Last weekend I drove through Chouteau’s Landing to check out the fire damage to one of the seven Crunden-Martin buildings. I was surprised it didn’t look worse.
The collection of seven buildings is stunning. The railroad lines and other buildings in the area are a clue to the industrial strength the area had at the start of the 20th century.
– Steve Patterson
A few years ago I blogged about city employees parking on the eastside 14th Street sidewalk which resulted on a policy change and keeping the sidewalk open for pedestrians. Last weekend driving home I saw a more egregious use of  the sidewalk for parking.
I was livid as I watched a pedestrian forced to walk in the roadway. Fourteenth Street has four lanes yet someone decided cars should take over the sidewalk too!?!
A new effort is underway to plan streetscape changes on 14th from Washington Ave to Clark St., I’ll need to suggest street trees and/or bollards to physically protect the pedestrian space. I shouldn’t have to spend so much time just trying to keep cars off sidewalks downtown.
 – Steve Patterson
The Leather Trades Artist Lofts opened a few months ago across Locust from my building.
It has been a joy seeing lights on in the building and seeing people come and go. But passing by on 16th and seeing art in the windows has been great. I’ve even seen people painting in a studio space. It’s amazing how little it takes to bring life and interest to a sidewalk.
– Steve Patterson
Yesterday morning a fire started in one of the buildings in the historic Crunden Martin Manufacturing Co complex:
Fire officials said the building, in the 700 block of 2nd Street in Chouteau’s Landing, caught fire some time between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. Authorities said the building is a six story, warehouse, formerly the Crunden Martin Manufacturing Co. (KMOV)
I saw the smoke but haven’t been down to the area following the fire.
The following quotes are from the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (PDF).
Crunden-Martin steadily developed into one ofthe more important and successful woodenware, willow wear and metal-goods industries ofthe city between 1891 and 1990; second only to the Samuel Cupples Woodenware Company.  By1924,Crunden-Martin was the only woodenware firm represented in the Merchant’s Exchange of St.Louis. During WWII, Crunden-Martin manufactured helmets, stoves, buckets and five-gallon gasoline ‘jerry cans‘ for the U. S. military; the company was one of two St. Louis companies to make helmets and the only one to manufacture ‘jerry cans.”
Between 1904 and 1920 they built seven buildings, each designed by leading architects of the day:
The Crunden-Martin Manufacturing Company is comprised of seven buildings; six are adjoining, the seventh is attached via a four-story bridge.
It was the building attached via the bridge that had the fire. The nomination labeled it #5 since it was the fifth out of seven constructed:
Building #5, a six-story brick rectangular-shaped warehouse, was designed (and completed) in 1912 by Mauran, Russell and Crowell; interior mill construction consists of wooden plank and beam(photo9).Primary elevations face south and east;elevations are identical in design to building #2. Building #5 is connected to the main complex (through building #2 to the east) via the 1912 four-story bridge located above the second story; the bridge continues to the sixth story. The first story ofthe east elevation contains six wide bays with tripled six-over-six double-hung windows; one bay contains an entrance surrounded by multi-lights and a transom above. At basement level the bays contain a pair of single-lights. A seventh bay contains a single, narrow six-over-six double-hung window. A corbelled cornice wraps the building just above the first story and continues to the south elevation. Windows at the second through the sixth stories are double-hung six-over-six with soldier arches and metal sills (twelve windows are at the second through the sixth stories;four additional windows are at the half-story between the second and sixth stories);windows are between brick pilasters capped with stylized, square-paneled capitals. An overhanging terra cotta cornice supported on corbelled brick crowns the building. A half-story projects above the building at the northeast side. The building corners are accented with rounded brick.
The south elevation of building #5 contains five wide bays; two have tripled six-over-six double-hung windows, two have bricked-in portions and one has a pair of six-over-six double-hung with brick in between. At the basement level each bay contains a pair of single-lights. The corbelled cornice, from the east elevation, wraps the building just above the first story. Windows at the second through the sixth stories are double-hung two-over-two and six-over-six with soldier arches and metal sills (nine windows are at the second, eight are at the third through the sixth); windows are between brick pilasters capped with stylized, square-paneled capitals. An overhanging terra cotta cornice supported on corbelled brick crowns the building. Iron fire escapes at the southwest corner are accessible from windows at the second through sixth stories. The building corners are accented with rounded brick. Above the first story the building remains unchanged (photo 9).
The north elevation is a blank wall of brick with no fenestration. A half-story (visible at the east elevation) extends above the building. The west elevation contains two wide garage doors and two rear entrances at the first story. The second story contains three pairs and one single double-hung two-over-two windows with soldier arches and metal sills. The third through the fifth stories contain thirteen similar windows; the sixth contains fourteen.
At this time I’m not sure of the extent of the damage and if the building can be saved. The history of the company and the manufacturing complex is certainly interesting,
– Steve Patterson
It’s cold outside and so is the ice on the Gateway Mall across from The Peabody Opera:
Here is information on the rink:
Nestled in the park directly opposite the newly re-opened Opera House (on Market Street between 14th and 15th Streets), the specially designed rink will operate seven days a week, featuring skate rentals, music, and light food and beverage. Folks visiting the city from near and far during the holidays will now have a brand new destination for frozen winter fun, with the breathtaking Opera House as a backdrop.
A host of seasonal highlights and special promotions — including youth hockey clinics, “Late Skates†(following all Blues Saturday night hockey games) and special offers for families attending the Opera House’s production of “Scottrade Presents: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas†— will make this a one-of-a-kind setting for skaters (and spectators!) of all ages.
Tickets:Â
- Admission: $6
- Senior Citizens: $5.50
- Skate Rental: $4
Group Tickets:
-  Groups of 1–20: $1 off admission
- Groups of 20 or more: $2 off admission
- Contact a Group Sales Executive at 314.622.5454 for more information.Â
Hours of Operation:
- Weekdays (other than school holidays): 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- School Holidays: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sundays: Noon – 7 p.m.Â
The hours offer day and night skating.
If you are  a downtown resident or employee there are special discount nights for you:
Special skate nights have been arranged for the Downtown residents and employees to enjoy the Downtown ice rink across from the Peabody Opera House (On Market Street between 14th and 15th – Schiller Park). The Downtown Residents Skate Night is Wednesday, December 14 and Downtown Employees Skate night is Thursday, December 15. Grab your friends and neighbors and enjoy ice skating under the stars. Both groups will receive $1 off admission each night. (info)
plan to stop by often to watch skaters.
– Steve