The Matthias Becker house in Soulard on Tenth street was built in 1857 in the Federal style. Becker was a German immigrant who was a partner in the Fusz and Becker Wholesale Grocery company, and also was an owner of a flour mill. His house is located across from St. Vincent de Paul church, and was one of the more expensive houses in Soulard at the time. However, in 1875, the house was modified to the Second Empire style to follow the current style at the time. However, due to its early construction(before Second Empire architecture was existent in America), its limestone lintels above each window are evidence that the house was originally constructed in the Federal style with a pitched roof. The area of Soulard where the house is located was part of the original plots of land owned by Julia Soulard, but because of the construction of highway 55, this area was separated from the main part of Soulard, and labeled on city neighborhood maps as LaSalle Park. Despite the separation from the rest of Soulard, which caused disinvestment in both areas of the neighborhood, the Becker house remains well preserved, and still has many of its original architectural features.
1940s photo of the Becker House by William G. Swekosky
