All Entries in the "Neighborhoods" Category
Green Acres: a slice of Europe in North County
Built in 1928, this fairy tale cottage on Bellefontaine Road marks the entrance to Green Acres, one of North County's most enchanting neighborhoods.
Every once in a while, I wind up somewhere in North County that most St. Louisans would never guess is located in this part of town. If I showed them a photo, ten bucks says they’d guess West County or Clayton, maybe even Ladue. But nope, these amazing gems are right here in NoCo….unique examples of vintage architecture that still feel steeped in another era.
One of my all-time favorites is a subdivision in Bellefontaine Neighbors called Green Acres, which features old world European-style homes from the 1920s and 30s, as well as a nice mix of mid-century ranches. I drove through recently and was still charmed by the meandering streets and “village” feel, not to mention the handful of houses that look like they came straight out of the French countryside…
Subdivided in the 1920s, when the Bellefontaine Neighbors area was still rural and sparsely populated, Green Acres served as a convenient retreat for well-to-do residents from the city of St. Louis, who usually traveled Bellefontaine Road to get there. Named North Broadway within the city limits, Bellefontaine had once been a frontier-era military route used by Meriwether Lewis and Daniel Bissell, but by the early 20th century it was known more as a great place for a Sunday drive, especially for those visiting local cemeteries like New Bethlehem.
In the 20s & 30s, decades before Bellefontaine Neighbors was actually incorporated as a city, the area was home to an eclectic variety of people, including socialites Maude and Hattie Gibson, who frequently hosted grand parties at their Italianate mansion, Tanglewood (c.1866), which still stands near the corner of Chambers and Bellefontaine. A 1922 Post-Dispatch article references a dance they held for their cousins, who were visiting from the Ivy League colleges Smith and Princeton.
Around the same time, just up the road, police raided the farm of Mrs. Alma Wilhelmy, whose barn was found chock full of moonshine. Another local farmer, Charles Lengue, was also found with an active distillery in his barn.
So we had moonshiners, mourners and rich folks – that’s the atmosphere in which the whimsy of Green Acres came to life. And it wouldn’t be the first time this quirky subdivision had a brush with drama…
In 1950, gangster Leo Brothers, an associate of Al Capone, was shot to death in his home at #34 Green Acres. Then around 2005, another resident claimed that her neighbor – a gay Wiccan who liked to sweep his driveway in high heels – put a voodoo curse on her daughter. Seriously.
I’m not sure if that last bit is still going on (hope not), but overall, Green Acres remains a charming, unique enclave where residents are tight-knit and few houses ever go up for sale. Right now, one of the subdivision’s newer homes – a 1951 brick ranch – is on the market for a staggeringly low price. You can see it in the slideshow below, along with a few other photos from this lovely corner of North County…
My NoCo Neighborhood: Spanish Lake
With an active community association and some truly stunning natural beauty, Spanish Lake is one of North County's underrated jewels.
Spanish Lake, the historic North County community bounded by the Missouri River and the great Mississippi, is probably one of the most interesting areas in St. Louis County. Parts of it feel almost unchanged from decades past, with wide, rolling farm fields and quaint old storefronts. Other parts, especially the classic mid-century subdivisions and the secret properties along the bluff, represent what I consider some of the sweetest real estate in NoCo. Talk about a lot of house for the money! Here’s what local resident and NOCO contributor Jo Batzer has to say about her NoCo Neighborhood: Spanish Lake.
What is the name of your neighborhood and where is it located?
Spanish Lake, specifically the old Bellefontaine Place area just north of 270.
How long have you lived there?
Almost 15 years now. Moved here after a 2 year stint in St. Charles County after growing up in the Florissant area.
What’s the age & style of most of the homes?
The original Bellefontaine Place homes were mostly built in the 30’s, in the cottage revival style popular after WWI that dot the Spanish Lake area. Beautiful craftsmanship and character! After WWII, the rest of the adjoining neighborhood was completed with well built, solid brick ranch homes.
Overall, Spanish Lake has a broad range of homes, from modest ranch suburban homes built from the 50s through the 80’s, to new sprawling homes on private, gated roads. There is even a new “green” Subdivision off Trampe. Within 10 minutes of each other, the neighborhoods can range from a very urban feel, where you can walk to stores, restaurants or the dentist, to rural areas where people still grow crops and raise animals! [Ferguson Farmers Market vendor Sue Hodgson raises chickens in Spanish Lake.]
A charming vintage house in Jo's neighborhood, Bellefontaine Place
What do you like most about your neighborhood?
-Local amenities like Columbia Bottoms, Fort Bellefontaine, Larimore, Spanish Lake & Sunfish Lake parks as well as close proximity to Chain of Rocks Bridge and Trailnet. Plenty of opportunity to run, bike, hike, fish, boat, hunt or bird watch and with the added bonus of historical significance!
-The close proximity to 270 & 367; 20 minute access to downtown or Forest Park, 10 minutes to the airport or the Alton and Madison County areas of Illinois right across the rivers. Bike trails connect Spanish Lake from downtown St. Louis to Madison County trails across the Chain of Rocks Bridge or the Great River Road Trail over the Lewis and Clark Bridge.
-The quality of homes at affordable prices! You get so much more for your money in North County. When deciding to buy, we looked at similar styles of our homes in Kirkwood or Webster Groves that would cost 3x as much! Spanish Lake boasts many over sized yards, even with modest sized homes. If you garden, Spanish Lake has beautiful soil!
-Last, but not least, our great neighbors! We have helped each other out thru illness, death, storms and power outages. Birthdays, graduations, divorces and weddings. We have impromptu bbqs or dinners, do couple-only weekends out of town, and keep an eye out for each other; be it kids, pets or homes. I’ve lived in neighborhoods that were ‘nice’ but neighbors were always bickering, reclusive or just plain rude. I have never regretted a DAY after moving to Spanish Lake.
Does your neighborhood have an active neighborhood association and/or a strong sense of community spirit?
Spanish Lake has a very active volunteer community association with almost 300 dedicated members. It doesn’t take much to get a group of 70 or more to protest in Clayton or collect signatures over a cause. There are annual fundraising events and work days to clean up litter, weeds, etc…The most important project right now is the renovation of the Twillman House into a community center. The association purchased it in 2004, and the renovation is being done through many grants, private donations, union donations and hours upon hours of volunteer work.
What kind of people live in your neighborhood – families, retirees, artists, gardeners, bankers, etc?
Like the housing in Spanish Lake, there is a broad range of people. Good amount of retirees, but also singles and families. Many heath care industry professionals choose the area due to nearby Christian Hospital and the 20 minute commute to Barnes, Childrens, or Depaul. There seems to be a good mix from union workers to teachers, accountants, even lawyers. One thing I love about Spanish Lake is the diversity. We have people of all races, incomes and backgrounds. Diversity, just like in nature, makes a community stronger-not weaker.
Is there one special house in your neighborhood that’s currently for sale?
Only 1 on our street and it’s under contract! Plenty others in Spanish Lake though, like this one…
For more info about Spanish Lake, which is located in unincorporated North St. Louis County, be sure to contact the Spanish Lake Community Association. President Dora Gianoulakis is always happy to talk about her community and welcome new visitors!
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K