AMES PLACE UNIVERSITY CITY

Inventory o f H is to r ic Buildings 1990

Prepared by Esley Hamil ton

wi th the assistance o f Barbara Bernsen, Amy Eagle, David Haws, and Jennifer Maloney

f o r the St . Louis County Department o f Parks and Recreation under a grant from the Missouri Department o f Natural Resources

RESLARCH METHODS

Th i s i n v e n t o r y was conducted by Es ley Hamil t o n f o r t he St. Lou is County Department o f Parks and Recrea t ion w i t h t h e ass is tance o f t h r e e summer i n t e r n s , a1 1 graduate s tudents a t Washington U n i v e r s i t y : Amy Eagl e, David Haws, and J e n n i f e r Maloney. A map o f t he d i s t r i c t was prepared by Pa t Hays Baer, Cartographer.

U n i v e r s i t y City has been t h e s u b j e c t o f numerous a r t i c l e s and s tud ies s i nce i t s beginning. Few o f them, however, p rov ide any use fu l i n f o r m a t i o n about Ames Place. The b e s t and most access ib le general source i s N iN i Ha r r i s , Le acy o f L i ons ( U n i v e r s i t y City: The ~ i s t o r i c a l Soc ie ty o f U n i v e r s i t y City,

e a rkv iew neighborhood, l o c a t e d j u s t e a s t o f Ames Place, has * publ i shed i t s own h i s t o r y , which g ives use fu l i n f o r m a t i o n on some o f t h e a r c h i t e c t s and b u i l d e r s wlio a l s o worked i n Ames Place: Urban Oasis (S t . Lou is : Boar ' s Head Press, 1979).

The most he1 p f u l p rev ious research comes from prev ious i n v e n t o r i e s o f U n i v e r s i t y City p rope r t i es , a l l conducted under t he auspices o f the M issou r i Department o f Na tu ra l Resources. These i n c l ude U n i v e r s i t y Heights Number One, The Delmar Loop-Parkview Gardens D i s t r i c t , Parkview, and U n i v e r s i t y H i l l s. The f i r s t t h r e e o f these have r e s u l t e d i n Nat iona l Reg i s te r nominations. A b r i e f summary o f t he U n i v e r s i t y H i l l s s tudy has j u s t been publ i shed by t h e H i s t o r i c a l Soc ie t y o f U n i v e r s i t y City.

One p r o p e r t y i n Ames Place was i n d i v i d u a l l y l i s t e d on t h e Nat iona l Reg i s te r o f H i s t o r i c Places on A p r i l 12, 1982, t h e McGarry House, 6965 Persh ing Avenue. Th is p r o p e r t y i s be ing i nc l uded i n t he c u r r e n t i nven to ry because o f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p rov ide w ide r c o n t e x t f o r i t s des ign and cons t ruc t i on .

A p r e l im ina ry i n v e n t o r y o f U n i v e r s i t y City was funded by t h e M issou r i Department o f Na tu ra l Resources i n 1979 and 1980 and conducted by John Lindenbusch. He l o c a t e d and t r a n s c r i b e d a book o f e a r l y b u i l d i n g pe rm i t s which a re n o t a v a i l a b l e i n o t h e r sources. H i s work has been preserved by t h e St. Lou is County Department o f Parks and Recreat ion and p rov ides an i n v a l uable resource, e s p e c i a l l y s ince t h e 1 oca t i on o f t h e o r i g i n a l r eco rd book i s no l onge r known. Other b u i l d i n g permi ts , a f t e r about 191 7, were a v a i l a b l e on m i c r o f i l m a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y City P u b l i c L i b r a r y , and t h e b u i l d i n g p e r m i t appl i c a t i o n s , which a re more i n fo rma t i ve , were a1 so on m i c r o f i l m f rom about 1934 on. F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n was sometimes found i n t h e St. Lou is D a i l y Record, a l e g a l newspaper a v a i l a b l e on m i c r o f i l m a t t h e St. Lou i s Pub1 i c L i b r a r y and on paper f rom 1907 through 1930 a t t h e St. Lou is County Department o f Parks and Recreat ion.

I n f o r m a t i o n on e a r l y owners was obta ined f rom s t r e e t d i r e c t o r i e s and f rom t h e f i 1 es o f t h e M issou r i H i s t o r i c a l Soc ie ty . Some i n f o r m a t i o n on a r c h i t e c t s was a l s o a v a i l a b l e i n t h e f i l e s o f t h e St. Lou is P u b l i c L i b r a r y and t h e St. Lou is Chapter o f t h e American I n s t i t u t e o f A rch i t ec t s . Carolyn T o f t ' s w r i t i n g s on t he a r c h i t e c t u r a l resources o f St. Lou is were p a r t i c u l a r l y he1 p f u l , e s p e c i a l l y Compton Heights. Many o f t h e des igners as recorded i n the b u i l d i n q ~ e r m i t s f o r Ames Place, however, a re s t i l l unknown t o researchers o f S t . ~ o u i s ' b u i l d i n g h i s t o r y , as i de from minor f a c t s such as addresses.

The f o l l o w i n g i nven to ry forms have been arranged accord ing t o t he s t r e e t addresses o f t he proper t ies , a l p h a b e t i c a l l y and numer ica l ly . The maps are taken from the records o f t he St. Lou is County Department o f Revenue. Inventory forms have been numbered accord ing t o St. Louis County's l o c a t o r system. This n i n e - d i g i t system i s based on a coord inated g r i d t h a t covers the e n t i r e county and g ives each parcel o f l a n d a unique i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . Most county records a re keyed t o t h i s system, and i t i s hoped t h a t i n c l u s i o n o f i t on these i nven to ry forms w i l l f a c i l i t a t e f u r t h e r research. A l l photographic negat ives a re i n t h e f i l e s of t he St. Lou is County Department o f Parks and Recreat ion. R o l l and frame numbers have been inc luded on the i nven to ry forms under i t em three. The r o l l numbers a r e assigned by the photo processing companies. Ro l l and frame numbers have a l so been marked on the backs o f t he i nven to ry photos.

Since most o f t he houses i n Ames Place were b u i l t by developers who d i d n o t a c t u a l l y l i v e i n them r a t h e r than by owner-occupants, on l y a few o f t he houses have been assigned h i s t o r i c names and are i ns tead i d e n t i f i e d p r i m a r i l y by t h e i r addreses. S i m i l a r l y , a1 though almost a1 1 the houses are pe r i od r e v i v a l i n s t y l e , o n l y a few have been f u r t h e r c l a s s i f i e d as t o Georgian, Tudor, o r o ther , as most o f them have on l y minimal o r mixed sty1 i s t i c features.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Ames Place i s a s u b d i v i s i o n l o c a t e d i n t h e City o f U n i v e r s i t y City. It i s bounded on t h e south by t he landscaped parkway on t he n o r t h s i de o f M i l l b r o o k Boulevard, on t h e west by B i g Bend Boulevard, on t he n o r t h by Kingsbury Boulevard (which has a parkway runn ing down i t s cen te r ) , and on t he e a s t by Acker t Walkway, a landscaped a l l e y between M e l v i l l e Avenue i n Ames Place and Westgate A v ~ ~ I J ~ i n Parkview. Thus, i n s p i t e o f be ing i n t he midd le o f t h e c i t y , Ames Place i s bounded on t h r e e s ides by greenery. The s u b d i v i s i o n i nc l udes t h e 6600, 6800 and 6900 b locks o f Pershing, Waterman and U n i v e r s i t y Dr ive , and t h e south s i d e o f t h e same b locks o f Kingsbury Boulevard. It a l s o i nc l udes t h e con t iguous 300 and 400 b locks o f Me1 v i l l e . There i s no 6700 b lock i n t h i s p a r t o f U n i v e r s i t y City.

The f o u r t h s ide, toward B i g Bend, i s marked by a s e r i e s o f stone py lons o f Renaissance design. The t a l l e r py lons f l a n k i n g t h e roadways a re topped by e l e c t r i c a l l y 1 i g h t e d l an te rns , w h i l e sma l le r p i e r s mark t h e s idewalks and t h e a1 l eys . The neighborhood a1 so has t h e advantage o f r e t a i n i n g i t s o r i g i n a l s t r e e t 1 i g h t s , many o f which appear i n t h e photos o f t h i s i nven to ry . Centered a t t h e ends o f t h e parkways i n Kingsbury Boulevard a r e more e l abo ra te 1 amps, w i t h s h a f t s designed 1 i ke st rapped bundl es o f rods, and w i t h e l abora te c rossbars topped by covered urns. A photo o f one i s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s r e p o r t .

A t the co rne r o f U n i v e r s i t y D r i v e and M e l v i l l e Avenue i s t he Academy B u i l d i n g , which combines two s t o r e f r o n t s w i t h apartments, some now used as o f f i c e s by Washington U n i v e r s i t y . Eleven apartment b u i l d i n g s face U n i v e r s i t y D r i v e and M i l 1 brook Avenue beyond it. A l l t he o t h e r p r i n c i p l e b u i l d i n g s i n Ames Place a r e s i n g l e - f a m i l y residences, and a1 1 o f them a re two- o r two-and-a-hal f -s tory b r i c k o r stuccoed masonry s t r uc tu res . A l l b u t t h r e e o f t he houses and apartments were b u i l t w i t h i n a p e r i o d o f a dozen years, and they share many c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f s ize, scale, m a t e r i a l s, and ornament. More than ha1 f o f t h e houses, 114, were b u i l t by n i ne c o n t r a c t o r s who b u i l t f i v e o r more houses each, and two o f those con t rac to r s , B e r g f e l d and Wagner, b u i l t 63 houses between them, a t h i r d o f .the t o t a l .

I n severa l cases two o r more houses were b u i l t t o t h e same plan, b u t t h e r e i s l i t t l e sense o f r e p e t i t i o n because t h e houses a re g iven i n d i v i d u a l i t y by changes i n m a t e r i a l s and d e t a i l ing. George Be rg fe l d, f o r example, b u i l t Tudor Reviva l and Georgian Rev iva l ve rs ions o f t he same house. More impo r tan t t o t h e u n i t y o f t he neighborhood a re t h e f ea tu res shared by many houses b u i l t by d i f f e r e n t con t rac to r s . Most o f t he houses, except those b u i l t by Berg fe ld , have t h e b r i ckwork o f t he w a l l s s t a r t i n g above t h e foundat ion m a t e r i a l a t ground l e v e l o r below, so t h a t t he foundat ion m a t e r i a l s a re n o t exposed. Th is was a fash ionab le p r a c t i c e a l s o f o l l o w e d e x t e n s i v e l y i n Ladue. The b r i ckwork i t s e l f i s predominant ly s t r e t c h e r bond, b u t occas ional l y F lemish bond. Another c h a r a c t e r i s t i c p a t t e r n used e a r l y i n t h i s cen tu ry a l t e r n a t e d s i x o r seven courses o f s t r e t c h e r bond w i t h one o f F lemish bond; i n t h i s survey, such b r i ckwork i s c a l l e d American common bond. Another way t o vary t h e appearance o f a house was t o use co lo red mor ta r r a t h e r than t h e usual sandy o r l i g h t gray c o l o r . B lack was most f r e q u e n t l y used, sometimes red, and i n a t l e a s t one i ns tance an ocher c o l o r harmonizing w i t h ye1 low-brown b r i c k . Garages match t he main house i n mor ta r c o l o r as w e l l as i n o t h e r f e a t u r e s such as r o o f i n g m a t e r i a l .

Most o f t he houses i n Ames Place have dormers suggest ing a t h i r d i n t e r i o r f l o o r , b u t i n f a c t they t y p i c a l l y 1 i g h t on l y a t t i c s o r a t b e s t a room o r two. George Berg fe l d ' s f ront-gab1 e houses, however, have subs tan t i a l usabl e space on t h e i r t op f l o o r s .

Be rg fe ld was a1 so known f o r h i s s ide-en t ry designs, which he a1 so used i n nearby Parkview. This p l a n i s e s p e c i a l l y s u i t e d t o urban s i t e s because i t f rees the e n t i r e f r o n t o f the house t o t h e l i g h t and view. Other houses inc rease use o f the f r o n t by means o f a l ong te r race , and i n t h i s case f i r s t - f l o o r windows are o f t e n replaced by French doors. To judge by houses i n Ames Place, t he fash ion f o r t he f u l l - l e n g t h f r o n t porch ended sometime i n the l a t e teens, because on l y houses b u i l t then, and p a r t i c u l a r l y by Bergfe ld, have them.

The combinat ion o f French doors and a center e n t r y c rea ted an oppo r tun i t y f o r a t r i p l e - a r c h e d facade t h a t was seized by many o f the designers. E l i p t i c a l f a n l i g h t s a re a f requen t f ea tu re i n Ames Place. Ames Place i s a l s o unusual these days i n r e t a i n i n g a l a r g e number o f working shu t te rs i n a wide v a r i e t y o f panel ed and 1 ouvered designs.

I n t h i s homogeneous environment, few houses stand o u t as be ing exceptiona,l i n design. One t h a t does i s 6930 Waterman, a small masterpiece o f Tudor Revival s t y l i n g by Guy Study, one o f St. L o u i s ' s b e s t a r c h i t e c t s , who was e s p e c i a l l y associated i n h i s e a r l y career w i t h U n i v e r s i t y City.

HISTORY

Ames Place Subd i v i s i on was f i l e d f o r t h e reco rd on December 7, 1914, and recorded i n P l a t Book 11, page 13, by t he Ames Rea l t y Company Company, Lucy V. Semple Ames Pres iden t . The ground was surveyed and subdiv ided by P i tzman ' s Company o f Surveyors and Engineers.

By 1914 the t r a c t o f about 53 acres was r i p e f o r development, pla,ced as i t was n o r t h o f Washington U n i v e r s i t y (occupied 1905), west o f Parkview ( p l a t t e d 19061, e a s t o f West P o r t l a n d Place ( p l a t t e d 19081, and south o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y Heights subd iv is ions , which had been i n i t i a t e d by Edward Gardner Lewis i n 1903. Ames Place was a1 ready i n c l uded w i t h i n t h e c i t y 1 i m i t s o f U n i v e r s i t y City, which had been i nco rpo ra ted by Lewis i n 1906. The s i t e was a l s o a t t r a c t i v e because o f i t s e x c e l l e n t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n l i n k s . To t h e south and e a s t were t h e e l e c t r i c c a r 1 i n e s o f Un i t ed Railways, w h i l e f u r t h e r t o t h e south i n t h e c o r r i d o r t h a t i s now M i l 1 brook Boulevard was t h e suburban 1 i ne o f t he M issou r i P a c i f i c Ra i l road .

The Ames t r a c t was p a r t o f Survey 378, a g r a n t o f 2,722 acres made t o Mar ie Louise Papin, a daughter o f P i e r r e Laclede and Madame Chouteau. It extended f rom A r t H i l l i n F o r e s t Park n o r t h t o Maple, and from Union Boulevard west t o Jackson Avenue. Located as i t was a s t r i d e t he western c o r r i d o r o f St. Louis, Survey 378 e v e n t u a l l y became t h e s i t e o f many o f t h e most fash ionab le r e s i d e n t i a l d i s t r i c t s i n t h e c i t y , and i t was t h i s s i t u a t i o n t h a t a t t r a c t e d E. G. Lewis. Th i s p a r t i c u l a r p a r t o f t h e survey was acqu i red t h e Cabanne f am i l y , cous ins o f t h e Papins, and passed by descent t o James Kingsbury and h i s daughter Adele Waterman. The l i n e o f Kingsbury Boulevard was a p r o p e r t y l i n e e s t a b l i s h e d i n one o f t h e f a m i l y subd iv is ions . The t r a c t was acqu i red by Ames Rea l t y f rom Henry and Edgar Ames (Lucy ' s sons) i n 1897 f o r $148,668 (Book 98, page 155).

Lucy V. Semple Ames was a woman o f no tab le accomplishment. She was t he daughter o f James Semple, U. S. Senator and Ch ie f J u s t i c e o f t he I l l i n o i s Supreme Court. M a r r i e d t o Edgar Ames i n 1860, she bore him f o u r c h i l d r e n be fo re h i s death i n 1867, then took over t h e management o f h i s ex tens i ve business i n t e r e s t s . Ames, a n a t i v e o f Oneida County, New York, came t o St. Lou is w i t h h i s f a m i l y i n 1841 and founded a pork pack ing p l a n t w i t h h i s b r o t h e r Henry. He e rec ted t h e St. Lou is Gra in E leva to r i n 1864 and was a major i n v e s t o r i n t h e L i n d e l l Hote l b u i l t t he same year. Mrs. Ames had been educated a t t h e Academy o f t h e Sacred Hear t i n St . Charles and, i n t h e words o f P a t r i c i a Rice, "absorbed t h e nuns' i d e a l t h a t women should be educated as r i g o r o u s l y as boys." She became a member o f t h e kqual Su f f rage Soc ie t y i n 1869 and championed women I s educa t ion (St . Lou is Post-Di spatch, J u l y 15, 1990, p p . 4C & 11C). I n a d d i t i o n t o he r home i n fash ionab le Lucas Place, - . . Mrs. Ames had a coun t r y e s t a t e c a l l e d "Notchcl i f f " near A1 ton, I l l i n o i s , p rope r t y which i s now p a r t o f t h e campus o f P r i n c i p i a Col lege. The c o l l e g e preserves personal correspondence and a marb le p o r t r a i t bus t o f Lucy Ames.

The Ames c h i l d r e n were educated i n France and Germany and became prominent i n St . Lou is soc ie t y . Ada ( d i e d 1929) mar r i ed Henry S. Turner (1860-1 921 ) , a grandson o f p h i l a n t h r o p i s t Ann Lucas Hunt and head o f Turner Real Estate. Mary (1865-1943) m a r r i e d Wayman Crow Cushman, grandson o f Wayman Crow (1 808-1885), t h e founder o f t he St . Lou is A r t Museum and an impo r tan t f a c t o r i n l o c a l c u l t u r a l l i f e . An i n d i c a t i o n o f Mrs. Ames's bus iness acumen i s t h a t she i s s a i d t o have r e q u i r e d a p r e n u p t i a l agreement t o p r o t e c t t he ha1 f - m i l l i o n do1 1 a r s h e r daughter brought t o t h i s marr iage, a1 though M r . Cushman's f a t h e r was p r e s i d e n t o f t he M issou r i Furnace Company and he h i m s e l f was t he h e i r o f C h a r l o t t e Cushman, t h e noted American ac t ress .

The e l der son, Henry Semple Ames, was born i n 1863 and had a d i s t i n g u i s h e d business ca ree r beyond h i s sec re ta r ysh ip o f t h e Ames Rea l t y Company. He was a1 so p r e s i d e n t o f t h e St. Lou i s and Meramec R i ve r R a i l road Company, t he Ames S tee l La th Company, and Nor thwestern Expanded Metal Company, and v i c e p r e s i d e n t o f Bee L i n e Cons t ruc t i on Company and t he M i s s i s s i p p i Val l e y T r u s t Company. Never marr ied, he d i e d i n 1916, w h i l e h i s mother su rv i ved u n t i l 1925. tdgar , t h e younger son, e v e n t u a l l y moved t o Sea t t l e .

The Pitzman Company had been founded i n 1859 by J u l i u s Pitzman, t h e grand o l d man o f St. Lou i s p lanning. Pitzman l a i d o u t a l l t h e p r i v a t e p laces i n S t . Lou i s f rom Benton Place i n 1867 through Parkview as w e l l as many o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e c i t y and county b e f o r e h i s death i n 1923. He a l s o l a i d o u t F o r e s t Park and served as c i t y surveyor f rom 1877 on. Born i n 1837, Pitzman may n o t have been p e r s o n a l l y r espons ib l e f o r t h e des ign o f Ames Place, b u t h i s son F r e d e r i c k was by then a c t i v e i n t h e f i rm , which con t inues i n 1990.

Henry Semple Ames was one o f t h e t h r e e i n i t i a l t r u s t e e s o f Ames Place, under t h e inden tu re , o r deed o f r e s t r i c t i o n s , dated October 7, 1914. The o t h e r s were George F. B e r g f e l d and Elmore Cave. B e r g f e l d was a n a t i v e o f Chicago born i n 1865 ( n o t 1886 as r e p o r t e d i n Urban Oasis). He founded a r e a l e s t a t e f i r m i n 1889 t h a t l a t e r became B e r g f e l d h e f i r m was known f o r i t s h i gh-qua1 i ty c o n s t r u c t i o n standards. Be rg fe l d had a1 ready been a c t i v e i n Parkview, where he b u i l t a t l e a s t 35 houses, i n c l u d i n g 6252 McPherson, where he l i v e d f rom 1919 u n t i l h i s death i n 1927 ( H i s son Lucas con t inued t o l i v e t h e r e u n t i l about 1955). Elmore Cave was t h e p r e s i d e n t o f h i s own r e a l e s t a t e company. He had b u i l t 6253 Westminster i n Parkview i n 1907 f o r h i s f a t h e r , t h e Rev. Rober t C l i f t o n Cave, and he l i v e d t h e r e h i m s e l f u n t i l moving a few yea rs l a t e r t o Cabanne Avenue. H i s d i s t i n g u i s h e d f a m i l y i n c l u d e d b r o t h e r s Edward Powell Cave, t h e p r e s i d e n t o f E l y & Walker Dry Goods Company, and Rhodes t s t i l Cave, a judge o f t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t and founder o f Bryan, Cave, McPheeters & McRoberts, now one o f St. L o u i s ' s l a r g e s t law f i rms .

The appearance o f Ames Place was l a r g e l y d i c t a t e d by the indenture, which requ i red residences t o be a minimum o f two s t o r i e s w i t h h i p roo f , t o be o f masonry cons t ruc t i on , o r cement on metal l a t h , and t o have the same appearance a1 1 the way around, t o c o s t a t l e a s t f i v e thousand do1 l a r s , and t o be used f o r no o the r purpose than an exc lus i ve p r i v a t e residence ( w i t h t he except ion o f doc tors and d e n t i s t s who cou ld p r a c t i c e a t home). The l o t s f r o n t i n g on U n i v e r s i t y D r i v e were opened t o the cons t ruc t i on o f apartment houses and businesses, "bu t no saloon, pub1 i c garage, pub1 i c f i l l i n g s ta t i on , l i v e r y s t a b l e o r nuisance o f any kSnd" would be permi t ted. Some o f the r e s t r i c t i o n s now sound dated: no negroes o r Malays were permi t ted, no b i c y c l e s were pe rm i t t ed on t h e sidewalks, dogs running a t l a r g e had t o be muzzled, and del i v e r y o f goods, merchandise and coal had t o be made i n t he rea r .

One house seems t o have been b u i l t i n Ames Place even be fore i t was o f f i c i a l l y p la t t ed . Conrad Blumeyer took o u t a b u i l d i n g pe rm i t f o r 6827 Pershing on May 18, 1914, accord ing t o t he records, a1 though he d i d n o t o f f i c i a l l y purchase the l o t u n t i l December 8, thus becoming the f i r s t buyer. I n 191 5 t h i r t e e n more houses were s ta r ted , 17 i n 1916, and 11 i n 1917 be fore World War I brought c o n s t r u c t i o n t o a h a l t . Noth ing was b u i l t i n 1918, b u t B e r l i n Avenue became Pershing. I n 191 9 c o n s t r u c t i o n resumed w i t h a rush; 48 new b u i l d i n g permi ts were issued t h a t year, and development cont inued a t t h a t pace. I n 1923 the Post-Dis a t ch repo r ted "Many Resales o f Lo ts i n Ames Place." The Bush-Burns -4 ea ty ompany had purchased 53 l o t s from the Ames Es ta te and had s o l d more than h a l f o f them. By 1927 the l a s t f o u r houses o f t h i s major phase o f c o n s t r u c t i o n were completed, A few b u i l d a b l e l o t s remained (and s t i l l remain, as a sharp eye can see from the enclosed map), and over t he years a few o f them a t t r a c t e d new houses: 6918 Kingsbury was b u i l t i n 1936, 6962 PershSng i n 1956, and 6917 Waterman i n 1965. Aside from these th ree cases, however, Ames Place was e n t i r e l y accomplished i n the span o f a dozen years.

In c o n t r a s t t o nearby U n i v e r s i t y City neighborhoods which have been studied, i n c l u d i n g Parkview, U n i v e r s i t y Heights Number One, and U n i v e r s i t y Hi1 1 s, where the m a j o r i t y o f t h e houses were b u i l t by i n d i v i d u a l owners f o r t h e i r own occupancy. Ames Place was cons t ruc ted p r i m a r i l y by developers l a r g e and small who were c o n f i d e n t t h a t they cou ld s e l l t he houses they were b u i l d i n g i n such an a t t r a c t i v e neighborhood. The most impor tan t o f these were George Bergfe ld, who b u i l t 38 houses, and the A. L. Wagner Company, who b u i l t 25, b u t George Sokol and Rel iance Const ruc t ion Company b u i l t 11, and Jacob Rubin b u i l t a l l b u t two o f the apartments on U n i v e r s i t y Dr ive. Other impor tan t developers were Ray A. Matthews, B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e working w i t h t he Saum bro thers , Samuel H. Simon, Joseph H. Pre iss, and A l b e r t L. Woas. Among them, these n ine developers accounted f o r more than ha1 f o f the houses.

Correspondi ng l y , t h e a r c h i t e c t s who made the g rea tes t impact on Ames P l ace were those who worked w i t h a c t i v e developers. T. C. Lee d i d a t l e a s t 18 houses f o r Bergfe ld, w h i l e No l te & Nauman d i d f i v e more f o r Be rg fe ld as w e l l as s i x f o r o t h e r c l i e n t s . O l i v e r Popp designed a l l o f Jacob Rubin 's apartments p l u s t h e house a t 6960 Kingsbury, w h i l e Charles R. Green designed f i v e f o r Sam Simon and two f o r Richard H. Meyer. Saum Arch i t ec t s designed seven o f t h e i r own and A. L. Woas f o u r o f h i s own. Jesse W. Leigh, another a rch i tec t -deve loper , designed th ree houses f o r h imse l f and th ree f o r o the r b u i 1 ders.

Of these a rch i tec ts , N o l t e and Nauman were probably the most d i s t i ngu i shed designers. Even more impor tan t was the f i r m o f Mar i t z and Henderson. Raymond Mari t z (1 894-1 973) and Gal e E. Henderson (1 890-1 969) were par tners f o r on l y about f ou r years t o 191 9, b u t separate ly they had long and successful careers. The i r f i v e houses here f o r B. M. Matthews and Federal Investment Company were among very few o f t h e i r works together t h a t a re known today. Guy Study (1880-1 959) designed on l y one house i n Ames Place, 6930 Waterman, b u t i t i s a beauty. It too i s unusual i n h i s career, coming i n the b r i e f i n t e r v a l between h i s par tnersh ips w i t h John Roth and Benedict Far rar .

Ames Place a t t r a c t e d the mix o f doctors, lawyers, insurance men, and business execut ives t h a t one might expect t o l i v e there even today. Perhaps the most famous (and most u n l i k e l y ) r e s i d e n t Ames Place can c l a i m was Spiros Skouras (1893-1971 ). When he l i v e d a t 6950 Pershing i n the '201s, Skouras was managing a cha in o f 37 theaters he and two bro thers had assembled. I n 1932 he took over management o f the Fox Met ropo l i tan Theaters and became pres ident a decade l a t e r . I n 1952, he became a household name when he p r o d ~ ~ c e d the f i r s t Cinemascope movie, "The Robe."

I n 1982, a c o n f l i c t erupted between res idents o f Ames Place and the county highway department over the widening o f B i g Bend boulevard, which i t was feared would d i sp lace the ornamental gates and make the corner houses unl i veab l e. P a r t l y because o f t h i s , the McGarry House a t 6965 Pershi ng was l i s t e d on the Nat ional Reg is te r o f H i s t o r i c Places. Designed by Russel l Conzelman, t he house i s p r i m a r i l y s i g n i f i c a n t because o f the t i l e f l o o r s i n s t a l l e d by i t s f i r s t owner Thomas J. McGarry, a t i l e cont rac tor . I n the event, t he road was widened by about two fee t , and the pylons were moved, dur ing the course o f which p a r t o f one was l o s t . Through the t e n a c i t y o f the t rus tees , however, t he highway department rep1 aced the miss ing par t , and today t h i s west entrance t o Ames Place looks as good as i t ever did.

Seeing t h e s t a t e o f h e a l t h i n which Ames Place c u r r e n t l y f i n d s i t s e l f , the tempta t ion i s t o say, d o n ' t do anything. Ames Place r e t a i n s a l l i t s o r i g i n a l houses and most o f i t s o r i g i n a l garages, and as t h e t r e e s have grown up around i t and the landscaping has been improved t o the south and east, i t probably l ooks b e t t e r now than i t d i d o r i g i n a l l y . Because a1 1 t he houses a re l a r g e l y b r i c k , t h e neighborhood has n o t s u f f e r e d as have so many smal le r M issour i towns from asbestos, asphal t , aluminum, and v i n y l s id ing . A few houses have been sub jec ted t o some r e s t y l i n g , b u t here again the predominance of b r i c k has k e p t t h e impact o f these a1 t e r a t i o n s t o a minimum.

The most endangered fea tu res o f Ames Place a re the garages and the s t r e e t l i g h t s . Almost a l l t he garages were b u i l t a t t h e same t ime as t h e houses o r s h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r , us ing t h e same m a t e r i a l s, i n c l u d i n g b r i c k wa l l s and t i l e o r s l a t e roo fs . The placement o f pa rk ing t o the r e a r i n s t e a d o f i n t he f r o n t c o n t r i b u t e s much t o t he p a r k l i k e appearance o f Ames Place. Many o f these garages a re s t i l l i n good cond i t i on , b u t some have de te r i o ra ted , and a t t e n t i o n should be g iven t o them. The s t r e e t 1 i g h t s a re a l s o impor tan t t o t he ambiance o f t he neighborhood and should be zea lous ly guarded, Other neighborhoods i n l l n i v e r s i ty City have had b i t t e r b a t t l e s w i t h Union E l e c t r i c , t he l o c a l e l e c t r i c u t i l i t y , t o r e t a i n t h e i r h i s t o r i c s t r e e t l i g h t s , b u t by now t h e company should have a b e t t e r understanding o f the va lue o f t h i s form o f p reserva t ion ,

The t r u s t e e s o f Ames Place p l a y t he l e a d r o l e i n p reserv ing the neighborhood, as t h e subd i v i s i on r e s t r i c t i o n s a re more comprehensive than the c i t y ' s r egu la t i ons . The t r u s t e e s should cons ider t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f adding design rev iew t o t h e i r powers, and they should work w i t h the U n i v e r s i t y City H i s t o r i c Preserva t ion Commission, which has t he a u t h o r i t y t o rev iew a1 1 demol i t i o n permi ts , t o discourage the demol i t i o n o f garages.

The o n l y p a r t o f Ames Place t h a t seems t o have d e t e r i o r a t e d t o any degree i n recen t years i s U n i v e r s i t y Dr ive, where t he apartment b u i l d i n g s no l onge r p resen t t h e homogeneous appearance they once d id . Wi th i t s l o c a t i o n d i r e c t l y oppos i te Washington Un i ve rs i t y , U n i v e r s i t y D r i v e woul d seem t o have an endless supply o f tenants, b u t the t r a n s i e n t na tu re o f s tudent occupants may have d i scouraged 1 and1 ords from making 1 ong-term improvements. The c i t y shoul d a c t i v e l y encourage re investment i n these p rope r t i es , i f necessary by des igna t i ng t h e s t r e e t a conserva t ion area.

AMES PLACE SURVEY

S t r e e t Da t e Arc h i t ec t - Contractor F i r s t Owner

KINGSBURY AVENUE

Ot to J. K r i e g

E. G. Sachse C l i f f o r d B. Godwin Howard W. Godwin Howard W. Godwin Howard W. Godwin Hubert W. Guth Charles I. Thurston S. 0. Schumacher S. 0. Schumacher A. L. Woas A. L. Woas O t to K r e i g No1 t e & Nauman

T. C. Lee T. C. Lee T. C. Lee T. C. Lee T, C. Lee T. C. Lee Charles R. Greene Charles R. Greene Charles R. Greene Charles R. Greene Charles R. Greene Charles R. Greene Ed Kel l e y T. C. Lee T. C, Lee T. C. Lee

Nathan Abrahams O l i v e r J. Popp

Charles A. We1 sch Olympia Real ty Co. Howard W. Godwi n Howard W. Godwi n Howard W. Godwi n Howard W. Godwin E. G. Sachse Ernest E. Sachse C1 i f f o r d B. Godwin John H. Eggert Howard W. Godwin Howard W. Godwin Howard W. Godwin George Droege Howard W. Godwi n George Droege Bush-Burnes George E. May Henry Scherrer A1 b e r t Passer W i l l iam J. Ha r r i s Abel H a r r i s Harris-Wei nberg R .E. Ida Weinberg A. L. Woas A l b e r t L. Woas A, L. Woas A l b e r t L, Woas S t e r l i n g Const.Co. Olympia Rea l ty Co. Hy Geo.Mue1 l e r & Son Nathan E. S p i l k e r T. A. O IRe i l l y Ear l Hewson Ge0.F. Berg fe ld Inv. E. Ko l lme ier Ge0.F. Berg fe l d Inv. Gertrude Humphrey Ge0.F. Berg fe ld Inv. E. Ko l lme ier Ge0.F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Ge0.F. Berg fe ld Inv. George F. Berg fe ld Ge0.F. Berg fe ld Inv. George F. Berg fe ld Samuel H. Simon Sam Simon Samuel H. Simon Sam Simon Samuel H. Simon Sam Simon Samuel H. Simon Sam Simon Samuel H. Simon Sam Simon R. H. Meyer Richard H. Meyer Ralph S. Dules J. Ralph Duke Ge0.F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Ge0.F. Berg fe ld Inv. George F. Bergfe l d Ge0.F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld J. H. Pre iss Joseph H, Pre iss J. H. Pre iss Joseph H. Pre iss J. H. Pre iss Joseph H. Pre iss J. H. Pre iss Joseph H. Pre iss Nathan Abrahams Nathan Abrahams Sachse Const. Co. Jacob A. Pastel

36356 May 1990

AMES PLACE SURVEY

S t r e e t Date - Arch i t e c t

M o r r i s L. La tner W. P. Manske M a r t i n D. Larner

No1 t e & Nauman E. Re is S. H. K e i s e r A. L. Woas A. L. Woas Rhodes & Cook Leonard Haeger

No1 t e & Nauman No1 t e & Nauman

C. G. Ha r r i ng ton S. 0. Schumacker i i l den L. Boots A d o l f T. Stauder

Cont rac to r F i r s t Owner

Max Weinberg Const. I da Weinberg F. E. Sha f f e r John W. Webb Union Rea l t y & Const A. F. Lerner M. F. Har len C. N. Car te r Chas. E. Schr impf R. C. Long E. J. S c a l l y J. J. Fuchs S. H. Ke i se r S. H. Ke i se r A. L. Woas A. L. Woas A. L. Woas A. L. Woas Rhodes & Cook V. E. Rhodes C l i f f o r d B. Godwin J. W. Gibson Frank B a r n e t t Daisy Ba rne t t R. A. & G. Bu l l ock Guar1fordR.E. & Inv . R, A. & G. Bu l l ock Gua r l f o rd R.E. & Inv . Thos. O 'Re i l l y Thomas A. O ' R e i l l y C. G. Ha r r i ng ton Paul Knabe H a r r i s Weinberg R.E. I d a Weinberg C l i f f o r d B . G o d w i n 0.W.McBr ide M a r t i n Stafam A1 b e r t Knabe James M. Moran James M. Moran

3635G May 1990

AMES PLACE SURVEY

S t r e e t Date - PERSHING

6600 1924 6603 1920 6604 1924 6607 1920 6608 1925 6611 1920 661 2 1923 661 6 1923 661 7 1920 6621 1920 6624 1924 6625 1920 6626 o r 6628 1923 6627 (6629) 1920 6630 1923 6631 191 9 6634 1925 6635 1 91 9 6636 1926 6638 1925 6639 1916 6641 1 91 9 6645 1925 6646 1925 6801 1925 6802 1920 6806 1920 6807 191 9 681 0 1920 681 1 191 7 681 4 '1 927 681 8 1926 681 9 1920 6821 1921 6822 I91 6 6825 1922 6827 1914 6828 1919 6830 1923 6832 1924 6833 1 91 9 6837 1 91 9 6838 1927 6843 1920 6900 1919 con t i nued

Arch i t ec t Contractor Fi r s t Owner

Bene & Finkheimer

Bene & Finkheimer

J . F. Ki lb

L . t . Lortz L. E. Lortz

J . H. Williamson J . W. Leigh J . H. Williamson J . W. Leigh

J . W. Leigh

Howard W. Godwin

Rudolph Bene Mary H. Lafon

W . P. Manske Otto Krieg Ernil G. Meyer

Mari t z & Henderson I . R. Timlin J . E. Fa r l i ng

J . H. Williamson R . A. Matthews

J . W. Leigh

J a s . Willingham Henry A. Wagner

H. Kaiser H . Kaiser & G. Gl icker Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol H. Kaiser H. Kaiser & G. Gl icker Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol H. Kaiser H . Kaiser Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol L . E . Lortz A.A.Lortz & E.L.Jones L . E . Lortz A.A.Lortz & E.L.Jones Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol J . H. Williamson J . & R . Agats tein L . C. Blake L. C. Blake J . H. Williamson J . & Ray Agatstein H . P. Ries H . P. Ries Reliance Const. Co. George Sokol W. H. Brown W. H. Brown Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol Ernest Sachse Const. Fred L. Bock Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol Harry Kaiser Harry Kaiser M. Wm. Glicker M. William Glicker Wendel Shassere Thomas Lafon E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. A. Wagner William H. Cunl i f f Harry S. Quicks1 iver S t e r l i n g Const. Co. Olympia Realty Co. Emil G. Meyer Thos. T. Rai ley E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E . A. Wagner E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. A. Wagner E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L . Wagner E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. A. Wagner B. M. Matthews B. M. Matthews I . R. Tinilin Mrs. I . R . Timlin Charles F. Schuerrneyer Char1 es F. Schuermeyer B. J . Cha r l ev i l l e Gustav G. Gausmann J . H. Williamson Ray Aga t s tei n R. A. Matthews George A. Bayle, J r . J . W. James & Son Henry Becker

Conrad Rl umeyer J . W. Leigh Je s se W. Leigh R. L . Woerheide Jacob Buehl e r A. L. Woas Alber t L. Woas E. L . Wagner Const.Co. E. L . Wagner E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner L . T. Rockenstein John Rockenstein E. L. Wagner Const-Co. E. L. Wagner George Sokol James J . Garland

AMES PLACE SURVEY

S t r e e t Date Arc h i tec t Cont rac to r F i r s t Owner - PERSHING (con t inued)

Henry A. Wagner J. H. Wi l l iamson

"none"

E. J. Lawler

Ray A. Matthews M a r i t z & Henderson J. H. Wil l iamson

M a r i t z & Henderson

No1 t e & Nauman Adolph F. Stauder

N o l t e & Nauman

N o l t e & Nauman No1 t e & Nauman

No1 t e & Nauman F. H. Peipers R. A. Conzelman

E . L. Wagner Const-Co. E. L. Wagner J. H. Wi l l iamson Rae Agats te i n E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner Ray A. Matthews B. M. Matthews E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner "Mr-Hogan, Anna E. & A1 bemarl e Hote l " Geo. P-Manley E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner Ray A. Matthews W. H. P i c k e t t B. M. Matthews B. M. Matthews J. H. Wi l l iamson Rae Agats te in Ray A. Matthews Ray A. Matthews B. M. Matthews B. M. Matthews Geo. F. Be rg fe ld George F. Berg fe l d Ray A. Matthews Ray A. Matthews Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Ray A. Matthews Ray A. Matthews Geo. F. Be rg fe ld George F. Be rg fe ld Ray A. Matthews Ray. A. Matthews Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld W i b l i n Const. Co. Mary A. Louree Re l i ancecons t . Co. GeorgeSokol Geo. F. Be rg fe ld George F. Be rg fe ld Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol Geo. F. Berg fe l d George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Berg fe l d George F. Berg fe l d B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e Geo. F. Be rg fe ld George F. Be rg fe ld B a l e s t r e r i Const. Co. Joseph J. Bal e s t r e r i B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e T. J. McGarry

36356 May 1990

AMES PLACE SURVEY

S t r e e t Date - UNIVERSITY DRIVE

Arc h i t e c t

01 i v e r Popp O l i v e r Popp 01 i ver Popp O l i v e r Popp O l i v e r Popp O l i v e r Popp 01 i v e r Popp O l i v e r Popp O l i v e r Popp

Con t r a c t o r F i r s t Owner

Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin George Pomeroy George Pomeroy Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner Const.Co.

Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin Jacob Rubin E. L. Wagner E. L. klagner

36356 May 1990

AMES PLACk SURVEY

S t r e e t Date

WATLRMAN AVtiNUL

6601 6604 6605 6607 661 0 661 2 661 5 661 8 6621 6624 6625 6626 6629 6630 6633 6636 6637 6640 6641 6644/6646 6645 6647 6650 6655 6802 6803 6806 6807 681 0 681 1 681 4 681 8 681 9 6822 6823 6829 6830 6833 6834

--&8 3 5 6840 6843 6900 6903 6906 6907 c o n t i nued

Arc h i t ec t

H. A. Wagner Henry A. Wagner Henry A. Wagner P h i l i p Hoffman Henry A. Wagner Saum A r c h i t e c t s P h i l i p Hoffman Saum A r c h i t e c t s

Saum A r c h i t e c t s

Saum Archi t e c t s

P h i l i p Hoffmann

Saum Archi t e c t s Saum Arch i t e c t s ti. J. Lawler Saum Arc h i t ec t s J. W. Le igh k. J. Lawler Char1 es Thurston J. W. Le igh

T. C. Lee T. C. Lee T. C. Lee T. C. Lee T. C. Lee, a t t r . T. C. Lee, a t t r .

T. C. Lee, a t t r .

T. C. Lee

T. C. Lee, a t t r .

V i c t o r Arch & Bldg.

E. A. E l lerman

Contractor F i r s t Owner --

E. L. Wagner Const.Co. I da C. Grant ? E.L.Wagner Const.Co. Henry A. Wagner Henry A. Wagner Henry A. Wagner P h i l i p Const.& 1nv.Co. P h i l i p Const.& Inv. Henry A. Wagner Henry A. Wagner B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e F, J. & T. P. Saum P h i l i p Const.& 1nv.Co. Ph i l i p Const.& Inv. B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e F. J. & T. P. Saum E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e F. J. & T. P. Saum E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. A. Wagner B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e F. J. & T. P. Saum Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol P h i l i p Const.& 1nv.Co. P h i l i p Const. & Inv. Re1 iance Const. Co. George Sokol B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e F. J. & T o P. Saum B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e F. J. & T. P. Saum Bush-Burnes Real ty Co. George E. May B. J. C h a r l e v i l l e F. J. & T. P. Saum J. W. Leigh E. H. Brown Bush-Burnes Rea l ty Co. George E. May R. E. Herweck R. Hennick (Herweck) J. W. Le igh P. E. B a l l e t Fred Howell John Fuhrer Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Berg fe l d Inv. George F. Berg fe ld Geo. F. Berg fe ld Inv. George F. Berg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Berg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Geo. F. Be rg fe ld Inv. George F. Be rg fe ld Henry D i 1 schnei der L. F , B i s h o f f V i c t o r A r c h & B l d g . C. A. J u s t Ray A. Matthews George L. Down E. August El lerman Emil Niehaus

AMES PLACE SURVEY

S t r e e t - Date A r c h i t e c t Contractor F i r s t Owner

WATERMAN AVLNUE (cont inued)

C. E. Stevens Ar thur Fischman Harry A, Folmer E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner E. L. Wagner Const.Co. Eu L. Wagner

Berger-Landrum-Field Robert A w Tonn Robert A w Tonn E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner Geo. Fw Berg fe ld Inv. George F. Bergfe l d R. A. Matthews Ray A. Matthews

Chas. R, Greene R. H. Meyer R e H. Meyer W i l l i a ~ i i P. McMahon E. H. Pipe J. B. Dunkel M a r i t z & Henderson Federal Invest, Cow Guy Study George J. Weber John E w Mooney J. Hal Lynch Ral l o & Bergmore Frank Messina

Joseph H. Pre iss Emil Harms Geo. F. Berg fe ld Inv. George F. Berg fe ld

J. H. Wil l iamson J . H. Wil l iamson Timothy J. Connell No1 t e & Nauman Craig & Tay lo r John G. Bohnenkamp M a r i t z & Henderson Federal Invest , Cow No1 t e & Nauman J. F. Rupp B & C Co. Henry W. Teckemeyer

E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. L. Wagner Geo. Fw Berg fe ld Inv. George F. Bergfe l d E. L. Wagner Const.Co. E. A. Wagner

H. M. Phipps Henry D i 1 schnei der Frank B ischo f f Bergman & Lu tz Joseph F r e i n George C. Muel l e r

36356 May 1990