Charles F. May Richardsonian Romanesque Mansion

This mansion on St. Louis Avenue in the St. Louis Place neighborhood is a part of the development once known as Millionaires Row. The mansion was constructed by Charles F. May in 1892 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. This was towards the later period of development on the street, as mansions had been built along St. Louis Ave since the early 1870s. This was one of the more elaborate examples on the street, with a granite front facade, as well as an elaborate arched doorway with a balcony above, and a two story window bay with an elaborate dormer featuring a double arched window on the third floor. While the area faced decline as the wealthy population of St. Louis moved westward, and the area suffered damage from the effects of urban renewal, this particular mansion stayed intact, and all of its elaborate stonework and brickwork were left in good condition. Today, as the area tries to make a comeback with new development for the NGA site behind the mansion, this structure serves as one of the reminders of how opulent St. Louis Ave once was.