photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis
A commercial photography and videography firm for more than 30 years, Bruton Stroube Studios has crafted some of the most iconic advertising visuals to ever originate in St. Louis. A historic, 55,000+ square foot space houses their studios, editing bays, props rooms, kitchens, and more.
photograph by Michelle Bates
<a href="http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4245"><img src="http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4245&size=full" alt="northhampton001" width="463" height="309" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4245"
photograph by Ann Aurbach
North Hampton is a neighborhood most often driven around by St. Louisans. This is not to say that you shouldn’t want to go there, but rather, that three of its four borders are major thoroughfares for South City. Wedged neatly between Lindenwood Park and Tower Grove South, North Hampton is a pleasant residential neighborhood with an excellent collection of mid-century bungalows.
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4246″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4246&size=full” alt=”northhampton014″ width=”309″ height=”463″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4246″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis</p>
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<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4247″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4247&size=full” alt=”northhampton020″ width=”309″ height=”463″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4247″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Jason Gray</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4248″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4248&size=full” alt=”northhampton006″ width=”463″ height=”423″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4248″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Michelle Williams</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4249″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4249&size=full” alt=”northhampton009″ width=”463″ height=”278″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4249″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Susan Price</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4250″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4250&size=full” alt=”northhampton005″ width=”463″ height=”309″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4250″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Michelle Williams</p>
Although most St. Louisans may be most familiar with the neighborhood from driving around it, to write North Hampton off as merely a sleepy enclave would be a mistake. Maybe it is the fact that the area is primarily residential with not many intraneighborhood businesses, or that it rests in the shadow of hip Tower Grove South, or that it is essentially a buffer zone between an older, German, Catholic South City and the newer, proto-suburban St. Louis Hills, but North Hampton has a distinctive oddness (for lack of a better term) possessed of something not found in other areas of the city. Take for instance, the gnome cottage pictured above, or an entire street with each house hoisting an identically sized American flag, or even the fact that two neighborhood youth organizations, the YMCA and Gateway Soccer Association, rub up against the St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center (not to mention the Missouri Crematorium!). One thing is for certain, this neighborhood is idiosyncratic.
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4251″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4251&size=full” alt=”northhampton017″ width=”463″ height=”308″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4251″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Jason Gray</p>
As testament to this, another member and I had the good fortune to run into the family pictured above. While photographing the house next door, the gentleman inquired as to why we were photographing homes in his neighborhood. This is a natural skepticism that we often encounter on residential streets because it is not always a positive thing to have the place where you live photographed by a stranger. After I explained the premise of our organization, the man stated that he wished to take our picture with my camera. With some trepidation, I agreed. I showed him where the shutter button was and he snapped a few shots of us on the path to his front porch. Whatever concerns the homeowner had about our motives melted away after this interaction. The man then offered some information on his house and those of the neighborhood. He said that all of the houses immediately around were (paraphrasing), “built by Sears for the military.” He offered to have us come inside his home to see a plaque noting its origins.
In fact, the home was not built by Sears, but by Gunnison, another pre-fabrication home builder that became prominent slightly after Sears’ pre-fab homes experienced their own peak in popularity. Like the Sears homes, Gunnisons were usually built in areas nearby industrial plants (like the ones that dot the north side of North Hampton, just a few blocks away). While I could not find any historical reference to the neighborhood having a military origin, Gunnison homes were popular among soldiers returning from World War II, which is likely the true connection, especially since many former soldiers took factory jobs once back in the US.
There is more to our colorful interaction, which I’ll keep off the record, except to say that the man and his warm and kind family are an excellent example of the folks you should expect to encounter in North Hampton- protective of their streets, yet still inviting to strangers, interested in the history of their neighborhood, and committed to friends and family (in-laws were visiting, and all were assisting a neighbor with a garage sale). The fact that North Hampton possesses <strong>two</strong> dedicated neighborhood associations (<a href=”http://www.tillesparkneighborhood.com/blog/”>Tilles Park Neighborhood Association</a> and <a href=”http://www.kingshighwayhills.com/”>Kingshighway Hills Neighborhood Association</a>) is testament to this as well.
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4252″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4252&size=full” alt=”northhampton002″ width=”463″ height=”308″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4252″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Ann Aurbach</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4253″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4253&size=full” alt=”northhampton004″ width=”463″ height=”309″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4253″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4254″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4254&size=full” alt=”northhampton019″ width=”463″ height=”308″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4254″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Jason Gray</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4255″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4255&size=full” alt=”northhampton016″ width=”308″ height=”463″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4255″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Jason Gray</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4256″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4256&size=full” alt=”northhampton007″ width=”309″ height=”463″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4256″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Michelle Williams</p>
One of the earliest non-agrarian businesses in North Hampton was the Missouri Crematory. Built in 1888, the Crematory was the first to practice cremations west of the Mississippi. The Columbrium, added later, was designed as a final resting place for cremated remains. Both structures are beautiful, a little spooky, and definitely unexpected for the area today.
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4258″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4258&size=full” alt=”northhampton012″ width=”463″ height=”309″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4258″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4259″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4259&size=full” alt=”northhampton003″ width=”463″ height=”309″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4259″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Michelle Williams</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4260″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4260&size=full” alt=”northhampton011″ width=”309″ height=”463″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4260″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Ann Aurbach</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4261″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4261&size=full” alt=”northhampton013″ width=”463″ height=”309″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4261″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Ann Aurbach</p>
Today, North Hampton is a desirable and safe neighborhood to call home. Centrally located, the area is within a quick drive or bike ride to most of South City. Tilles Park, named after the older park in St. Louis County, provides recreational opportunities for residents, and was full of activity on our visit. If you have not yet set foot in North Hampton, consider stepping out next time you are driving along its borders. No doubt, you will be rewarded with its pleasant surprises.
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4262″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4262&size=full” alt=”northhampton008″ width=”463″ height=”309″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4262″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Ann Aurbach</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4263″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4263&size=full” alt=”northhampton010″ width=”309″ height=”463″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4263″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Michelle Williams</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4264″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4264&size=full” alt=”northhampton015″ width=”309″ height=”463″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4264″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis</p>
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4267″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4267&size=full” alt=”northhampton018″ width=”463″ height=”308″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4267″ /></a><p style=”text-align:center;”>photograph by Jason Gray</p>
MAP:
<a href=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4268″><img src=”http://www.photofloodstl.org/index.php?aam_media=4268&size=full” alt=”12011345_686919074742755_3227817020615143462_n” width=”900″ height=”689″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-4268″ /></a>
Our end point for Photo Flood 38 was to El Tapatio, but we had to take a rain check due to busy Flooders’ schedules. We’ll visit you someday, El Tapatio!
photograph by Janet Henrichs
Downtown West is one of St. Louis’ most significant neighborhoods. Defined by the iconic buildings that it contains and as a gathering place for public events (like many of the annual charity races), this neighborhood of distinction is often considered to be “downtown” by many St. Louisans.
photograph by John MacEnulty
photograph by Susan Price
A charming and quiet residential community just south of the former bustle of industrial Ellendale and just west of The Hill, Clifton Heights possesses a rare insularity for a city neighborhood (partially due to its past as a private subdivision). Today, many of the older Victorian homes surrounding Clifton Heights Park provide a beautiful contrast to the serene park, and demonstrate the ambitions of early residents.
photograph by Jackie Johnson
photograph by Dan Henrichs Photography, St. Louis
Photo Flood Saint Louis has now documented the Saint Louis Art Museum twice, once at night, during renovation (as our second ever Mini-Flood!), and once during the day, after renovation. This Institution is easily one of the cultural highlights of St. Louis, and still remains somehow free to all.
1. Mini-Flood 2
photograph by Jason Gray
It has been almost three years since we last Flooded the venerable Saint Louis Art Museum. In that short time, they have added an entire new wing, a parking garage, and an outdoor sculpture garden. Also, on this Friday evening, the Museum will be screening JAWS for its Art Hill Film Series, hosting a bevy of delicious food truck fare, and more. 
photograph by Peter Hung
photograph by Jackie Johnson
Clever design duo, Jeff and Randy Vines set up shop on a corner storefront along Cherokee Street five years ago (in 2010), and built a t-shirt empire. That said, STL-Style is not merely a St. Louis-themed apparel boutique; it is the ethos for an entire movement to revitalize the city, fueled by two vocal brothers whose love for STL is without limits.
As STL-Style turned five, the Vines and 400 or so of their closest friends celebrated with the Half-Decade Escapade, an afternoon filled with food, booze, live music, and all of the color and character that makes this business truly special. Photo Flood Saint Louis wouldn’t have missed this event for the world; hopefully you didn’t either!
photograph by Jason Gray
photograph by Anne Warfield
Site of the only Civil War “battle” in St. Louis, Midtown has a storied presence in the city. Today, much of this section of Midtown is owned by Saint Louis University, which has been a controversial agent of change for the neighborhood.
photograph by Donna Burch
photograph by Jackie Johnson
Now in its 10th season, the Tower Grove Farmers Market represents all of the best things that a community market should be, including a beautiful park setting, fresh produce and food, arts, crafts, and live music performances.
photograph by Jason Gray
photograph by Jason Gray
Calvary Cemetery, at over 160 years old, is the final resting place for many of St. Louis’ most important residents. Dred Scott, Auguste Chouteau, and Tennessee Williams are among those buried there. This Roman Catholic Cemetery and its natural setting are an exciting visit for anyone with the history of our city in mind.
photograph by Ann Aurbach
PHOTO FLOOD SAINT LOUIS 