The May issue of Kirkwood City Lifestyle arrived in mailboxes on April 27th, and at 9:10 am the following morning I received an email from Greg Cook, one of the four prior owners of our new home on 408 Gill. He wanted to share his story of this 115-year-old home and neighborhood.
"There was a huge 4th of July party for everyone in the neighborhood," Greg said as he laid out a stack of pictures and the original MLS listing from when he purchased the home in 1987. I asked him if he knew about the charred beams in the ceiling, and he thought the house had been struck by lightning. Talk of the home's structure quickly turned to Greg sharing stories about the history surrounding 408 Gill. He mentioned the streetcar that ran from the Loop Lounge (now 612 Kitchen and Cocktails) down our street, bringing residents out of the city to their summer homes on Gill and Woodlawn. I discovered that the brick wall behind our property was built because people would leave Kirkwood Country Club and end up in the backyard. Greg noted that Jane Nipher Gould lived in the home behind ours and that Nipher Middle School was named after her dad. I can't wait to learn more history of this house.
HomeWork with Trisha McConkey features stories about people, places and things related to the home services industry. Follow Trisha on Facebook and Instagram at @HomeWorkbyTricia and @408GillAve. Or walk by 408 Gill to watch the transformation.