Category Archives: Metro East
The Mid-Century Modernism of Marcel Boulicault
by Michael R. Allen St. Louis architect Marcel Boulicault’s name probably is unfamiliar to you, but a few of his works will draw an “ah ha!” or two. Boulicault is a designer whose contributions to Modern architecture in St. Louis … Continue reading
Traces of Route 66 on Chain of Rocks Road
by Michael R. Allen One of the St. Louis sections of the historic Route 66 is the two-lane Chain of Rocks Road in Madison County, Illinois. Between Highway 157 at the west and Highway 203 at the east, passing through … Continue reading
Posted in Metro East, Mid-Century Modern, Neon, Theaters
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Bert’s Chuck Wagon in Collinsville to Fall for Highway Widening
by Michael R. Allen The Madison County Journal reports that Collinsville mid-century landmark Bert’s Chuck Wagon Bar-B-Q (see “Heavenly Bar-B-Q” will be demolished soon for widening of Illinois Highway 159. Bert’s Chuck Wagon will relocate to a nearby location on … Continue reading
Posted in Collinsville, Illinois, Metro East, Mid-Century Modern, Signs
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Shiloh House With a Cool Brick Chimney
by Michael R. Allen Suburban place-making can be difficult when builders rely on the build-by-the-material approach through which home designs are derived from dimensions of common materials. That’s why we see so many woefully under-fenestrated tract houses, with wide rear … Continue reading
Posted in Housing, Metro East
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North End of Venice
by Michael R. Allen If you have not read the Riverfront Times cover story “Meltdown in Venice” by Keegan Hamilton, please do so. The photograph above shows one of the houses in the very north end of Venice whose residents … Continue reading
East St. Louis Videos on New Geography
by Michael R. Allen Last month, New Geography uploaded the third of a three-part video series on East St. Louis. Alex Lotz created the videos, which started with a whirlwind tour that I gave him and St. Louis University history … Continue reading
Posted in East St. Louis, Illinois, Metro East
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Fantasyland
by Michael R. Allen The Fantasyland on Illinois Route 3 in Brooklyn once held two strip club stages, many video viewing rooms and a “health spa.” In a small city whose center seems to have a church on every corner … Continue reading
Posted in Abandonment, Illinois, Metro East
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Behind the Scenes Tour at the Conservatory
by Michael R. Allen St. Louis Building Arts Foundation president Larry Giles welcomes guests to the Conservatory. Amid unusually pleasant weather, over 100 people attended yesterday’s happy hour and tour at the St. Louis Building Arts Foundation Conservatory in Sauget, … Continue reading
Posted in Historic Preservation, Metro East, Salvage
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Edwardsville Residents Rally for Buildings Housing Small Businesses
by Michael R. Allen My coverage is a little late, but I wanted to give a shout out to the 50 people who demonstrated against demolition of historic commercial buildings last Friday in downtown Edwardsville. The Belleville News-Democrat (perhaps the … Continue reading
Behind the Scenes at St. Louis’ Future Architecture Museum This Friday
As a newly-minted member of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Building Arts Foundation, I am pleased to invite my readers to a special event this week: Photographs of the Foundation’s amazing facility across the river can be … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Historic Preservation, Metro East, Salvage
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