Colonial Revival architecture is a prominent style throughout Webster Groves, as well as the rest of the United States. The style calls to 18th Century Georgian and Federal buildings constructed throughout England and New England. The revival is a venture into nostalgia and a celebration of American heritage. “As the United States began to put the bitterness of the Civil War behind it, the Colonial Revival movement provided a comforting backward look at the nation's founding and its successful struggle for independence. It was a reminder that Americans had a history to be proud of as well as a future worth pursuing.”
231 West Lockwood, Webster Groves used to be the Reliable Life Insurance Company; a Company which sought to provide equal insurance benefits for Americans, regardless of race or class. Webster Groves was a perfect location to relocate as it was one of the most progressive post-civil war suburbs of St. Louis with the only black high school in the county located in North Webster: Douglass High School. The company erected the Colonial Revival Building in 1966, modeling it after the Governor's Mansion in Williamsburg Virginia:
Today the building stands on the streets of Old Webster with a few frequented local businesses:
The Colonial Revival influence continues on throughout the residential areas of the neighborhood. The 231 W. Lockwood commercial building acts a microcosmic picture of the progressive and proud history of the community; architecturally and culturally.
Written by Ciara Brewer and Photographed by Rachel Broaddus on behalf of Monica Brewer
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