Presenting a collection of St. Louis bricks, sidewalk markers, and the Fleur-de-lis as architectural detail on and in city buildings, brick collecting, urban exploration, and my life by Christian Herman. Reporting from Tower Grove South in St. Louis, MO
5/2/22
It's May
Belle's B-Day present from Andrew was a stroller. She has hip dysplasia and walking is difficult for her. She's good for a 1/4 of a mile walk before the pain hits at wwhich point she gets into the Caddy. People actually stop for me as I cross the Arsenal crosswalk with the stroller.
5/1/22
4/29/22
East St Louis. 2020
I noted the ashy smudges of clouds over the bando public housing along Missouri Ave.
The Masonic Temple in ESTL is well maintained.
The Second Chance shelter is boarded.
4/28/22
THE BAD GIRLS' HOME
During my college years, I worked at the So-Fro fabric store in the plaza. During the early to mid 70's, the plaza was still relatively safe but rapidly descended into a crime ridden area due to being mostly enclosed from view. So-Fro (bought out in the late 70s by Joanne's) moved along with the Kroger anchor store (at the bottom of the T.)
Prior to being razed it was a a vast red brick structure called the House of the Good Shepherd. Its eleven acre site was donated by Adolphus Busch together with a $75,000 legacy from Mrs. Winifred Patterson enabled the construction of the massive building on Gravois. It was operated as a home and school for penitent females by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. My sisters and I were often threatened with exile to this compound if we didn't 'behave.' It was an effective threat.
Never knowing its official name as children we referred to it as The Bad Girls' Home. This is a poor resolution photo of the original building, long before the surrounding neighborhood of TGS was built. And long before the massive 12 foot high chain link fence went up aroubnd the building.































