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Magnificent
Mudd's Grove. . . A Kirkwood
Treasure
Construction of the
magnificent Greek Revival home known as Mudd's
Grove got underway in 1859 and was completed in
1860 for John Hoffman, a local builder and real
estate developer.
Using
the soft salmon brick common to the area, the house
is built with thick masonry walls. In order to
protect the brick's fragile character, the exterior
is painted. The first and second floors of the
three-story dwelling were identical, having two
rooms on the east and two on the west side
separated by a central stair hall.
Each
room has a nearly identical mantled fireplace
leading to one of the distinctive twin chimneys in
the gable parapets. The room arrangement, method of
construction, fireplaces for heat and high ceilings
for ventilation make this house a functional and
practical design for the St. Louis climate.
Mudd's
Grove has been recognized as historically
significant by the National Register of Historic
Places. It was purchased by the Kirkwood Historical
Society in 1992. Members of the Society have been
lauded by the city of Kirkwood for their personal
involvement in restoring the house to its original
elegance. The Society operates it as a museum and
resource center. In addition, members staff the
on-site Gate House Gift Shop.
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Mudd's
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