Touring American Foursquare Built in 1908 | This House Tours

[@loritanner4478]

The reason the stain glass window is sagging. Is because the caning that is used to put the stained glass pieces together are made of lead. And lead is a soft metal. And over the years the weight of the stained glass with the weather etc. Has probably loosened the filler that you are suppose to put in after you finish the window. You use a filler and shove it into the caning channels to fill the gaps between the glass and the lead caning. It's probably has disintegrated over the years. It should be taken out and reworked. Before it breaks.

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you so much for providing this information, very fascinating!

[@loritanner4478]

@@ThisHouse I used to do stain glass. I made 2 sidelight stain glass windows for a lady that my dad was building her house. So I learned about stain glass back in 1977 when not very many people in our area was doing it. Always liked learning to do things that weren't popular at the time. Like wall stenciling, before you could find anything to do it. Had to make my own stencils. Did my first quilt for a school extra credit project for American lit class in 75. And nobody was doing quilts much then. Then when everyone else starts doing it. I move on to something else.

[@lynntaylor7513]

Great insight as to why the stain glass sags!

[@ArtHistoryNstuff332]

Was about to say the same! Those stained glass windows do need to be repaired.

[@jls2915]

@@loritanner4478 Thank You for the great information. People like you are such a valuable resource to places that have historical homes and would like/need to do repairs and do it the right way.

[@betsyh2503]

The staircase is fabulous! What a beautiful home.

[@ThisHouse]

We agree! Thanks for watching!

[@nefertitimontoya]

I could listen to you talk about historical houses for hours! So calming and informative

[@lisaruelas2472]

Hi! Don't know if Ken will see my comment, but I was really excited when I saw the built-in cabinet in the hallway right outside the kitchen. It had the privacy glass (Florentine I think it's called) above it. The shelves inside were used back in the day to store food to keep it cool or cold. On the outside of the back of the house and right under that window you'll see a metal vent plate. That let cool/cold air into that cabinet to keep your food cool! We had one of those in the house I grew up in in St. Louis from that same period, except that ours had wooden slats outside built into the brick!!!

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you for that bit of information! I'm glad you enjoyed this tour, cheers! -Ken

[@marshallhosel1247]

The American Foursquare is a great family home. Nice house.

[@chuckandmax7313]

I really like the floor plan of this house it’s so cute. I would be very content in this home. The bead board in the owners suite is really striking. Thanks again Ken for another wonderful home tour.

[@ThisHouse]

We are so glad that you enjoyed it!

[@brokenglass849]

The "daisy" glass you pointed out in a couple of places in the house is called "florentine" glass. The utility room on the second floor may have been used as a kitchen, probably for a relative. There may be evidence of old cut-off sink connections somewhere. The wall covering is decidedly a kitchen motif, and the flooring was commonly used in kitchens as well. Lead came was used to assemble the pieces of stained glass in the windows you pointed out. It has a life of about 90 years or so before it sags and eventually collapses. Today, came is composed of lead and tin, which is much more enduring. I believe some Tiffany windows were assembled with copper came. Someone else probably know more.

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you so much for providing this information, very fascinating!

[@userone6672]

I love windows rounded on top, especially in brick.

[@lynntaylor7513]

I’m screaming at the fireplace! Beautiful!!! Love, love, love that glass! I’m just going nuts over the mismatched wood, me no like, should have kept the dark wood! Just put me on full tilt. Then some of the wood was painted white! A bit busy! The original wood is simply gorgeous! Nooooooo, I didn’t see paneling in that bedroom from the 70’s that my parents had! Oh noooooooo Mr. Bill!

[@RhiannaBarr]

Id love to see the basement!

[@candycoatedcyanide3267]

I love old architecture it’s such a privilege 🥰✌️

[@mikebarry1514]

Stained glass, porches , attic floor design. Beautiful. Thanks Ken and photographer. Great viewing again !

[@ThisHouse]

We are so glad that you enjoyed it!

[@BusyMom2mv]

Another beautiful lovely one with all amazing details : Window, wood, small parts and decoration ...

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@vernonsanders371]

The layout of house has a good flow an whoever restored it did a good job

[@lynntaylor7513]

Beautiful transoms throughout!

[@ThisHouse]

Your comments made my day! I love how much enthusiasm you put into your remarks about the house. Glad you enjoyed it! -Ken

[@lynntaylor7513]

@@ThisHouse I really enjoy your programs! I just have a love for these older gems in St. Louis! There’s nothing like them, NOTHING! The workmanship needs to be taught yet again!

[@ellenlehrman9299]

Yep. Ken, you had me at “functioning transoms throughout.”

[@rowanspiritwalker6667]

I owned a house almost identical to this one in Ohio. It was built in 1902. All the wood was original, had never seen a paint brush, and it was all cypress. Floors, panels, beams, doors, window frames, pocket doors and frames all cypress throughout the house. Many transom windows with the original hardware to open and close the windows still attached to the window frames. Brass filligree doorknobs and surrounds throughout the house. In essense, it was pretty much all original from when it was built. It was gorgeous. It had originally been built and plumbed for gaslights, and all the plumbing and stubs for them was still in place. When it was converted to electricity push-button light switches were installed. There was two chimneys in the house - one in the center for the dining and parlor fireplaces, and one in the kitchen for the wood range that would have been original to the house. I loved the place and still kick myself for selling it.

[@jimmywait74]

Being born and raised in St Louis it's great to see detailed tours of historic homes and places here. I'm glad I found this channel.

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you're enjoying the channel, cheers!

[@elinderfler9358]

My new favourite youtube series, you do a wonderful job, the perfect amount of information while allowing the viewer time to reflect before moving on, so well done!

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@cat3rgrl917]

Most likely the pocket doors are cherry wood. Cherry has z red glow to it. Mahogany is often dark it can have a red glow as well.

[@evelynbyrd4961]

Unusual open staircase to the attic.

[@3713msg]

The utility room decor looks like the late 1950's to early 1960's to me.

[@bret9741]

I’ve remodeled several 4 square homes. This home has to be one of the best examples in great condition I’ve seen. And yes we almost always removed the fireplaces because the cost to repair them was so high. Most of these homes were turned into apartments in the 1950’s and 1960’s in Cleveland. We usually gut them down to studs because they have none of the original cabinets or trim left and there are several generations of plumbing and electric that needs to be removed.

[@ThisHouse]

They really are treasures when they've been as well preserved as this one. Glad to hear you consider the original elements in your work.

[@lynntaylor7513]

Like the house, however, the porch doesn’t do the house justice! The stain glass, AHHHHHHH LOVE! Beautiful and love the theme!

[@stephenjburkhart6902]

Absolutely beautiful

[@workoutmom2b1g]

Beautiful home! That floor on the third floor is divine!

[@suspectsez4203]

Love the themed stained glass windows.

[@ThisHouse]

We do too!

[@loripowell7654]

Amazing architecture! The staircase is stunning! Beautiful pocket doors, woodwork is lovely….wonderful tour…thank you

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sylviamayo379]

I love the house very much it remind me of my childhood when you showed the living room with the stove and the stove pipe. I wish I could afford the house so I could decorate to match the beautiful Stained Glass and not put any pictures on the walls so the stained glass would serve the purpose. I am 83 yrs. old and it just matches the early 1900's and how we lived in some part of the House. Thanks again. See you next time.

[@ThisHouse]

We are so glad that you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing your memories with us!

[@dobisrobert]

I love this channel, keep the great content coming.

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you so much! Thanks for watching!

[@eileenmacdougall8945]

This was a very well presented tour through a wonderful old home, thank you.

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cathyreardon8979]

Loved the home except for the lighter woodwork. I don't understand why someone did that.

[@colliecoform4854]

I loved everything about this except the utility room on the second floor. A shame they couldn't find another way to run the HVAC. I also would have kept the wood to the original finish. The light wood just doesn't work for me.

[@a1wend1l]

Beautiful woodwork.

[@ThisHouse]

It sure is!

[@Gr8thxAlot]

I miss the huge closets in the foursquare I grew up in. It was an amazing house!

[@Bobrogers99]

The light wood in the dining room was almost certainly refinished. It's a jarring note. Using new a/c technology, the unsightly ductwork could be removed and the damage repaired. The house needs a bit more restoration and repair, but it has lots of potential.

[@califdad4]

In St Louis it's probably very nice to have a modern HVAC system in a old home like this

[@helen1962]

The light fixture in the bedroom was from the 1970’s.

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you for the information!

[@mariakettlehut7399]

Again a 5 star tour thanks Ken

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@susprime7018]

Nice house. River Des Peres has a nicer ring to it than Dogtown (Hyacinthe Bucket moment). That's a great mission/arts and crafts style staircase and the stain glass windows too. Maybe it was a nursery that opens to the other bedroom. That looks like nineteen-fifties wallpaper in the utility room. Was the house ever broken into a boarding house with perhaps an upstairs kitchen with that wallpaper?

[@ThisHouse]

Very observant! We were also suspicious of the utility room having been a former kitchen, but were unable to find information on whether or not it had served as a multi family residence. Considering that it is directly above the first floor kitchen, and given the history of many large homes in the area, we think it would be highly possible that it could have been converted with the city not having been notified about the changes to the property or additional residents. It's a very curious detail that we might never know the answer to.

[@jenniferisaacs239]

Another great tour! Thanks for sharing. The privacy glass that you were mentioning on some of the interior doors, is actually called Florentine glass. It was a molded glass that was mass-produced produced but hand poured by glassmakers. Just in case you wanted the true name of the glass.

[@ThisHouse]

We're so glad that you enjoyed this tour! Thank you so much for providing that information to us, it will be very helpful as we continue to explore homes from this era.

[@loritanner4478]

That wallpaper and tile floor looks like the mid 40's. The floor in the closet is TAR backed sheet flooring. Like our linoleum we have now. That was in the 50's. I think they are reproducing that look now. I know I bought some in the late 70's.

[@stephenrichie4646]

Agree the wallpaper looks like 1940s. I watched my paperhanger dad hang patterns very similar in that time frame.

[@stephenrichie4646]

@UCk5K88xTG74pUqbfd04veAw Yes, I remember. Their work habits changed as materials evolved. Those cutters faded from use when vinyl coated papers and other wall treatments became more popular.

[@jaclynbanks6851]

Omg this is how the original layout was of my home! My home still has all of the original hardware, same as the back door.

[@TheJojo01902]

I love this house. Great bones. I’d be curious to investigate a less obtrusive installation for the HVAC system on 2nd floor.

[@gloriasandone7134]

I like your channel. I’m new. I’ve subscribed. Thank you for a lovely tour. 💚🙏🏼🇺🇸

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you!

[@stevie68a]

The wallpaper looks like the 1950's. The Tiffany style lamp looks like a 1960's reproduction. Doesn't seem to be enough bathrooms. Still, a very nice house.

[@morganophelia5963]

aww that up shot of the stair case is beautiful one day when I save up enough money this is exactly the type of Victorian period home I want a nice big house basically but NOT mansion nothing against those Victorian Queen Anne's they are gorgeous but its a bit TOO BIG for my liking to actually live in I also live in STL in the county thanks for representing.

[@patrickwalker2357]

whenever a leaded window is saggy it’s time to restore the led canes. Sometimes the wooden frame has shrunk or the window has been pushed a bit

[@twistoffate4791]

I enjoyed getting peeks at the neat stuff in the closets, i.e., the wallpaper that like you said, never faded due to the absence of light and the old tile in the other closet. Also, it was neat to see the kitchen-esque wallpaper upstairs in the odd room with the HVAC running through. Thanks for another fun tour.

[@ThisHouse]

Those were great details, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@barbarashirland9078]

I like this one much better than some of the more expensive ones! the lines are elegant. the materials are high quality. I believe that reddish wood may be solid mahogany. It can be quite red. If you try to refinish solid mahogany, it is likely to bleed through just about everything . . . and it bleeds through pretty red. So I would say mahogany, solid. Amazing. Rare to see. And that wood stove! I would use that and candles. Ahhhh. This is the first house I have seen that I actually WANT. But not just for me. I would need a bigger family.

[@indiequas]

Man that stained glass is fun lol

[@ThisHouse]

It really is! Thanks for watching!

[@loritanner4478]

The bedroom light is from the 70's.

[@timodonnell2332]

The ceiling canopy attached to this fixture is definitely from early 1900s. The shade may or may not be from the same period.

[@bethbartlett5692]

St Louis, a city that's been long on my peripheral, with many visits, personal and work related, and with true Soul Level Friendships. I love to loathe their Baseball Team, GO CUBS - GO !!!!!!!!! Having been born mere blocks from Wrigley, and I admire its "flavor and personality", having also lived South down the Mississippi River, in Memphis. Clearly, Chicago, St Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans, are Cities that define a relationship, like family, and era's in the History of this Country. Each representing their own lineages, experiences, and strengths, yet all having a value that cannot be denied. St Louis is under realized in its Restaurants and it's quality of Life opportunities.

[@williamsmith5549]

Moar awesome, Ken! Personally, I would love to see you visit us here in Louisville, KY and film a few home tours, esp in the Cherokee Park neighborhood. Old Louisville is still full of gems as well, which you undoubtedly already know, lol. Anyway, as always, can't wait for the next masterpiece, thanks again for your inestimable work!

[@carakellmeyer5037]

I have been really enjoying your videos. I have one idea to add to your videos. In St. Louis, there are neighborhoods we have nicknamed, but are not labeled on any map. Dogtown and the Hill are two places I can think of the top of my head. Perhaps you could add the maps name of the neighborhood? Not that any of us locals will know where you mean! Haha! But perhaps your viewers who aren't from St.Louis can find where these houses are located.

[@ThisHouse]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@teresawommack5148]

That up stairs light looks like from the 1970's. Wish they still made homes like this.

[@katherinebopp2021]

The stained glass windows and staircase are beautiful.There is a name for the pattern of brick with short ends exposed. There is a lot to learn about the brick of St. Louis., especially now when so much is being torn down and the used brick shipped to other parts of the country. Especially, Texas I believe.

[@court5231]

Such a beautiful old gal!!!!!

[@brentivey9819]

You present a home very well

[@arnoldo8563]

A beautiful home I believe the kitchen is fine it's still a home and cannot be living like in the museum I believe they left the elements that were more essential and made work with the new adaptation without being exaggerated and renovating the house as always you are very eloquent with your work enjoy every video that you've made that I've seen so far

[@larrym.johnson9219]

Love This House new subscriber! As far as I know the rounded windows come from a traditional form called paladin.

[@miketackabery7521]

Nice tour! This house didn't have live-in help. The stair and woodwork on the 3rd floor are the giveaway. In this period outside help was becoming quite common: even some much grander homes hired out.

[@Gizathecat2]

When I was a child in Urbana, Illinois we lived in a four square style house. It’s first floor layout was similar to this one. At some point before we lived there a family room and second full bath were added. The attic had plumbing for a bathroom and space for two more bedrooms. The basement had a half bath and what may have been a recreation room. At some point the nearly sixty years since we live there it was torn down to make room for an expanding University of Illinois campus. the

[@ThisHouse]

It sounds like it was beautiful, sorry to hear that it was demolished!

[@PatrickKniesler]

Im always interested in seeing old linoleum. The spring house behind the 200yr old house I grew up in had seven layers of linoleum on the second floor.

[@lucianorodrigues4259]

Que linda casa! Essa é a casa dos meus sonhos!

[@MrJeep75]

Gorgeous home 😅

[@epicnamepwns1242]

Alas for the lost "storybook" stained glass windows but it would be quite the worthwhile project to seek out artists to commission replacements.

[@ThisHouse]

We later learned that the scenes depicted in the stained glass were of locations in Ireland. The stained glass would be even more stunning if it were to be repaired.

[@kellywilliams5112]

Utility room looks like 1930's to 1940's if you look for Lee Jofa reproductions there are wall papers like that representing the 30's and 40's..and of course the tile also looks 30's to 40's.. I love the modern kitchen and baths, but I couldn't help but put in reproduction antique linoleum with its gorgeous patterns.. a guilty pleasure on my part ... lol

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you for that information, we believe you are correct! Wouldn't it be so charming with reproductions?? love that idea!

[@dre4011]

Also the symbol of NEW ORLEANS!!

[@sammyjo8109]

I loved all the original wood work, especially the corner millwork of the doors and windows. Not so crazy about the lighter wood color in part of the downstairs. Loved the stained glass in the stairwell! A very beautiful home. I too wonder if the detached garage was there first or served a different purpose since it appears to have a chimney/ maybe had a fireplace at one time. Love the casual look your sporting here Ken. Thank you for the tour. Dogtown has many great restaurants. I try a different one before going to The Muni, an afternoon at the Botanical Garden or the STL Zoo.

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you for watching, I'm glad that you enjoyed this tour! -Ken

[@lynntaylor7513]

I wasn’t crazy about the lighter wood downstairs either. The home was still a beauty!

[@stephenjburkhart6902]

Most likely the upstairs bathroom floor is tile under the newer covering.

[@ThisHouse]

That would make sense. Thank you for watching!

[@stephenjburkhart6902]

@@ThisHouse I love watching this channel. I'm just so thrilled that St Louis is still filled with so many wonderful old houses.

[@StevenTorrey]

A nice looking house but I thought the upstairs bedrooms were very small, even by modern standards,

[@Gizathecat2]

Only one full bathroom? Is the basement finished?

[@bethbartlett5692]

I think the Host missed the exterior brick plan. The dark glazed brick form a decor patterning. I don't think there been any fading, rather, the location he was in May not have had an opportunity to recognize this. It is noteworthy for it requires a "Mastery of Mansonary" in brick planning and laying of the brick + time in order to apply the correct bricks. *Not just Color but Brick Size is also in the plan.* *It was an expensive endeavor to have this decor.* I'd be interested in a photo(s) of this house from the build era. I suspect there may have been an exterior porch on part of the back. That wallpaper appears to be a 1950's, the pattern was pretty common in early through mid-20th Century, in terms of a "busy pattern style", and goes back to the 30's in popularity but the teapot denotes a more 50's MisdCentury style. An expert in wallpaper could give definite details.

[@vickireynolds4055]

My GUESS on wallpaper date would be 1920-1930 latest.

[@Dallas_K]

The HVAC installation is a major hack. It could be corrected but installers need to be more sympathetic to home aesthetics.

[@rajaintan700]

😍🌹🌹

[@wiesbadengera1]

Why does everyone think we need music with these wonderful viseos!! Its such a distraction for my ears and eyes.

[@carloslopez1582]

They don't build them like this anymore.

[@RhiannaBarr]

The wood is mahogany..

[@trishthompson87]

I'd be curious to know if the 'daisy' glass was legit, or just a film added later. They really did butcher that second floor 'utility room'. HVAC really looks to be a special sort of awful throughout the house. The yellow round chandelier is not original. it's definitely out of the 70s or 80s.

[@marduk3633]

why look like haunted house?

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Not a four square which was a Post Victorian or Edwardian house. Beautiful but not four square

[@Nicole-pv4eg]

That light in the 2nd bedroom is from the 70s. No question whether it was original or not. I was with you and happy to explore this channel up until you questioned whether a 30 year old light could be original :/

[@ThisHouse]

Tiffany Lamps and Tiffany Chandeliers have been produced since the 1920s, there's no question that it was not original, just when it was installed. We hope that you will consider giving our channel another chance. -Ken

[@mrbowlingcrazy]

putting modern furniture in this beautiful home looks terrible

[@traceytrotter9934]

I LOVE this house! Except for the updated kitchen, bathrooms, the fake stained glass and vinyl windows. What are people thinking? Old houses should not look new! The original stained glass is amazing and I like that it is warped. Old glass keeps flowing downward thus "wavy glass". Why don't you study up if you are selling old houses? It is obvious you have no love for them at all.

[@ThisHouse]

Hi Tracey, we hope that you are enjoying your weekend. We wanted to clarify a few things.. The stained glass, while uncommon for the era, was actually a dowry gift that was installed before the original owners moved into the house. Stained glass doesn't flow downward, lead is a weak metal and will begin to warp over time, especially in stained glass with prominent vertical lines. This doesn't always happen so dramatically when the stained glass is in smaller panes with a good mix of vertical and horizontal lines with smaller sections of glass. When this is the case, stained glass will appear flatter for longer periods of time. We like to interact with the audience and ask them questions even if we do know the answers. It is a good way to engage in interactive learning. Also, we do not represent the sale of the homes we feature nor do we benefit in any way from the sale of any individual house that we feature. We are not realtors, we are old house enthusiasts who love and appreciate historic architecture and provide educational entertainment centered around architecture and history. With that in mind, Ken does have a degree in Architecture and is working to improve his knowledge base of old and historic homes. Thank you for watching, Production

[@traceytrotter9934]

@@ThisHouse I am passionate about old houses. Sorry if I am rude but I am offended. If you are trying to evoke conversation by showing a person who seems to have no knowledge or love for old houses then I just can't appreciate you. I will still watch because I love them so. If this man showed an ounce of knowledge or possibly some love for old houses I would be all in. Maybe I am the only one with nerve enough to say something but if he at least took time to learn what is new and what is not I could respect him.