Lewis Place — From Exclusion to Empowerment
A private street in North St. Louis, Lewis Place was once an elite, whites-only address.
Today, it’s the only place in the United States where African Americans own three continuous blocks of land.
How did this come to be?
The Street
Although Lewis Place is an entire neighborhood within the city—bounded by Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, North Newstead Avenue, Delmar Boulevard, and Walton Avenue—this story focuses on the street itself.
The land was developed by William J. Lewis and his family in 1890. The street and landscaping were designed by Julius Hitzman, who also worked on Benton Place, Westmoreland Place, and Portland Place.
Many original houses were built and owned by the Lewis family. Construction continued into the 1920s, creating a range of homes—from Victorian mansions to bungalows. The three-block street features a landscaped center parkway.
As a private street, residents are responsible for maintenance and upkeep. To prevent through traffic, the street has only one entrance—off North Taylor Avenue.
The Gateway Arch of Lewis Place
In 1895, a monumental gate was erected at Taylor Avenue, designed by the firm Barrett, Haynes, and Barrett. It became more than an architectural feature—it was a symbolic barrier between white neighborhoods to the west and African American neighborhoods to the east.
Restrictive Covenants
In the early 20th century, neighborhood restrictions evolved from regulating businesses and building types to actively segregating communities.
In 1917, St. Louis passed an ordinance zoning neighborhoods by race. If more than 75% of a block’s residents were of one race, it was illegal for someone of another race to move in. Although the Supreme Court struck down this ordinance, real estate agents and banks continued the practice.
Restrictive covenants were written into property deeds to prohibit sales or leases to African Americans—and, in some cases, to Jewish and Catholic families. On Lewis Place, property owners signed 20-year agreements enforcing these covenants.
Demographic Shifts
In the 1930s and 40s, St. Louis’ African American population surged, especially after World War II, as families moved north seeking industrial jobs. Housing was scarce—117,000 African Americans lived in areas built for just 43,000.
Until the Great Depression, Lewis Place was home to middle- and upper-class company managers, professionals, and small business owners. By 1937, it was more blue-collar, with many widows and laborers. Houses began to be rented—something previously unheard of—and wealthier residents moved to the suburbs.
Breaking the Barrier
In 1942, the Robbins family, an African American family, purchased a house on Lewis Place through a “straw man”—a white buyer who purchased the property with the family’s money, then transferred it to them.
Such arrangements led to court cases, including the landmark 1948 Shelley v. Kraemer decision, in which the Supreme Court ruled racial restrictive covenants unconstitutional.
The Robbins’ purchase met fierce resistance. Before they moved in, another family—white—was placed in the home under a claimed verbal rental agreement. After two years of court battles, the Robbins family finally took possession. The home stayed in the Robbins family until about 2010.
A New Community
More African Americans moved onto the street, including prominent professionals:
Dr. Richard Harris and Dr. Ruth Harris (President of Harris-Stowe)
Joseph Mitchell, treasurer and secretary for the St. Louis Argus
By the 1950s, Lewis Place had become a desirable neighborhood for Black professionals. Even as surrounding neighborhoods declined, Lewis Place remained strong. Residents modernized street lighting, repaved streets via a special levy, and updated the Neighborhood Association’s charter.
Historic Recognition and Preservation
On September 15, 1980, Lewis Place was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a historic district within the city.
By the mid-1990s, the Union of Sierra Development Corporation, which had maintained Lewis Place and surrounding neighborhoods, dissolved. Without oversight, upkeep declined.
In 2000, residents led by Pamela Talley formed Lewis Place Historic Preservation, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the street’s historic homes and improving the surrounding community.
The City’s Proposal
In the early 2000s, the city offered to assume control and maintenance of Lewis Place—from property grass lines to the street’s center median. Residents unanimously declined. With nothing in writing and distrust of the city’s intentions, they chose to remain self-governed.
Looking Forward
In 2009, the Historic Preservation group created a community garden on an empty lot at the street’s North Taylor Avenue entrance. Future plans include:
Annual historic house tours
Clean-up and beautification projects
Landscaping the center median
Preserving existing houses through rehabilitation and restoration
Legacy
Lewis Place is a symbol of St. Louis’ civil rights struggle, a place where racial barriers were broken and a community flourished. Its residents have ensured that its history—and its future—remain in their hands.
You can find more at:
Twitter: @showme_history
Facebook: ShowMeHistorySTL
Until next time, I’ll see you in the Lou.