ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit focused on historic preservation, has named three St. Louis-area sites among the state’s most “endangered historic places.”

Missouri Preservation released its 2024 “Places in Peril” list earlier this month, calling attention to several culturally and architecturally significant sites across the state in need of stronger preservation efforts.

The latest declaration of endangered places included the following in the St. Louis region…

Jeff-Vander-Lou Green-Board Buildings in St. Louis City

Marycliff in Wildwood

Anna Bell Chapel in New Haven

Jeff-Vander-Lou Green-Board Buildings

The future of many green-boarded buildings in St. Louis’ Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood is uncertain. Dating back to the late 19th century, these buildings are among the last original structures still standing in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood.

Originally developed under the leadership of housing activist Macler C. Shepard of Jeff-Vander-Lou Inc., the buildings were initially part of an initiative to provide affordable housing. Missouri Preservation notes these were among the first buildings in the St. Louis area where African-American families could own real estate.

The buildings underwent several renovation projects and ownership changes over several decades. However, since their most recent sale in 2020, the buildings have been vacated and now suffer from significant structural damage, including roof and wall deterioration. Many potential entry points have been boarded up by green playwood.

Missouri Preservation hopes that new developers or plans will emerge to rehabilitate the green-board buildings, preserving their historical and architectural significance.

Marycliff

First built in 1905 as a summer home, Marycliff is a sprawling 12,000-square-foot estate that evolved into a longtime retreat center for Marianists, a Catholic religious order dedicated to education and spiritual renewal.

For decades, Marycliff served as a place of reflection and community for priests and brothers of the Society of Mary, hosting conferences and other large-scale events. In 2016, remaining community members relocated to other Society of Mary facilities.

The building has sat vacant for nearly a decade. Missouri Preservation notes that efforts to repurpose the venue into a larger family retreat center gained momentum in 2018, but were ultimately stalled after pandemic-related setbacks in 2020.

Since then, the estate has deteriorated, with reports of missing structural elements and brickwork damage raising concerns about its future.

Earlier this year, the City of Wildwood denied an application to demolish the building. Missouri Preservation hopes that Marianists will explore alternative options to save the century-old landmark with profound spiritual significance.

Anna Bell Chapel

The Anna Bell Chapel served as a vital cornerstone of the African-American community for more than a century, founded in 1865.

Nestled near the Missouri River, the chapel began as a modest log cabin church and later adopted its namesake to honor Anna Bell, whose tireless advocacy made the chapel possible. In 1995, a few remaining elderly congregants made a difficult decision to close doors.

For the next 25 years, New Haven resident David Smith diligently cared for the chapel, covering utilities and basic maintenance. In 2020, he turned over responsibilities to the New Haven Preservation Society.

Significant restoration work is needed to preserve the chapel. Weather damage has taken its toll on windows and doors, and the chapel will also require extensive foundation repairs and utility upgrades to support original furnishings.

Missouri Preservation hopes advocates can revive the chapel as a community and cultural center in memory of Anna Bell and her contributions.

Also worth noting

The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation also identified the DeLozier Building of Franklin County in its 2024 “Places in Peril” list.

Missouri Preservation has been working to identify the state’s “most endangered” sites since 2000. While some sites have eventually been demolished, others have been saved and improved, or at minimum have regained new attention.

Buildings with the “most endangered” or “places in peril” designation are nominated by concerned community advocates before being recognized as a site in need by a preservation committee.

To learn more about Missouri’s “endangered” places, check out this interactive map on Missouri Preservation’s website.