Head for the Hills

A few weeks ago Tim and I took a stroll in Kingshighway Hills to giggle at the outrageous details of the English Tudor Style (or Revival) homes.

In the 60s my Aunt had an apartment on Oleatha. When we visited my sister and I ran out of her building to skip along the novel interior sidewalk that cuts through the middle of the block.

5245 Lindenwood.
The door is carved and has a leaded glass window. It's for sale, click on the post title to view the interior.


Brick and limestone mosaic under an arch.

Crazy details abound: A massive limestone lentil over a window with brick work that cuts into the stone.

This house is completely made of Clunker bricks and borders one of the sidewalks.


Brick and stone with black vitrolite and a winding side walk:

Black vitrolite surrounds leaded glass windows with flower pots and a plant:

Crescent moon rising over a setting sun.

House with turret and crazy details:


See that 'trumpet' window below? When we first walked by we thought a kid had stuffed its big white plush dog against the glass. After admiring the house for a few minutes, the toy moved! It was a huge dog that had crammed itself into the space.
Check out that sheared brick work above the window.

Celestial details are everywhere. Click to enlarge to see the crescent moon and star leaded glass window.

Severe gables:


A few of the house have Roman tile roofs:


Below: One of the two sidewalks that are doubled in size to accommodate pedestrians, strollers, and wagons.

Chase Park Plaza

I met Rudolph Nureyev in the lobby of the Chase in...1976 or maybe '77.
He was small, gracious, and careless with his charm.

Dyed Mortar and Lava Brick

The range of color in these bricks is astounding. Most delightful is that just one brick can present with many colors.

The mortar was dyed a a deep beige to resonate with the brick. The color is consistent on the building.

Here's the building:

Kingshighway Hills (North Hampton)

Bark bricks: 52-5300 block of Lindenwood.




A detail that always delights me is how the mortar was pushed into the crevice of each brick...and the astonishing palette.

Crazy maze bricks:

Flowers for St. Louis

We've all seen the stars that were used as ties on our historic buildings in St. Louis. I recently spotted a couple of fleur-de-lis:

Located on this Building in BPW:

A lucky day

I dropped my car at Carl's today and strolled along Roger Place.
Horse shoe laid in the pavement in front of a garage.

The stone wall isn't original to the building but it matches the foundation stones.

How to prevent perching on the wall:

Ruth's Brickyard

My neighbor Ruth bought a house in TGS two years ago. She tells a great story about weeding her yard and discovering the whole yard was full of historic bricks.

I've had dreams like this.

The original owner of her house owned a barrel tile company on Fyler and has a series of small houses made to rent to his employees. Perhaps one of the workers purchased the house and paved his yard, brick by brick.
Laclede King

Evens and Howard St. Louis Dr

AP Green Empire

90

Pittsburgh VP & B Brick Co

RP Green Ozark

Christy Gem

The Oak Tree across the Alley

The massive Oak tree across the alley lost a branch yesterday.
See all that greenery that looks like its on top of the fence? That's part of the branch.

It's a startling sight because of the length of the branch which I estimate at 50 feet. It took out two fences, some power lines, and is resting on top of two cars.

I love this tree and have had a long relationship with it. Years ago crows (remember crows?) would gather at the very top of the branches to roost at sunset and it has housed dozens of nests. The canopy spans three lots and it dwarfs the three story houses. It has to be over 100 years old and existed before the house was built.

I admire it from my back porch daily and have photographed it over the years.
When I was in cancer treatment I had a fey relationship with the tree, making a point to pause and gaze at it before I left every morning. Being an atheist I just couldn't get behind the whole pray your way out of cancer notion so I developed a superstitious relationship with the tree.*

I called Paul Klauber who owns Round Oak Woodworking thinking he may want some of the branch. He didn't (the expense of kiln drying) but we did discuss the tree and his analysis is that the tree is 'over mature' and the weight of the healthy branch is what took it down.

The branch is about 2.5 feet in diameter while the trunk is almost four feet. I'm worried about the fate of the tree since that bottom branch was well integrated into the trunk. I don't want it to die while I'm alive because I've made it a part of my family.

Sidebar: There are many quarter sawn oak front doors in TGS (I've see them mostly in TGH) and I covet them. Quarter sawn oak is of the Arts/Crafts era and rarely used today because of the cost and waste. Clicking on the title of this post will jettison you to the best QS article on the web.

Pop Quiz: There's hundreds and hundred of Oak Trees. Which is this? See the photo below for one of the smaller leaves next to my foot which is The Clue.
The prize is a rare copy of Ways of the Woods: A Guide to the Skills and Spirit of the Woodland Experience


* Please curb your god and don't send me comments about my disinterest. Thanks.

Morgan Ford is the New South Grand

Seriously.
Morgan Ford (MGF) is the new S. Grand. Both TFA and the Vintage Haberdashery have moved west.

The first new businesses started a few years ago: Grove Furnishings and the Tin Can. Three Monkeys followed along with Local Harvest Market and Local Harvest Cafe. The New Amsterdam Bar opened last year. A great blend of retail and restaurants and a 7-11. Coming soon, a bakery, and a new restaurant on MGF and Connecticut.

Local Harvest Cafe has an appetizer that's divine. It's a sampler cheese plate. Get it to go, let it sit covered for a day, and allow the cheese to reach room temperature. It's the best way to experience the favors.

These metal sculpture appeared on MGF yesterday.
Rocket in front of TFA:

Best of Show! Bubbles in front of the car wash:

The Tower Pub has an almost empty beer mug:

The Tin Can Bar and Grille with a pull top:

Stella Blues (currently closed):

Not on MGF but in North City. I've coveted that red Sputnik light for decades.

Brick Pyramid

Found on a walk through the alley.


Scattered pyramids

Bogus Brick

Last week Bad Tim and I were working at Marti's garden which is across from the former International Trucking building (above and below). We walked across the street to take a look at the brick course popping and discovered it's brick veneer. It's not even an inch thick. Bogus!

I keep forgetting to send this in to CSB.
It's an exceptional building and would make great condos.

Update: Marti Frumhoff Memorial Garden

I haven't been chasing brick because I've spent most of the last month putting plants in Marti's Memorial Garden along with Peggy and Gen. This week I bought and planted 85 more plants including hydrangeas, various roses, gayfather, dianthus, liriope and little henry.

All five trees (three cherry trees and two red maples) are thriving.
Next week two benches will be installed during the day (date not set yet) want to help?
Here's a link to my online fundraiser for the garden:
http://christian-herman.blogspot.com/

The Highlands

This is a sketch my mother drew in the late 50's. It's a ride that was in The Highlands which used to be where FPCC is now located. Our school picnics were held at The Highlands, it also had a wooden roller coaster and a terrifying ride called The Bobsled.

Comment on The Big Cut

I hit the wrong key while half awake and this comment didn't get posted:
brian has left a new comment on your post "The Big Cut":

How depressing. Glad someone else has cut back like I have. Sometimes I feel like such a loser. Your post made me feel better because I'm not the only one.

What are these light bulbs and where do I get them? Are those the ones that are twisted like a phone cord?

Brian, I was bragging and writing about deliberate choices. I have everything I need but then I am a couple of days away from turning 56 so I had a head start. There's a few things I haven't given up: Smoking (working on it!), hair color (at this point it's naturally black and gray. I would be happy to have white hair, I just can't deal with the black), and dining out. Not only am I a talentless cook, I don't like eating food I've prepared unless its a sandwich.

The CFL bulbs can be bought at any hardware or grocery store. There's a local chain that has a 10.00 off on some Thursday. Look at the flyer that hits your mail box on Monday, it's advertised in there. Spend 50.00, get 10.00 off. You can then get the lightbulbs (that look like an ice cream cone to me) for free.

The Big Cut

Recently Bruk and I were chatting on the subject of cutting back. She asked, What more can we cut, we've already cut so much.

This means we have basic phone service with Internet, no cell phones, or cable TV.

My monthly power bill, when I'm not running the central air is 22.00 monthly. Two years ago I replaced all light bulbs with CFL's. My power bill dropped from 70.00 per month.

When I use the washing machine it's cold water only (it's the detergent that cleans the cloths, not the water temperature, Hot water contributes to fading) and the cycle is shorter.

I unplug everything that uses vampire power (that's anything with a clock in it like the microwave or anything that uses a remote) when not in use.

My budgeted gas bill for my 1,400 sq. feet is 60.00 monthly. It gets chilly in here during the winter, especially in bed when I'm doing late night reading and have turned the heat down to 58.

I went off a prescription antidepressant that was offered to me the last time I was told I had cancer. I told my doctor I wanted off and he panicked: You just can't stop taking it, you have to cut down gradually. I went from 150 mil to 75 for three months then a month on 35 and have been off the stuff for five months. Savings: 30.00 monthly.

I do an annual yard share from my back yard. It's open to 9 people every year, they pay 25.00. I do all the labor and while it's really time consuming I love being outside. I'm currently growing a variety of peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers. In the fall I will dig up and sell some of dozens of hosta to expand the vegetable garden next spring. I've been composting for over a decade and have pure black soil and not a speck of clay.

Any additional tips are always appreciated.

Online petition to SAVE MANN SCHOOL

Click on the title above then scroll down to the orange Go to Form link.

Help Preserve Mann Scool this Saturday

Mann School in TGS is on the closure list for 2011. A small group of TGS residents have formed the Alliance to Preserve Mann school:

Stop into Hartford Coffee this Saturday between 10:30 and 12:00 and help keep Mann Elementary off the St. Louis Public Schools Closure List so that it can continue operating as a model neighborhood school. There are a few urgent and EASY things
that you can do with just a few minutes of your time.

If you only have ONE minute:

Sign our petition to take Mann off the closure list.

If you have TEN minutes:

Write a letter to your state legislators telling them that you want
stimulus money used for school renovation (instead of demolition and
new construction). Renovating our existing historic school buildings
saves money, saves resources, and preserves our community heritage.
We will have sample letters, envelopes, and stamps available for you
to use.

If you have TWENTY minutes or more:

Get a cup of coffee and a muffin and take a seat! We'd love to hear
about why Mann Elementary matters to you and what you think would help
convince the Special Administrative Board to remove it from the
Closure List. We can also give you materials (petition forms and
sample letters) so that you can help us with outreach on your block.

Members of the Alliance to Preserve Mann Elementary steering committee
will be at Hartford Coffee this Saturday, May 2nd, from 10:30 to
12:00. See you there!

Also, if you want to make sure you always receive Mann Elementary
updates, join our announcements listserve at:

http://groups.google.com/group/preserve-mann-anncmnt