tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post3242629613406355309..comments2024-03-19T03:34:21.600-07:00Comments on BIG OLD HOUSES: "Oz" in St. LouisJohn Foremanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05062464473900774511noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-13560836334859351012023-07-28T20:14:29.040-07:002023-07-28T20:14:29.040-07:00So why the blight around 5101 enright ave ? Looks ...So why the blight around 5101 enright ave ? Looks like many caught on fireAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-72998415934492382652023-03-01T08:17:10.139-08:002023-03-01T08:17:10.139-08:00Allow me to own one please? mrettig1966@gmailAllow me to own one please? mrettig1966@gmailAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-26933446844374722342023-03-01T08:15:13.456-08:002023-03-01T08:15:13.456-08:00Grew up STL all my life! Are there any of THESE th...Grew up STL all my life! Are there any of THESE that will allow me to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-55570884607945880362021-10-07T11:58:33.381-07:002021-10-07T11:58:33.381-07:00I like in Cleveland Heights and we also have a bun...I like in Cleveland Heights and we also have a bunch of historic homes that would be perfect for this site. All lot of the people who live in these home <a href="https://www.hardbodyhaulers.com" rel="nofollow">hire moving helpers</a> so we get to see these properties all of the time.Hire Moving Helpershttp://www.hardbodyhaulers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-78576846925466597382021-05-02T13:06:52.336-07:002021-05-02T13:06:52.336-07:00Our commitment is on providing the best quality se...Our commitment is on providing the best quality service of <a href="https://gogaragedoorrepairor.repair/garage-door-repair-services-northwest-portland/" rel="nofollow">Garagr Door Repair Northwest Portland</a> at affordable prices. This is what puts us ahead of other garage companies based in Northwest Portland.Harry Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01825571272597361930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-80807899168182466382021-05-02T11:12:52.314-07:002021-05-02T11:12:52.314-07:00We stand firmly behind our work, whether it is a E...We stand firmly behind our work, whether it is a <a href="https://gogaragedoorrepairportland.com/electric-gate-repair-services-argay/" rel="nofollow">Electric Gate Repair Argay</a> or installation. No matter how big or small the problem is, we stay ready to help you. David Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18196988724287097498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-39586371820477401182020-09-12T09:30:34.788-07:002020-09-12T09:30:34.788-07:00Now it all seems so exclusionary and bitter.
A pri...Now it all seems so exclusionary and bitter.<br />A private road is an uncivil thing and st-Louis is certainly uncivil. There’s a connection there.<br /><br />Its called the Gilded Age and that’s not a compliment. Inequity was rampant and the money on display here comes from other parts of this city being absolute decrepit and impoverished. The nicer a house is the worse another.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-13382813233066672202020-06-29T07:54:54.127-07:002020-06-29T07:54:54.127-07:00I have lived there and, trust me, this is not repr...I have lived there and, trust me, this is not representative of the properties in St. Louis. Most in the city are old like these but in various stages of repair and most are considerably more modest. I moved out of the city years ago because of the crime.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284189796320920126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-33901345409977106422019-10-14T22:58:23.291-07:002019-10-14T22:58:23.291-07:00Hey – great blog, just looking around some blogs, ...Hey – great blog, just looking around some blogs, seems a really nice platform you are using. I’m currently using WordPress for a few of my blogs but looking to change one of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?<br /><a href="http://mo.procontractorservices.net/" rel="nofollow">kitchen remodeling contractor Saint Louis</a><br />Remodeling contractor Saint Louishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407865807693902589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-73588646339640624022018-11-19T12:04:43.613-08:002018-11-19T12:04:43.613-08:00My dad lived on Westmoreland and my mom on Portlan...My dad lived on Westmoreland and my mom on Portland Place. This was in the mid 60’s. They met there as teenagers. So many neat stories they have! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-35666355022315373392017-06-12T20:14:15.026-07:002017-06-12T20:14:15.026-07:00I live in beautiful Beverly Hills and went to a fl...I live in beautiful Beverly Hills and went to a florist the other day to order an elaborate flower arrangement for an estate in posh Hancock Park. The florist told me that "I can do that as I used to work as a personal florist for a doctor who lived on Portland Place in St. Louis who requested an elaborate flower arrangement every single week! And did I create a gorgeous bouquet for his spectacular mansion!" Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-82764708437994491282015-03-27T07:27:24.433-07:002015-03-27T07:27:24.433-07:00As impressive as Portland and Westmoreland Places ...As impressive as Portland and Westmoreland Places are, they pale in comparison to Vandeventer Place, which was build about 10-20 years earlier, and leveled in the 1940's to make way for the VA hospital. The homes were even more outrageous, and thus inordinately costly to maintain, and as so often happened, were turned into rentals, and then slowly abandoned. Check out St. Louis Lost, by Mary Bartley, for pictures of how it was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-88241195904538916012014-10-16T14:20:56.764-07:002014-10-16T14:20:56.764-07:00Put horses and buggies in the place of those moder...Put horses and buggies in the place of those modern cars and you have yourself a time warp. I just moved back to St. Louis after 25 years away and I couldn't be happier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-32316581659719563632014-10-15T21:12:19.234-07:002014-10-15T21:12:19.234-07:00As general contractors, we have had the pleasure o...As general contractors, we have had the pleasure of work on a couple of these houses. Our design perpective was to restore with modern conveniences. If you would like a peak at one of the kitchens, look under the custom cabinet tab, CWE 5 room kitchen restoration on our website www.ecostructionstl.com. Custom cabinets made by Missouri artisans in walnut and painted finishes. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-10083247994856060302014-10-15T13:04:05.153-07:002014-10-15T13:04:05.153-07:00I agree with Anon, Steve. There are fantastic arch...I agree with Anon, Steve. There are fantastic architects out there and some new homes that are beautiful, creative, and well built, rather than a canned version of what "opulence" means. You would be right to say that variety and concentration of style and quality and extravagance will likely never be seens again. Maybe if you go to Dubai...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-5320138739899817982014-08-18T10:46:28.652-07:002014-08-18T10:46:28.652-07:00I thought I had seen many of the great neighborhoo...I thought I had seen many of the great neighborhoods of midwestern cities where the grand single family residences prior to WWI where built...but this really outdoes all ... had no idea this existed all in one neighborhood, thank you! <br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-23296742982785722172014-08-08T16:02:22.721-07:002014-08-08T16:02:22.721-07:00I love these Central West End houses, and am glad ...I love these Central West End houses, and am glad you have seen fit to post them. I've long wondered about private streets. St. Louis and St. Louis County are just full of them, sometimes with metal "sawhorses" placed in the roadway to slow traffic (in the suburbs, anyway). Often, the streets are left to deteriorate, all the better to calm traffic. They built private drives into the 1960s at least. In less affluent areas, the neighborhood residents have tried to give the streets to the city, to avoid upkeep expenses. But, overall, I like the rusticity and slow, almost non-existent traffic the streets allow.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09796421705147358800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-74673775354494615022014-08-08T14:10:02.391-07:002014-08-08T14:10:02.391-07:00A great post to use when selecting the style of on...A great post to use when selecting the style of one's new home. This is magnificent. Thank you, John, for treating us to your knowledge and good taste! You are a gift to your followers.<br />Mike G, NYCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-16338894368872230292014-08-08T04:32:23.606-07:002014-08-08T04:32:23.606-07:00As you pencil in your travel destinations for the ...As you pencil in your travel destinations for the months to come, John, please consider revisiting Portland-Westmoreland at Christmas! If you did nothing more than show us how the front doors were decorated...Beth Waltzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02720634636307254576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-44005382823636328212014-08-07T18:14:41.106-07:002014-08-07T18:14:41.106-07:00Wow what a street! I see 40 Portland Pl on the mar...Wow what a street! I see 40 Portland Pl on the market for 1.75, 6 bedrms, 8 baths, great butlers pantry. Good pictures.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10525827614519839073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-60015720735026103812014-08-07T17:29:24.885-07:002014-08-07T17:29:24.885-07:00A wonderful post about a pair of streets I have of...A wonderful post about a pair of streets I have often visited. I lived in Illinois for many years and having friends on Portland Place I visited frequently. I've been inside many of the homes and the interiors match the exteriors...spectacular! <br /><br />It's not my intent to cause controversy, but I can't help but to think back to last week's post on the Magic Chef house. In the comments to the post somebody wrote about third floor ballrooms pointing out their inferiority to those on the more "proper" first floor. Not so... Third floor ballrooms were quite common in the mid-west and were considered proper rooms for entertaining. While certainly not the first such room one only has to look at H.H. Richardson's house for Franklin McVeigh in Chicago with it's magnificent French Renaissance third floor ballroom to the Charles Gates mansion in Minneapolis with it's massive (40' X 80' along with loggias) third floor ballroom in a pared down Italian style of the 1920's. I only bring this up now because many of the homes pictured in this post feature third floor ballrooms. I have been in five of them, I know of at least seven. They are spectacular - parquet floors, paneled walls, chandeliers, and stages for musicians. These rooms were not intended to train adolescents for future social successes, they were for the pleasure of the adults. In many cases the third floor ballrooms of the mid-west far surpass in both form and function those on the first floor of the east.<br /><br />John, another great post and one that brings back many fond memories.Garynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-81435146477833118202014-08-07T15:41:41.383-07:002014-08-07T15:41:41.383-07:00Splendid!! I applaud you for recognizing architec...Splendid!! I applaud you for recognizing architectural treasures in houses of the Midwest. Cincinnati doesn't have private streets, but there are areas that have outstanding residential architecture that you, and your readers, would appreciate. Thank you!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-84628361414476097192014-08-07T14:14:07.763-07:002014-08-07T14:14:07.763-07:00My favorite aspect of these old homes are the glas...My favorite aspect of these old homes are the glass and gated front doors. They're kind of peek-a-boo and teasing. They give you a tiny look inside and appear to be inviting, when in fact you're barred from entry. Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00061842302314196314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-52360841719656224342014-08-07T12:15:39.401-07:002014-08-07T12:15:39.401-07:00But we do, we do! Many architects possess the skil...But we do, we do! Many architects possess the skills and an increasingly sophisticated cadre of builders exists who are able to implement our designs. If only there were clients both rich enough to afford and able to appreciate the value of quality work! So many new, large houses are hideous in the extreme, displaying very little obvious justification for the enormous sums spent on them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6170852285107502075.post-70309410201126849132014-08-07T09:06:07.260-07:002014-08-07T09:06:07.260-07:00Discovered these streets a few decades ago and the...Discovered these streets a few decades ago and they never cease to amaze me. I want to live there. It is however sad to know that many a great city once had such streets, Euclid Ave comes to mind, where everyone who was anyone built spectacular mansions, but those streets have been ravaged by decay, city expansion, urban renewal and changing tastes and times to mention but a few reasons there are not more today. Why cant we build anything today that will stand the test of time like this neighborhood does? Instead we build cheap and fast with vinyl, plastics, faux stone and insulated styrene panels?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com