3514 Delmar Boulevard
Built 1886
Style: Queen Anne
Neighborhood: Grand Center
City Block: 1062
Former addresses: 3514 Morgan
3516 Morgan
On 1875 Compton and Dry map: no
On 1883 Hopkins Atlas: no
Historical significance: This house was built in 1886 for Lucius L Culver, who was Vice President of the Wrought Iron Range Company at the time he had this house built near Grand on Delmar. He was one of the three Culver Brothers, along with Henry H. and William W. Culver, each of whom also lived on Delmar, which was then called Morgan Street. The Culver Bros. had started off together at the company, but Lucius then split off and formed the Majestic Manufacturing Co. His Vice President, Robert H. Stockton, had a home just one block away. The company produced one of the most advanced stoves on the market at the time, and Culver became very wealthy and successful. He died in 1899, at the age of 59. His brothers had moved to larger mansions on Portland Place and Washington Terrace, from the house they once owned at 3501 Delmar. The home was then owned by Judson S. Bemis of the Bemis Bros. Bag Company, and he lived here with his family into the early 20th century. By 1925, the area was becoming more commercial, and the St. Louis Theatre was built right in front of the house. Today, the theatre is Powell Symphony Hall, and the Culver House is owned by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Architectural significance: This house was built in 1886 as one of the remaining structures built by famed architect Jerome Bibb Legg. This is one of the two structures he designed that still stand in Midtown, along with the William Cuthbert Jones house. However, Legg is best known for designing the St. Louis Music and Exposition Hall, which stood on the site of the Central Library from 1884-1907. His residential buildings were quite spectacular as well, with this building and the C. A. Wickham house at Taylor and McPherson both featuring elaborate turrets and multiple roof peaks.
Culver House in the 1890s
Lucius L Culver
Jerome Bibb Legg