  thank you!

Our Soldiers Memorial building and area was conceived to honor those who served in WWI (1914-1918):

“The initiative to construct a memorial plaza and memorial building to honor the gallant sons and daughters of Missouri, and of our city, who “made the supreme sacrifice in the World War”, began in 1923. Over the course of several years, the City of St. Louis and its citizens raised money for the project. Under the leadership of Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann, and with some funds coming from the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (Project No. 5098), the construction of the building, development of the memorial plaza, and improvements to the parks began on October 21, 1935 and the memorial and museum officially opened on Memorial Day, May 30, 1938.”  (Source)

So the memorial was completed 20 years after the war was over, five times as long as the war itself.  St. Louis’ mayor offered these words 72 years ago:

“This magnificent edifice, erected as a perpetual reminder of the valor and sacrifice that has enabled America to live, will spur us on as a people to make America greater. We, who live, because others have died, should make of this shrine a place of love and a monument of peace.”

– Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann, May 30, 1938

Chestnut was once the street used for parades with the steps of the memorial providing a good viewing platform but at some point we moved parades to Market Street.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: your thoughts on the future of the SS Admiral

At the end of next month the President Casino on the Admiral will close, leaving the future of the art deco boat unknown.

The SS Admiral has a long history on the St. Louis riverfront:

The hull of the Admiral once belonged to a side-wheel steamboat called the SS Albatross, built in 1907. The Albatross was built in Iowa and used to haul railroad cars at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Streckfus Steamers bought the ship in 1937, and gave it a completely new appearance, new function, and a new name. The designer was Maizie Krebs, a fashion illustrator for Famous-Barr department stores. It was converted from steam to Diesel in the 1970s. In it’s heyday, the Admiral was the largest river cruise ship in the world. It could carry 4,400 passengers. (source)

When I moved to St. Louis in August 1990 I was struck by the beauty of the SS Admiral, then located south of the Eads Bridge.  I’d hate to see it go away but I don’t know if it has a place on the riverfront going forward.

Resources:

• Wikipedia
• Vintage pictures from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• Thomas Kempland Collection (photos & history)

The poll this week tries to get at your feelings on the subject.

– Steve Patterson

In memory of Jerry and Doris Patterson

This post is of a personal nature.  A month from today will mark four years since my mom passed away.  The start of 2011 will be three years since the passing of my father.   I’ve made two trips back to Oklahoma in the time since my dad’s memorial service and I’ve visited their grave site each time.  I there are times I want to visit them and I can’t.  Well now I have a place in St. Louis where I can go.

– Steve Patterson

Work on Dick Gregory Place Apartments well underway

The other day I was driving in and around the Ville neighborhood and I spotted work on the Dick Gregory Place Apartments:

This project was one of a handful of projects that got the go ahead with help from federal stimulus funds used by Missouri to provide gap funding:

“$7,875,000 for the Dick Gregory Place Apartments, located in the 1500 to 1900 blocks of Dick Gregory Place, the 4600 block of Aldine, and the 4600 block of Martin Luther King Drive in St. Louis. The project is being developed by two community organizations – Northside Community Housing Inc. and the Greater Ville Neighborhood Preservation Commission. The development will have a mix of 40 newly constructed and renovated units.”  (Source: Stimulus boosts eight projects for $18 million – St. Louis Business Journal)

The project includes both new construction and renovations of existing structures.  I’m thrilled to see two buildings included:

The above building on the NE corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Dr and Marcus Ave. is among my favorites in the city. The buff brick, overall massing, the arched openings onto Marcus & MLK and the 2nd floor bay window are features that make it a winner.  I’ve been following it for a while.

In the far right of the above picture you can see the other building I’m fond of.

Both of these structures have come very close to being razed, especially in the last few years.  The impact of this project will be outstanding for the area — both in utilizing vacant structures and filling in holes where other structures had been razed.

– Steve Patterson

The future of the Alverne?

The long-vacant Alverne at the SE corner of 11th & Locust had a fire on Monday:

“Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire at an old downtown hotel building Monday evening.

Heavy black smoke billowed from the 15-story, building at the corner of 11th and Locust streets. Several streets in the area of the fire were shut down for hoses and equipment.” (KMOV)

Reports indicate the fire started in the basement and spread to the first floor.  From the exterior you can’t really tell except for the plywood over the doors and windows and the new fire smell.

My question is what does the future hold for this building?  During the height of the loft boom this building was not rehabbed.  But first a bit of history:

“Originally home to a progressive social club, then the Desoto Hotel after 1933. It was then home to a convent for many years, then a seniors residence. The building has lost virtually every bit of its original ornament; however, with the coming of the convent, it gained a stylized 1960s street level facade.” (Source: Built St. Louis)

Reasons for not being rehabbed are numerous:.

“The small windows on the building’s north and west elevations most likely negatively affect its conduciveness for use as an office building, but the building would work well as apartments or a hotel. It has two ballrooms, including one on the top floor that features some amazing views of the city. Its ground floor is ideal for retail or a restaurant.” (source: Downtown St. Louis Business)

I’ve heard greedy owners and a small floor plate as well.  But if we look at an aerial image:

We see the Alverne (right) appears to have larger floors than the Louderman (left).  The Louderman has both lofts and offices (lower floors).  Perhaps the location of the stairs and elevator shaft make arranging residential spaces difficult?  I hope someone can find a way to reuse the building.  It is better as a vacant building than as a vacant lot.

– Steve Patterson