Welcome to the Trapper Cottage

To: Shelley Finn and the Conserv Committee.

This shell is possibly the oldest extant structure in Soulard. It was built into this gentle hillside when the surroundings were still country; I'd guess construction was between 1800 - 1830.  It was built on land which became part of the estate of Thomas Allen, but I think this house predates Mr. Allen's ownership (Thomas Allen's "Crystal Springs" Farm occupied what is now the mid-section of the Soulard neighborhood).  The shell is "crooked" compared to the surrounding buildings, this can be seen best by standing in the alley behind the house; the house predates the carefully surveyed street. [2021 note: with the addition it's hard to see from the alley, but you can still tell by standing on the porch and comparing the alignment of the porch columns to the adjacent building and sidewalk from the stairs to the street]

It looks like the first story - the stone and brick masonry story - was built first. I say that because the second story's floor joists are only 2x6's; if the entire building was constructed at the same time, I'm sure the floor joists would have been more stout.  The is a partial basement, located under the larger front room of the first story.  Given that the first story is partially underground, the basement floor is about 15 feet below grade on the west side.

The second story tells the most interesting tales of all.  It is constructed in the "briquete-entre-poteaux" French Creole method; see the Old House Journal article attached.  The timber of 811 Allen Ave's second story are 4x4 inch oak beams which clearly show marks of having been dressed with a hand adze.  These beams have some interesting jointery; look closely at the horizontal beam on the west wall at your knee level, you'll see what I mean; the wooden framework is joined like a piece of furniture.  The spaces between this framework are filled with a one-withe wall of handmade soft bricks. The second story was originally stuccoed over; bits of the stucco are still in evidence.  This matches the description on the Old House Journal article. Sometime later, I'd guess A.D. 1850 or thereabouts, the stucco was removed and wood siding, probably cedar, was applied over the second story and the attic walls.  This was done probably because the stucco would not fair well in our freeze-thaw-freeze winters, and the wood siding was more weathertight.  The wood is 4" lap, common in 1850-1900.

The center chimney stands independently of the exterior walls; this is an additional French Creole-style feature.  There are two large, deep, woodburning fireplaces, one on each floor. This building was originally a two-family, with the smaller rear room of each flat being the kitchen. The interior stairway is an obviously recent change, it should be removed.

The windows were all originally 6 over 6 double-hung; only one window has survived the years and the 1990 fire, it is in the east wall on the first floor.  Someone enlarged the second story front window opening and put in two smaller windows; examination of the oak framing on the inside of the front wall will reveal this.  This opening should be returned to the original configuration.

There are only 6 French Creole buildings left in Soulard; there were 9 until Mead McClellan razed 3 of them in 1989.  There are 4 on the property at 2219 S. 10th, there is 1 at 1827 S. 9th, and there is this one at 811 Allen. (2204 Rear Menard may also be a French Creole cottage, that would make 7 left. If there are others, I'm not aware of them).  It is imperative that 811 Allen be preserved.