This corner building in the Central West End is a typical example of a turn of the century Queen Anne style building, and it features a large turret right above the corner. The building was built in 1901, and was designed by an architect listed as G. Becker, and was owned by Henry Oerter. Corner storefronts such as this one were often built to follow the curve of the street, and their design would seamlessly round the bend in many cases, as is seen here. This area was a predominantly wealthy neighborhood at the time of the store’s construction, and marked a point where many of the wealthy St. Louis families were moving closer to Forest Park, and away from midtown, which was quickly becoming industrial at this time. The area flourished well into the early 20th century, and was one of the most fashionable areas in St. Louis to shop. However it saw decline in the late 20th century as people began to move further west into the suburbs and leave the city behind. In the 1980s, many of the houses in the neighborhood were restored, and the area once again became a fashionable shopping district, as investment from nearby Washington University helped to bring people back to the area. Today, the area is once again among the most desirable neighborhoods to live in within the city, as it was at the beginning of the 20th century.
