Sgt. King’s Home on Lotus Avenue
I previously wrote about an incident in which a Detective Sergeant for the St. Louis Police was shot during a robbery attempt. Unlike a number of other incidents in Gilded Age St. Louis history, Detective Sergeant James Martin King’s home in January 1920 still exists. The home is still in excellent condition.
Sgt. King Home on Lotus Avenue – Courtesy of Google Earth
4973 Lotus Avenue was the home of Sgt. King in 1920. It is a private residence and still in excellent condition. In fact, the entire gated street off of N. Kingshighway Boulevard is still in great condition. St. Louis builders erected the homes between 1895 and 1910. 4973 Lotus Avenue was built in 1910 at the same time as its next door neighbor.
Sgt. King was walking home on January 12, 1920, when he was held up a three blocks south of his home at N. Kingshighway and Aldine Place. In comparison to Sgt. King’s home, the 4900 block of Aldine Place contains a couple dozen apartment buildings owned by the Land Revitilization Authority (LRA). The LRA condemned most of the buildings but a few will probably fall on their own before a wrecking ball can be summoned.
Sgt. King’s home exemplifies the quality of St. Louis architecture around the turn of the Twentieth Century. St. Louis is still home to many of these beautiful brick buildings.
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Revised Cover of 1920: The Deadliest Year for St. Louis Police
