The Past in Our Presence:
Historic Buildings in St. Louis County

Past in Our Presence book Ever wonder about the story behind that funky old house in your home town? Well, if your home town is in St. Louis County, chances are we may have the answers about that house and many other charming old homes and buildings in the latest survey book prepared by the St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission titled The Past In Our Presence: Historic Buildings in St. Louis County.

With 93 pages and more than 230 illustrations, the book describes the history of the county through its surviving historic landmarks. The Past In Our Presence can be purchased for $6 at St. Louis County Parks and Recreation, located on the seventh floor of 41 South Central Ave. in Clayton, or from the History Museum, the St. Louis Art Museum, and at many local historic house museums. To order by mail, send a check for $7 (the extra $1 is for postage and handling) made payable to the Historic Sites Foundation of St. Louis County, and send it along with your name and address to: St. Louis County Parks and Recreation, 41 South Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105.

The introduction to The Past in Our Presence is by William Gass, director of the International Writers Center at Washington University, twice winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, and a 1996 nominee for the PEN-Faulkner award.

Established in 1957, the St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission is composed of citizens appointed by the County Executive. They advise the county on the use of county-owned historic properties and encourage the preservation of historic buildings throughout the county.


Wilson Larimore House, Spanish Lake, c.1860.
National Register of Historic Places.
















Utz-Tesson House,
615 Utz Lane, Hazelwood, by 1824.
National Register of Historic Places. This endangered historic property is for sale. For more information, please call Esley Hamilton at (314) 615-0357.