Diedrick Fangman Row

This row of houses in Old North St. Louis is a good example of urban housing from before the Civil War. Located at 13th and North Market Street, this particular Row was built in 1857 by a German carpenter named Diedrick Fangman. At the time of the construction of the rows, this was the most densely populated neighborhood in the city, and it consisted mainly of German and Irish immigrants. For the next century, Old North St. Louis would remain as a vibrant urban neighborhood just a short distance north of downtown, and it was home to a thriving shopping district along North 14th Street, Which included historic shops such as Crown Candy and Marx Hardware, which still exist today. The construction of Highway 70 along with suburban flight took a heavy toll on the neighborhood in the late 20th century, and by 2000, much of the neighborhood was in severe disrepair, despite being located in a national register historic district. However, a massive revitalization project on North 14th Street and along North Market Street, and the restoration of many other houses in the neighborhood have followed. Along with Soulard and Carondelet, this neighborhood features one of the largest collections of antebellum era urban housing in the city.