Samuel A. Coale / Ephron Catlin House
Built: 1873
Demolished: circa 1930
Style: Second Empire
Architect: George I. Barnett
Neighborhood: Grand Center
City block: 2289
On 1875 Compton and Dry Map: yes
On 1883 Hopkins Atlas: yes
Historical significance: This house was built for Samuel A. Coale in 1873, by George I. Barnett for a cost of $15,000. Coale had a vast collection of art, including many French paintings and works of art from China. He was known in St. Louis as one of the city’s premier dealers of fine art. 15 Vandeventer Place was originally numbered 11, but Coale had a new house built in 1880, moved the number 11 address to the new house, and sold this house to Ephron Catlin. The Catlin family owned the Catlin Tobacco Company, and made their fortune through the tobacco industry. During the late 19th century, St. Louis was one of the largest tobacco producers in the United States. The Catlin family also had other business interests which expanded upon their fortunes and made them one of the wealthiest families in St. Louis. Ephron Catlin was Vice President of Mechanics American National Bank, and continued in this role many years after the family had sold Catlin Tobacco Company. He continued to live at this house until his death in 1921. His wife Camilla Kayser Catlin and his son, Ephron Jr. continued to live at the house until sometime in the 1920s. Ephron Catlin Jr. was treasurer of the Southern Railway Supply as listed in the 1911 City Directory, and he owned Catlin Manufacturing Co. in 1923. By 1930, he had moved to New York.
Architectural significance: this house was built in 1873 in the Second Empire style by George I. Barnett, and was the third house built on the street. No known photos of the house are available in the public record, but the size and shape of the house can be seen from drawings on the 1875 Compton and Dry Map, 1883 Hopkins Atlas, and the 1909 Sanborn Maps. The house can be seen on images of the Vandeventer Place entrance from Grand, but these images don’t give a clear view of the home.
Ephron Catlin Jr.