Richard C. Kerens house
Built: 1890
Demolished: 1950
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque
Architects: Fuller and Wheeler
Neighborhood: Grand Center
City Block: 2289
On 1875 Compton and Dry Map: no
On 1883 Hopkins Atlas: no
Historical significance: This house was built for Richard C. Kerens, a railroad builder, who had later become heavily involved in the Republican Party in Missouri. Kerens was born in Ireland and moved to the United States at a young age. As a young man, he fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1876, Kerens moved to St. Louis, where he became interested in the building of railroads. One of the railroads he had built was the Texas and St. Louis Railroad. Kerens was also involved in the mining industry, and had a country estate in West Virginia. After his heavy involvement in the Republican Party, Kerens was appointed as ambassador to Austria Hungary in 1909 during the Taft Administration.
Architectural significance: This house was built in 1890 by Fuller and Wheeler of Albany, New York in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. This was one of the largest homes built in Vandeventer Place, and was comparable in size to the Henry Clay Pierce mansion at 40 Vandeventer Place, also designed by Fuller and Wheeler.
Richard C. Kerens