Tower Grove East, St. Louis
Encyclopedia
Tower Grove East is a neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri
. The neighborhood is a part of the Tower Grove area. The Tower Grove East neighborhood is bordered by Shenandoah Avenue to the north, Nebraska Avenue to the east, Gravois Avenue to the south, and south Grand Boulevard
to the west.
The neighborhood is so named because it partially borders (across Grand Boulevard) the east entrance of Tower Grove Park
. The land of Tower Grove Park was deeded to the city in 1868 as a gift by Henry Shaw
, the owner of much of the surrounding land including what is now the Missouri Botanical Gardens. The park also lends its name to the near neighborhood of Tower Grove South
. Tower Grove Park lends much culture and activity to the neighborhood, with its annual festivals, farmers markets, and activities.
The neighborhood also includes many businesses on South Grand Avenue, a popular area of restaurants, nightlife, and shopping. Within the neighborhood itself are many charming restaurants, a thriving community garden, churches, schools, and the Stray Dog Theatre.
Tower Grove Park was originally part of La Petite Prairie, which was settled by the French
in the early 18th century. Grazing land was held in common
, and farming land was divided into long narrow tracts. The commons system was abandoned around 1800, and the land began to be sold into private hands
. By the 1850s much of the property was owned by German Catholics
, recent immigrants from Germany's 1848 civil war
. The German dairy farmers found it ideal as pasture
land. They built comfortable home
s and began creating a community
toward the end of the 19th century
. Blocks were developed, upon which many of the prosperous German
immigrants, turned American citizens, built grand homes.
The owners and builders in the early days of Tower Grove East were for the most part siblings, cousins and extended family members of the prominent German Americans living in Compton Heights. Thus architectural trends
originating in Compton Heights and Flora Place influenced the designs of homes on South Compton, Shenandoah and several of the other residential avenues. Like Tower Grove Heights, these residences were built on the four-square
plan. The typical house is a pyramid or hipped roof
on a two-story cube. Often, a pressed brick or limestone
course separates the stories. The original developers then varied the theme through detail choices. Attention was heavily focused on the entry, cornice
and windows. Buyers would often choose the architectural elements from pattern books that illustrated multiple styles of windows, doors, stairways and fireplace mantel
s. Thus the interiors of the homes in Tower Grove East are full of surprises. The often austere exterior facades typically hide a wealth of richly designed entries with carved fretwork
; built-in hall benches, mirrors and bookcases; wood paneling; stained-glass windows and elaborate staircases.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The neighborhood is a part of the Tower Grove area. The Tower Grove East neighborhood is bordered by Shenandoah Avenue to the north, Nebraska Avenue to the east, Gravois Avenue to the south, and south Grand Boulevard
Grand Boulevard (St. Louis)
Grand Boulevard is a major, seven to five lane wide, north-south thoroughfare running through the center of St. Louis, Missouri. Grand runs north through Carondolet Park in the south of St. Louis to the Mississippi River north of McKinley Bridge, about midway between Forest Park and the Mississippi...
to the west.
The neighborhood is so named because it partially borders (across Grand Boulevard) the east entrance of Tower Grove Park
Tower Grove Park
Tower Grove Park is a municipal park in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its land was donated to the city by Henry Shaw in 1868. It is on 289 acres adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden, another of Shaw’s legacies. It extends 1.6 miles from west to east, between Kingshighway...
. The land of Tower Grove Park was deeded to the city in 1868 as a gift by Henry Shaw
Henry Shaw (botanist)
Henry Shaw was a philanthropist and is best known as the founder of the Missouri Botanical Garden.-Early life:...
, the owner of much of the surrounding land including what is now the Missouri Botanical Gardens. The park also lends its name to the near neighborhood of Tower Grove South
Tower Grove South, St. Louis
Tower Grove South is a neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. Formerly known as Oak Hill, Tower Grove South is bounded by Arsenal Street on the north, Chippewa Street on the south, Kingshighway Boulevard on the west, and Grand Boulevard on the east. The majority of the neighborhood was built...
. Tower Grove Park lends much culture and activity to the neighborhood, with its annual festivals, farmers markets, and activities.
The neighborhood also includes many businesses on South Grand Avenue, a popular area of restaurants, nightlife, and shopping. Within the neighborhood itself are many charming restaurants, a thriving community garden, churches, schools, and the Stray Dog Theatre.
Tower Grove Park was originally part of La Petite Prairie, which was settled by the French
French American
French Americans or Franco-Americans are Americans of French or French Canadian descent. About 11.8 million U.S. residents are of this descent, and about 1.6 million speak French at home.An additional 450,000 U.S...
in the early 18th century. Grazing land was held in common
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
, and farming land was divided into long narrow tracts. The commons system was abandoned around 1800, and the land began to be sold into private hands
Private property
Private property is the right of persons and firms to obtain, own, control, employ, dispose of, and bequeath land, capital, and other forms of property. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which refers to assets owned by a state, community or government rather than by...
. By the 1850s much of the property was owned by German Catholics
German Catholics
The German Catholics were a schismatic sect formed in December 1844 by German dissidents from the Roman Catholic Church, under the leadership of Johannes Ronge.-History:...
, recent immigrants from Germany's 1848 civil war
Revolutions of 1848 in the German states
The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, also called the March Revolution – part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many countries of Europe – were a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, including the Austrian Empire...
. The German dairy farmers found it ideal as pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
land. They built comfortable home
Home
A home is a place of residence or refuge. When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either...
s and began creating a community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
toward the end of the 19th century
19th century
The 19th century was a period in history marked by the collapse of the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Holy Roman and Mughal empires...
. Blocks were developed, upon which many of the prosperous German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
immigrants, turned American citizens, built grand homes.
The owners and builders in the early days of Tower Grove East were for the most part siblings, cousins and extended family members of the prominent German Americans living in Compton Heights. Thus architectural trends
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
originating in Compton Heights and Flora Place influenced the designs of homes on South Compton, Shenandoah and several of the other residential avenues. Like Tower Grove Heights, these residences were built on the four-square
American Foursquare
The American Foursquare or American Four Square is an American house style popular from the mid-1890s to the late 1930s. A reaction to the ornate and mass produced elements of the Victorian and other Revival styles popular throughout the last half of the 19th century, the American Foursquare was...
plan. The typical house is a pyramid or hipped roof
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
on a two-story cube. Often, a pressed brick or limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
course separates the stories. The original developers then varied the theme through detail choices. Attention was heavily focused on the entry, cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
and windows. Buyers would often choose the architectural elements from pattern books that illustrated multiple styles of windows, doors, stairways and fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling...
s. Thus the interiors of the homes in Tower Grove East are full of surprises. The often austere exterior facades typically hide a wealth of richly designed entries with carved fretwork
Fretwork
Fretwork is an interlaced decorative design that is either carved in low relief on a solid background, or cut out with a fretsaw, coping saw, jigsaw or scroll saw. Most fretwork patterns are geometric in design. The materials most commonly used are wood and metal. Fretwork is used to adorn...
; built-in hall benches, mirrors and bookcases; wood paneling; stained-glass windows and elaborate staircases.
Education
- source
- Casa Dia Montessori Center
- Fanning Middle School
- McKinley Classical Junior Academy
- Messiah Lutheran School
- Missouri School for the Blind
- Roosevelt High School
- Shenandoah Elementary School
- South City Open Studio and Gallery for Children
- St. Elizabeth Academy High School
- St. Francis Cabrini Academy
External links
- Tower Grove East neighborhood website
- South Grand Community Improvement District South Grand business district information
- Grand South Grand South Grand business district information