Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
Exterior View of Blow School, 1866, Missouri History Museum, P0900-40928-01-PR
It’s interesting to see how a similar pattern of development occurs in different parts of the city. As I showed recently at the old Webster Elementary School in Old North, at the Blow Elementary School in Carondelet, there were original two earlier school buildings built adjacent to each other before both were demolished for a modern William Ittner-designed composition from 1903.
Clik here to view.
Blow School, Second Blow School Building, 1883, Missouri History Museum, P0900-18664-01-PR
It seems to have started with the elegant school in the first photo, and then expanded to the building on the right above by the 1880s. As seen below, Susan Blow’s Kindergarten later moved to the building from the Des Peres School, as well.
Clik here to view.
Exterior View of Blow School, Later Location at Virginia and Loughborough Avenues, 1895, Missouri History Museum, P0900-S02-00296
But the new school took over the whole block, and its presence commands the entire width of Loughborough between Virginia and Vermont, stretching back to Blow.
Clik here to view.
Blow School, School Building, January 1938, Missouri History Museum, P0900-18638-01-4a
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The trees have gotten bigger, but the school looks largely the same, reflecting the architecture of the Sixteenth Century in Europe after the influence of Michelangelo’s later designs in Florence for the Medici dukes and archdukes. The idiosyncratic style known as Mannerism in architecture also spread to the north to cities just as Antwerp, Amsterdam and Hamburg.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
As usual, the central portal of the school is the star.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
While there are twin, bisymmetrical wings on either side of the front door.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Perhaps what I find interesting about this school is how the style of architecture then lends itself to other buildings nearby, such as this apartment building below.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Or the YMCA to the west further down Loughborough. Usually, Ittner-Milligan schools are distinctive in that their style is markedly different than that of the residential architecture nearby.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The east side of the street is an interesting mix of houses, including this duplex below.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
There are wood frame houses…
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
As well as this rare Carpenter Gothic house below, which joins one more “pure” example of the style in Carondelet. I looked at this style, which is now rare in St. Louis, several years ago at St. Louis Magazine.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Then we are back to more solid red brick houses in a variety of styles.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Including this impressive Romanesque Revival house below.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Then we arrive at Quincy Street, and cross over.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The former Our Lady of Covadonga comes next, and there is this Italianate house, which has recently been boarded up.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
There are more hipped-roof wood frame houses, just like on the west side.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
