This Wednesday evening at 7 pm the Missouri History Museum at Lindell & DeBaliviere will host a lecture and book signing featuring the authors of a new momograph about the architectural firm of Maritz & Young and the historic homes they designed. If you are familiar with Lindell Boulevard west of Union, Forsyth across from Washington U. or Brentmoor Park and Carrswold Drive off Wydown, you will recognize the beautiful works of architects Raymond E. Maritz and W. Ridgely Young that were constructed between 1915 and the beginning of WWII. The homes were built for St. Louis' most prominent citizens of the day in styles ranging from Tudor and Norman Revival as well as Georgian and Mediterranean Revival.
The new book by Kevin Amsler and John L. Schott, AIA (who was a project architect with Ramond E. Maritz & Sons for 30 years!) is packed with over 200 mostly period photographs, floor plans, elevations and other architectural drawings as well as detailed descriptions of the residences and original owners. There is also a list of the firms works.
Looking at the caliber of these grand homes, you would never think that someone would view them as tear-downs, but that is exactly what happened at 37 Brentmoor Park. This center hall Georgian style home was constructed in 1925 for Kenneth Davis, president of a local real estate company. The home five bedroom home had an iron balcony stretching across the entire garden elevation at the second floor with french doors opening into each room. On the first floor a 3-car garage was attached to the house by an arc shaped wing containing a breakfast room, large pantry and a gallery porch facing the street. Photo above from the Brentmoor Park National Register nomination.
The St. Louis County property records list a "land only" sale for $1,250,000 in 2003, and in 2006 or 2007 (county lists 2 different dates), this sprawling somewhat modernized version of a Mediterranean style house was built where the Davis house had been demolished.
Had the owner of the new home above been patient, they could have purchased an authentic Mediterranean style house designed by Maritz & Young on a larger lot with a pool at 16 Brentmoor, which was on the market in 2007. While they probably didn't need it, the buyers could have received Missouri Historic Tax Credits for a renovation of the home. Of 41 homes, Brentmoor Park features 9 remaining homes by Maritz & Young.
25 Brentmoor, built in 1925 for Jerome Schotten
24 Brentmoor, built in 1926 for Theodore Moreno
39 Brentmoor, built in 1923 for Louis Mahler
31 Brentmoor built for Walter Hecker in 1927
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