I went through Carrollton today and 4 of the remaining 5 homes have been torn down in the past week. There is one lone house remaing of the original 2,000.
It is 12679 Grandin. The asbestos has been removed as well as all of the materials that are used during the removal. It looks like the final chapter of Carrollton subdivision will take place with the teardown of the house on Monday. If you would like to pay your respects to the final home and to Carrollton as a whole, please do it today, Saturday, February 7, or on Sunday, February 8, 2009. Here is where the home is.
If you cannot visit, please post your comments below. Thank you.
J. Desy Schoenewies
56 Houses Left 
And so it ends. This looks like the kind of house built in my neighborhood (in Indianapolis), a typical 50s-60s suburban ranch. Having followed this blog this long I have mixed feelings about seeing this end.
Even though I know that the house that was once my home is completely gone, that any minute now ALL the houses will be gone, it is still there in exquisite detail in my mind.
It has always been shocking and fascinating to see the pictures you have taken and the “progress” that has been made to completely eradicate traces of Carrollton.
I guess that it is a metaphysical topic, too. As in:
What is reality?
How can any two persons have the same reality.
What, if anything of our minds and lives is left on earth 100 years after we die?
I am certainly grateful to you for this blog and for your gifted photography. I often wonder how many people still see Carrollton in their minds and what we would all say if we were in the same room with each other.
Thank you for putting me in touch with a (somewhat painful) reality and fueling my metaphysical thoughts.
If you ever decide to write a book about Carrollton and if I am still alive (!), I would welcome any request for memories. We lived there when the whole community was just starting and so I have many memories of that time.
The last house is on Grandin…Wow!, As I have stated, I lived in 12651 grandin, the house at the top of the hill at the northwest corner of Grandin and Woodford. Large side yards and small back yard and tall retaining wall affording us a view over the rooftop of the Phipps house on Woodford just north of us. In the winter we would watch to see how many cars got stuck climbing Woodford in icy conditions. many would not get as far as Hemet.
Regarding 12679, How many times did I pass that house walking to friends houses, or riding my bike or my skateboard, or taking my first tentative drive in my parents, then in my own car. I though at first that the last house (12679) might be of a childhood friend. Not certain as I don’t recall his address, It certainly was the the same plan and elevation as his home. Wish I could be there to give my regards. I Will be in St. Louis in late May. Will have to make a pilgrimage to the site (assuming I can gain entry) and say one last goodby.
Thank you for all this, I love the memories I hold of Carrollton. If you do put all this in Book form, I will certainly give what info and memories I can ,and will order the book at it’s 1st printing.
It’s like watching the idyllic part of my childhood being swept away, though of course there was much awful that happend along the way too. From 1966 to 1971 (6 to 11) I ran arounsd with the packs of kids that did the things kids do – bikes, baseball, street hockey, fights, cub scouts, school at Bon Fils Elementry.
My father could eke out a living as an inventor at least for awhile. I learned to fix engines, sell door to door, shoot an arrow and make the string, poor lead soldiers, bob for apples.
I was with Steve Schulte when he started a grass fire in the field at the top of Bondurant. We were 10 years old and had found beer stashed in someone’s bushes.
We tried to put it out with beer and I ran and called the fire dept. We “smoked” hollow milkweed sticks.
In the summers, some kids (not me) would ride their bikes behind the bug spray trucks breathing in clouds of poison (DDT?) I’ll never forget the smell.
It was the house to which my brother returned from Vietnam on Mother’s Day 1970 about 1 am.
I could go senile and still rememeber my address of 12683 Woodford Way.
It’s SO wrong to see the entire neighborhood gone.
It’s really sad for me to see Carrollton removed from the planet. A lot of magic lived there. I lived half way down Weskan Lane and have missed it ever since I left it back in 1976. I want to thank those responsible for having taken on this project. You’ve done a lot of work that is much appreciated. I found a picture of what I think was our house. It was one of the last ones standing. My parents still live in Missouri and say they visited Carrollton a few times. They said a couple of years ago there were about 20 houses that were still standing. They found our house had a fire that gutted the place. I’m sad to hear that happened. As a child, I would walk to the Carrollton shops to get an ice cream at the Holy Cow ice cream shop or buy a toy from Ben Franklin. Stock up on gum and candy at the local Quick Shop. We were amazed when Target moved into the area. Our gang would ride our bikes all over the parking lots on Sundays. Then maybe get a burger from Burger Chef where we had our burgers “our way”. We once got environmentally conscious by getting wet and muddy cleaning up the water way next to the McDonalds that had just moved in. The manager came out and gave us free burgers for being environmentally aware and helpful. Walking to Bonfils Elementary with never a problem until graduating onto Hazelwood West Jr. High. Then it was up at 5 am to catch the bus, sometimes having to stand outside in the winter in freezing cold weather. Hopping the fence at the community pool and skinny dipping with friends. Those days will forever live on in my memories. Thank you Carrollton, the people who lived there and those who have put forth the energy for this project to exist. Although I had bad times, I had trillions of more good times and Carrollton will always be full of magic when I think of it.
Hey Glad, to see that my parents old house was the last one standing. They moved out in 2004 so it has been standing for that long….what a waste. My Parents moved into that house in 1976..we used to live Next door…that is no lie. they lived there from 1976 til 2004. I lived there from 76-til 94 (Home for college) and then 1999-2001 (Saving for a House). My parents lived in Carrollton from 1969 til 2004. I remember goig to Coachlight and the Kebler factory through the back way down by Carrollton School. If any of you went to Pattonville…Yes…that is Mr. Tindall’s house. I asked my dad about a year ago if the new house (In St. Charles…UGGGHHHH) finally felt like home and his response was “@%$#! NO!!!” thank you for letting see the last moments of my old house. My Childhood is erased forever.
Hello, I’m doing research for my mom Christina Waldo, she grew up at 12294 Latham. I’m looking for any info possible as far as her old house!
Jami, I want to thank you very much for documenting this. Growing up in Carrolton was my version of the “Wonder Years”. I moved out to Los Angeles in 99′, but came back to help my mother get the house ready for sale to the airport. We lived at 12674 Lonsdale. I believe that was the summer of 2002. That would be the last time I was to set foot in or see that house ever again. My father told me he watched, while tears streamed down his cheeks, as the demolition crew razed our home. A home we had occupied since 1968. When he told me this, I said I was glad that I wasn’t there to watch it or I would’ve shed many a sentimental tear. Gone was the Japanese garden my father slaved over which surrounded the in-ground pool in the back yard. They took it all, the cement from the driveway, sidewalk, not a piece of brick coping or tile from the pool in sight. All that remains is the remnants of the retention wall in the back yard, partially toppled over, as if it were some old ruin you would stumble upon in Europe. I now wish I had been there to document it like you. To bear witness to this tragedy. I wish my father had taken pictures of it. But I am sure just being there was all he could endure. I live in Creve Coeur now, my wife and I moved back in January of 2008. Everytime I take her to the airport, I drive back through the old neighborhood. Waves of memories bubble to the surface. Playing kickball in the street, running in the streets after the “bug” truck crop dusted, sneaking in at the Carrolton Pool, skateboarding the dive tank after it was just freshly painted, we were such scoundrels. Driving up Woodford Way, I recall the St. Lawrence Fall Festivals. Spending all my allowance and more on rides and games. After running out of money, we would sneak through the hole in fence up on the hill. We would then hide out under the bridge and watch as cars flew by on 270. One summer we decided it would be really “neat-o” if we rode our bikes to Target using the storm drains in front of Brunswick Bowling Alley. Like Mike above, I remember bike rides to the Ben Franklin dime store, getting candy at the Majik Market, stopping by DQ. Remember when Schnucks was JayBee? My brothers and I all walked to Bonfils grade school. The site of many a pinewood derby. I remember Halloween, trick-o-treating till almost 10pm. I don’t know if our parents treasure the memories as much as we, their children do. Are their glasses as rose tinted as ours…? Possibly. At least, I to think so…..Thanks again Jami….and all who responded to this. I enjoyed reading your memories…It’s almost strange to read something and think, “how did they get in my head, those are my memories of Carrolton”? Thanks again…If you ever stumble upon any other photos feel free to email me. Especially if you find one of my house on Lonsdale…
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