THIS is the Ferguson, Missouri that I know and love.

I originally wrote this blog post about Ferguson back in October of 2009.  I figured if there was ever an appropriate time to update and resurrect it, it is today. Ferguson, and St. Louis as a whole, has received extensive worldwide press over the last week in regards to riots and looting in response to the untimely death of local boy,  Mike Brown.   

Resurrecting this post serves as a gentle reminder from this Native St. Louisan, who suffers from a heavy heart this AM:  Ferguson, MO is not a war zone.  It is a beautiful community with caring residents, a rich history, and stunning historic architecture.  North County- I and your city rally around you and pray for peace and real conversation. 

When most St Louisans dream of sipping lemonade on the porch swing of a stunning 100+ year old century home like this...... 

...Webster Groves often comes to mind.

While Webster is indeed the home to a number of GORGEOUS century old properties, this particular home is in fact in Ferguson, MO- a suburb just NW of Downtown. For locals who are not familiar with Ferguson, their first visit to the area is often a surprising one!  Those of us in the real estate industry are well aware of the area's rich history, awesome hidden gems, and lovely historical properties. I felt compelled to share!

In the late 19th century, overcrowding, congestion, and unhealthy conditions in the City of St. Louis prompted urban residents to seek more quiet surroundings to raise their families. Both Webster Groves and Ferguson were developed around the same  time,  on opposite sides of the region, as a result of that congestion Downtown.

St Louis developers were initially drawn to both areas, due to their location directly on railroad lines, allowing a simple commute to the city. Webster sat on the Pacific railroad line to the southwest of the city, while Ferguson sat on the Wabash railroad line to the northwest of the city. Both areas offered residents superb housing options in a country-like atmosphere, as well as a swift commute to downtown St. Louis jobs.

As both cities were developed at the same time for virtually the same purpose and demographic... the architectural styles and finishes are almost identical.  Many of the homes originally built in Downtown Historic Ferguson are still there today, including the one at the top of this blog post.

Here is a peek at some of the other historic architectural goodies in Ferguson, via photos that I copied this AM directly from the St. Louis MLS system.  This, locals/nationwide/worldwide audience, is also Ferguson, Missouri...