Federal Style Townhouse on Michigan Ave

This Federal style house on Michigan Ave in Carondelet is one of the older surviving structures in the area. While Carondelet was initially founded in 1767, not much is left from its French Colonial period. Of the oldest houses in the area, most are either in the Federal style or are German stone houses from the 1830s to 1850s. This house was built around 1845, based on the particular design elements present, including the shape of the shutters and the door entryway with the small balcony. It was built when Carondelet was still its own city, before being annexed in 1870 by the city of St. Louis. Around this time, many Italianate structures were being built near this smaller Federal townhouse, turning Michigan Ave into Carondelet’s street for wealthy residents. Carondelet fared well into the late 19th and early 20th century, as industry along the riverfront did well, but it began to suffer after World War II, as those industries began to leave. Many of the houses began to fall into disrepair, but due to Carondelet’s historic significance, investment has been steadily made to prevent the demolition of many of its oldest houses. Today, Carondelet has one of the oldest housing stocks in the city, comparable to those of Soulard and Old North St. Louis.