Urban Renewal Restores Old Homes in St. Joseph

St. Joseph, Missouri is often billed as the place where the Pony Express began and outlaw Jesse James met his end. The historic old city along the banks of the Missour River has retained much of the charm of the past. Throughout the city, fine old homes have been restored and many businesses are housed in vintage buildings.

On the city's North Side, the neighborhood known to locals as "the North end" is experiencing a revitilization of old homes. From Victorian brick mansions to simple frame houses, home owners have restored, repainted, and refurbished many of the homes. The pride in their homes doesn't end with architecture either - more and more of the homes sport flower gardens or other blooming displays of nature's beauty.

In a city that had been declining since the 1970's, the restoration of homes by younger families is a source of local pride. Until recent years, old homes in other areas of the city were most often targeted for renewal. Near the downtown area, the Historic Hall Street District has long focused on the history of the beautiful homes there. One is the former Bishop's Palace, dating from the days when the city of St. Joseph was seat of a Catholic diocese. Along Ashland Avenue and Lover's Lane on the borders of the North End, pride in the vintage homes is nothing new.

In the city's East Side neighborhoods, many home owners have also focused on restoring the glory of the past to their homes. Now the North End residents have joined forces to make their neighborhood shine and the efforts are paying off.

Style and charming grace of past ages made more homes unique unlike many housing developments today where homes often lack individuality. Through the North End, these homes are becoming showplaces and worthy of civic pride.

The neighborhood's one time anchors - Goetz Brewery and St. Joseph's Hospital, both long time landmarks - are gone but the area retains life in these first years of the 21st century.

Those visiting St. Joseph should make time to visit the city's North End neighborhood to see the renaissance that is now occuring in St. Joe, once called "The City Worthwhile"!