Bullnose Bricks

Bullnose Brick column under an egg and dart Ionic capital. First used by the Greeks. Original copper gutter.

A & M Cyclery, 3123 Morgan Ford, & My Grandfather's Brick Building

My grandfather founded A&M Cyclery on Morgan Ford with my grandmother, Luella.
The store was open for business in the early 1920s.

He owned this building at 3123 Morgan Ford which was a *very* small home.

He extended the front of the building out to the sidewalk, created a storefront, and hand dug a small room that extended into the basement beneath the building.
He laid the brick.
My uncle and dad were born in this building.

I live 300 feet away and pass this building when I walk my pup to the park.

My grandfather was Fred Herman, an autodidact, builder, mechanic, a cyclist, a kind and generous man.
He built a clubhouse on creosote treated stilts along the Meramec River.
I spent a lot of summers with him and my family along what is now the Chubb Trail Loop behind Lone Elk Park.

I was swimming in the river before I could walk according to my mother.
I was riding a bike at 5 without training wheels, could handle a canoe in swift current at 10, and was able to swim across the river at 11.

I once asked my grandad about a pretty rock I had found and he said, Christie, that's quartz and it's formed by mineral deposits.
I was five at the time and astonished that an adult spoke to me as an equal.
He inspired me to learn, research, explore, and to ride a bike.

*
This is my last post.
I'm ending with the brick storefront and business my grandfather created.



This is an ad from the 1940s at the shops first location.
My grandfather sold the business to my uncle, Virgil Herman, who moved it across the street. He eventually became a brilliant aeronautical engineer with a 'top secret' McDonnell Douglas job in the 60s and lived in Torrance, CA.

This phone number is still in use for the current business.


The Arsenal location:

Thanks for the emails over the years about my blog, the photos, the concept, and that movie made by a neighbor.
I've heard I was accused of copyright tyranny and yet the movie has a copyright ;)

Here I am on a Raleigh bike I bought at the current A & M shop in 2014.

Mediterranean Revival, Lawn Ave

We headed back to Lawn Ave today to gaze at this Mediterranean Revival duplex. Lush details: matching chimneys, barrel tile roof exciting brickwork, glazed bricks, that amazing column, and the downspout embedded in the brick.

That's a pond between the steps and that egg and dart terra cotta piece looks newer.

Stained glass window above glazed white bricks, twisted column with a robust Corinthian capital, and in the background a ceramic kitten lifting a paw.

That's the original exposed aggregate concrete sidewalk with matching mosaic sidewalks to the street.

The Michael

Michael, understanding the opportunity I opened the door to the building and entered. I was not shy but fascinated. I didn't close the door behind when I left in case you wanted to follow.

The Michael, located on Lawn in south city, has a welcoming and broad front patio.

The fleur-de-lis and fancy brickwork:

And another glazed terra cotta ornamental detail:

The side of the building faces the street and that's rare. Check out the faux bricked-in windows:

I so appreciate the address engraved into the limestone 'window' apron.

I'm back.

I was working.
I worked every single day last year while attending to volunteer business and didn't have much time for brick spotting. I smacked down a lot of debt, did some work on my building, and didn't go on vacation.

My business took me on some long drives on wide highways. I still won't call them interstates. I marveled at expanses of sky while traveling on highway 44. I avoid 40 because it's disorienting. The remodel with its extensive sound barriers is like driving through a courtyard.

Here's a building I encountered on Morgan Ford. The green bricks are spooky and the finish is stucco-ish. Check out the green patina on the original copper gutter and how it matches the green bricks. The original downspout matches and I'm betting that was deliberate.



Gorgeous palette:

Outrageous Brickwork

I spotted this dreamy little house in the Southampton neighborhood. Click to enlarge the photos. The bricks were laid on an angle creating a 'perforated' look.
January and Goethe.