Famous-Barr Store Label circa 1968

This label was in a vintage Brioni men's suit I sold on Ebay. Love that vintage Famous logo with the jumping letter and tilted a.

The logo font changed every few years but this one was The Best.

My Dream House

Sure, I'd live here.
My friend Sarah told me about this house when visiting from NYC over the holiday.
Click on the title to jettison to Forgotten NY and read about The Howard & Jessie Jones house in Bay Ridge, which the AIA Guide deems "Black Forest Art Nouveau."

Sarah says the roof is 'rolling'. I don't care, I still want to play on it; how very Antonio Gaudi meets the Three Bears. Click on this photo to view the wave in the roof.

The Fleur-de-lis as architecture detail

The Fleur-de-lis is the symbol of St. Louis and can be found in the interiors of homes as well as exteriors. I love that and am always on the hunt. I've heard of the Fleur on register covers, In BPW, I've seen them as connected to tie rods (instead of the standard star).

These photos were taken by Christopher Thiemet of Circa Properties in the house of Steve Wilke-Shapiro when it went on the market.

This is the third stained glass window I know of in TGS featuring the Fleur.

Introducing the Tower Grove South bumper sticker

The TGS Block Captain Steering Committee designed this bumper sticker as a fundraiser for the BC Fund. Actual size is 4x6 inches.
Purchase info: http://towergrovesouth.org/node/112

PRM & MOO BRICK 2 emails within 48 hours

Within the last 48 hours I've received two email from different parts of the country about the PRM &MOO NO. 1 BRICK. One came from Wisconsin, the other is from (I'm assuming) New Orleans. Does anyone here have info to share with Scott and Nick?

Salamander Brickworks, abandoned gold mine, Black Hills, SD

Menomonee river, Milwaukee

Boiler, abandoned gold mine, Black hills, SD

Boiler

The brick photos above are by Scott. I love the photo of the brick under clear water. I may like seeing clear water best.

The first is an email exchange with Scott with a funny subject line: I have a brick to show you

Hi,
I stumbled across your blog while trying to identify a brick, it helped a lot. This brick was found in the Menomonee river in Milwaukee - right next to Miller Park baseball stadium. What are now the huge parking lots to the East of stadium used to be the Milwaukee Railroad yards. I sometimes go fishing for steelhead in the fall in this river and found this brick in a few inches of water. I left it there but when I returned the next time, I couldn't find it. I attached a photo, it's actually a nice one. I have another cream, half brick that says prm&m No. 1. I think I found it in the river too. I also attached a photo of a brick I found at an abandoned mine site in the Black Hills of SD. It is from the Salamander Fire Brick company in NJ. I'm sure it was used to surround the boiler that they used to run the machines. Please tell me the age of my river brick - if you know.

Hi Scott,
WOW, fabulous photos! May I post them on my post along with your email?

I don't know the age of your bricks, I am guessing early 19th century and that they were use as pavers. Some people who read my blog may have an answer and respond. I am only an amateur. People collect bricks. I encourage you to grab them and sell them on Ebay; they will go to caring collections. I've bought bricks on ebay and others do also.

What is that construction in the first photo, it looks like it was used for fire and mining for what?

Sure you can post it, I'd be honored. The fire bricks were used to concentrate the heat around the boiler, I think they just had a fire under it in the open space. You have bricks, I have abandoned mines in the Black Hills.

Mine entrance?

Old Mill Building


This second email included the photo below.

I saw a brick on your blog, and it says "PRM & MOO NO. 1 BRICK". On new years day I went on a tour of a plantation in New Orleans Lousiana, and went into an old slave quarters. The brick around the fire place was the PRM & M CO type as well, but these say Bullhead. I think the No. 1 is actually N.O. L as in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the brick is PRM & M Co. See the attached picture of the bricks on the fire place.

Originally I took a picture of the brick so that I could do some research on the brick company in order to find out if the domicile was authentic. I haven't found any info on the company. If you know anything about it, let me know.

Thanks,
Nick

Holy Family Church - before and after

Click on the title (then click on tour and again in panoramic) for a panoramic view of Holy Family Church.


It was bought by CFX a few years back and shows the current interior.

Missing from the before photos are the stations of the cross which hung on the base of the arches (right above the brick). I also didn't see the confessionals in this photo and wondered if Vatican ll did away with them.

That's a catholic joke...you had to have been there.

Thanks to Jan for supplying the link.

Beau is shocked

Holy cats! Someone painted their concrete side walk pink.

Beau contemplates lifting a leg.

St Paul UCC Church in TGS - Potomac & Gustine

I was driving along Potomac when I spotted Kevin on a walk. His father used to be the minister of this church and knows the current minister. Which means I have an in to do photos without having to attend mass.


Flemish bond.

Stellar limestone arches

Recently tuck pointed

This has to be some of the whitest mortar I've come across. I bet it went on like cake frosting.

Art Deco Four Family Redux

Click on the title above to see photos of my first sojourn to this building.

We had the good fortune to meet an exiting resident of this building today and he invited us in to view the interior.

Plaster walls gently curve to meet the ceiling.

Kitchen grotto: Probably designed as a resting spot for the phone which would have been Bakelite.


Deep mint green tile with a black border that resonates with the black vitrolite on the exterior of the building.

Matching bathtub.

The best: The brass peep hole on the back door of the apartment. There's a U track below the slates with a brass ball.

Slide the brass ball to either side and the slates open.

Twin Brick Columns

Located in TGH, stunning half round twin columns. Terra cotta egg and darts and a perfect arch.
I would love to come home to this porch.

Top Brick Picks of 2008

Last week I received two emails asking why I haven't been posting.
Winter is when I get my work on and 10 hours a day online is enough.

So here's my top picks of brick for the year and hey, I'll be back on the hunt in early January.

Best of show:



Multi color sand finish

Brain brick

Sand finish brick

Blistering brick with black mortar

Best palette

Wire cut brick in diaper bond

The elusive accordion brick

Honorable Mention for unique color and tidy mortar.

Wire cut brick in situ

Enright and Goodfellow 1944

My mother, grandmother and aunt in front of their apartment on Goodfellow and Enright.
The buildings in this photo were razed in the 70's.
Those old street lamps were removed in the mid 60's (but left in Tower Grove Park) and Deskey lamps installed.

Anatomy of a zipper - For Bruk

Psychedelic Dog Grooming in TGS

One day I was driving around not minding my business when I stopped by The Dog Next Door:

oh...baby.