2108 Lafayette a three-story Second Empire House built in 1877 by Jacob Christopher.
He occupied it from 1877 - 1893

Jacob Christopher, the president of The Christopher & Simpson Architectural Iron and Foundry Company, whose offices and foundry were located on Park avenue, from Eighth to Ninth streets, was established in 1873. Jacob was born October 11, 1827, in France, just across the line from the city of Strassburg. His father was a farmer, and when Jacob was six years old they came to the United States and settled in New Orleans. After remaining there for a short time, they moved to Louisville.

Jacob moved to St. Louis in 1850. In 1873 he started his own business on a small scale and associated with W.S. Simpson, under the name Christopher & Co., and in 1882 the firm was incorporated as above, Mr. Christopher becoming the president of the new company.

The career of Jacob has in every way been a creditable one. When he first left school, he was compelled to work for a livelihood and to be content with very small wages. He was never , however, so poor but he was able to save a trifle, and by practicing strict economy he succeeded in amassing sufficient capital to start his own business. His career was one of steady progress. He was a prominent member of the board of Improvements of Lafayette Park; also a member of the Union Club.

Jacob was married in 1858 to Miss Harriet Simpson, of Ohio, yes that would be his business partner's sister.

(above information pulled from: The St. Louis Star-Sayings pub: 1893)

2108 Lafayette: 1974 - 1998

2108 Lafayette was purchased in 1974 by John R. Greene (Kirby). He made extensive restoration efforts to salvage the original character of the house. Pictured to the right, the house had been unoccuppied for many years after being used as a boarding house.

After working on the house for over 2 years ourselves, Julie and I are very thankful for his efforts. Some of the notable items: stripping the majority of the wood work on the first floor, replacing the spindles in both sets of stairs and many other countless efforts. I have scanned in photos that he gave to us, they are pictures of the house when he first took on this project in 1975. As pictures do not show the true condition of the house, I am truly amazed with his efforts.

2108 Lafayette: 1998 - present

On October 21st, 1998, Julie and I purchased a three-story Second Empire House built in 1877, located at 2108 Lafayette Avenue right across the street from Lafayette Park. It needed lots of work to make it our home, thus we have been busy ever since. I put together this web site to share our progress with our family and friends. Use the nav bar on the left or click on the floor plans below to see for yourself. - Wayne

Below is History Edna Gravenhorst compiled for Wayne & Julie 2/2003:

According to the building permit issued the house was built in 1877
January 5, 1877
Tax assessor’s office
From: Jane Lauer Cass by Trustee el al
To: Jacob Christopher

February 21, 1877
Building permit was issued to J. Christopher for a 3 story brick dwelling, cost $6,000

1877
City directory listed
Jacob Christopher (Christopher, Simpson & Company), residence 936 Autumn (Rutger)
William S. Simpson (Christopher, Simpson & Company), residence 1016 Autumn (Rutger)
Christopher, Simpson & Company (Jacob Christopher, William S. Simpson and Ernest Schiliter), architectural foundry, Park Av. NE corner 9th

1878
City directory listed residents at 2102 Lafayette Av.
Jacob Christopher (Christopher, Simpson & Company)
William S. Simpson (Christopher, Simpson & Company)

1879 & 1880
City directory listed
Jacob Christopher (Christopher, Simpson & Company), residence 2102 Lafayette
William S. Simpson (Christopher, Simpson & Company), residence 2006 Lafayette

1880 Census
Christopher household
Jacob Christopher/married, 52 years of age
Both parents born in Germany
Occupation/foundry
Harriet/wife, 38 years of age
Theobald/servant, 12 years of age
Bertha Nuchter/servant, 21 years of age

1882
City directory listed
Jacob Christopher (Christopher, Simpson & Company), residence 2102 Lafayette

1884 - 1890
City directory listed
Jacob Christopher, president (Christopher & Simpson A. I. & F. Company), residence 2102 Lafayette
William Simpson, secretary (Christopher & Simpson A. I. & F. Company), residence 2006 Lafayette
Henry Ruckert (Stifel & Ruckert), 2324 Kosciusko, residence 2319 S. 11th
Philip F. Stifel (Stifel & Ruckert), contractors, residence 2316 S. 12th

1893
City directory listed
Jacob Christopher, president (Christopher & Simpson A. I. & F. Company), residence 2102 Lafayette
William Simpson, secretary (Christopher & Simpson A. I. & F. Company), residence 2110 Lafayette

March 4, 1893
Tax assessor’s office
From: Jacob Christopher & Harriet G., hwf
To: Henry Ruckert

1894
City directory listed
Henry Ruckert (Stifel & Ruckert), residence 2102 Lafayette
Jacob Christopher, president (Christopher & Simpson A. I. & F. Company), residence 2112 Lafayette
William Simpson, secretary (Christopher & Simpson A. I. & F. Company), residence 2110 Lafayette

October 6, 1896
Tax assessor’s office
From: Gdy. Ruckert, single
To: Louise Ruemmeli

1896
City directory listed
Henry Ruckert (Stifel & Ruckert), residence 2102 Lafayette
Louise Ruemmeli (Albert Ruemmeli, Hacker & Company), Park Av. SE corner 8th,
residence 4601 Magnolia
Albert Ruemmeli, Ferdinand Hacker & Franz Helle, manufacturers of apparatus for artificial cooling of water, Park Av. SE corner 8th

1897
City directory listed
Albert Ruemmeli, president (Ruemmeli & Siebert Refrigerating Machine Company) 3900 Chouteau Ave., Cotton Compress Building, residence 2102 Lafayette

1900 Census
Ruemmeli household
Albert Ruemmeli, 46 years of age, married 18 years
Born in Mexico January 1954, both parents born in Switzerland
Came to the US in 1883
Occupation/manufacturer hardwood
Louise/wife, 41 years of age
Born in Germany November 1858, both parents born in Germany
Came to the US in 1883
Maria L./daughter, 15 years of age
Born in New Jersey November 1884
Clara H./daughter, 14 years of age
Born in Missouri August 1885
Ella/daughter, 10 years of age
Born in Missouri August 1885 Louise H./daughter, 7 years of age
Born in Missouri February 1892
Alice/daughter, 5 years of age
Born in Missouri September 1894
Johanna Ablen/servant, 26 years of age
Born in Germany April 1874, both parents born in Germany
Came to the US in 1884
Emma Brassner/servant,20 years of age
Born in Germany September 1879, both parents born in Germany
Came to the US in 1884
Anna H. A. Eitgan/nurse, 40 years of age
Born in Missouri September 1859, father born in Germany, mother born in France

1902
City directory listed
Albert Ruemmeli, president (Ruemmeli Manufacturing Company), residence 2102 Lafayette Av.

1907
City directory listed
Albert Ruemmeli, president (The Ruemmeli Dawley Manufacturing Company), ice making and refrigerating machinery, water cooling towers, steam boilers and all kinds of tank work, 3900 Chouteau, residence 2102

1910
Ruemmeli household
Albert Ruemmeli, 56 years of age, married 21 years
Occupation/manufacturer ice machines
Louise/wife, 52 years of age
Births 7, living 5 Marie/daughter, 25 years of age
Single
Clara Schadek/daughter, 23 years of age
Married 3 years, births 1, living 0
Ella/daughter, 20 years of age
Single
Louise/daughter, 17 years of age
Single
Alice/daughter, 15 years of age
Single
Annie Weans/servant, 20 years of age, single
Came to the US in 1895

1915
City directory listed
Albert Ruemmeli, president (The Ruemmeli Dawley Manufacturing Company), ice making and refrigerating machinery, water cooling towers, steam boilers and all kinds of tank work, 3900 Chouteau, residence 2102

1916 & 1917
City directory listed resident at 2108 Lafayette
Albert Ruemmeli, president (The Ruemmeli Dawley Manufacturing Company), 3909 Chouteau

1922
City directory listed residents at 2108 Lafayette
Alice Ruemmeli, music teacher
Louise Ruemmeli (widow of Albert)
City directory listed
The Ruemmeli Dawley Manufacturing Company, Edward W. Schadek vice-president, 3923 Chouteau Av.

July 10, 1922
Tax assessor’s office
From: Louise Ruemmeli, widow
To: Sam Shapiro & Bertha, hwf

May 22, 1923
Building permit was issued to William Shapiro for a 1-story frame shed, cost $300

July 14, 1923
Tax assessor’s office
From: Sam Shapiro & Bertha, hwf
To: K.G. Burg

July 14, 1923
Tax assessor’s office
From: K.G. Burg, single
to: Sam Shapiro & Bertha, hwf

1923 - Became a Boarding House for the next 40+ years (furnished rooms)
City directory listed resident at 2102 Lafayette
Samuel Shapiro (Bertha), furnished rooms 2102 Lafayette Av.
City directory listed resident at 2108 Lafayette
Mrs. Cordy Oehlert, furnished rooms 2108 Lafayette

1924
City directory listed resident at 2102 Lafayette
Luther Woodrow (Mattie), chauffeur
City directory listed resident at 2108 Lafayette
Henry Oehlert (Cora), laborer

September 22. 1925
Tax assessor’s office
From: Sam Damba & Bertha, hwf
To: Sam Shapiro & Bertha, hcf 1925
City directory listed resident at 2102 Lafayette
Henry Oehlert (Cora), freight handler
City directory listed resident at 2108 Lafayette
George Meyer (Bessie), teamster

April 21, 1926
Building permit was issued to S. Shapiro for a 1 story frame shed, cost $100

September 12, 1926
Tax assessor’s office
From: Louise Ruemmeli & Albert, hh By Trustee July 9, 1920
To: Sophie Lerner

1926
City directory listed resident at 2102 Lafayette
Sam Shapiro (Bertha), bondsman
City directory listed resident at 2108 Lafayette
Caroline Oehlert (widow of Henry)
September 12, 1926
Tax assessor’s office
From: Sophie Lerner, single
To: Ely Sanders

1927
City directory listed residents at 2102 Lafayette
Edward Otterson (Mattie), laborer
Samuel Shapiro (Bertha), confectionery at 2100 Lafayette
City directory listed residents at 2108 Lafayette
Virgil Scheffer (Annabel), foreman
John Rust (Blanche), chauffeur

April 19, 1927
Tax assessor’s office
From: Ely Sanders, single
To: Selma Bonde

April 26, 1928
Building permit was issued to Selma Bonde to alter brick ten., cost $25

1928
City directory listed resident at 2102 Lafayette
Mrs. Selma Bonde (widow of Ernest)
City directory listed resident at 2108 Lafayette
Edgar Boehme (Lydia)

1933
City directory listed resident at 2102 - 2108 Lafayette
Mrs. Selma Bonde, furnished rooms

1938
City directory listed resident at 2102 - 2108 Lafayette
Mrs. Leona Bonde (widow), furnished rooms

1942
City directory listed resident at 2102 - 2108 Lafayette
Mrs. Selma Bonde, furnished rooms

Probate Court
October 29, 1944 Selma Bonde died
July 13, 1943 Will dated
October 30, 1944 Will probated
October 30, 1944 Letters granted
November 24, 1944 Jury
From: Selma Bonde, Elmer L. Lenz executor
To: No Widower

January 15, 1946
Tax assessor’s office
From: Elmer L. Lenz executor of Selma Bonde estate, dec’d
To: Monte L. Lopata

October 9, 1948
Tax assessor’s office
From: Monte L. Lopata & Carolyn
To: Selma Lieberman

1947/1948
City directory listed resident at 2102 - 2108 Lafayette
Monte Lapato, furnished rooms
City directory listed residents at 2102 Lafayette
William R. Strader (Ella), janitor
Jessie C. Huber, employee Caradine Hat Company
Adele M. Rosenburg, machine operator-Buckley Shirt Company

1952
City directory listed residents at 2102 - 2108 Lafayette
Monte Lapato, furnished rooms
William R. Strader (Ella), maintenance man Monte Lapato

1955
City directory listed resident at 2102 - 2108 Lafayette
W. R. Strader, furnished rooms

November 18, 1957
Tax assessor’s office
From: Selma Lieberman, single
To: Marvin Frankel & Mildred, hcf

1958
City directory listed resident at 2102 - 2108 Lafayette
William R. Strader, furnished rooms May 14, 1958
Tax assessor’s office
From: Selma Lieberman, single
To: Marvin Frankel & Mildred, hcf

1963
City directory listed residents at 2102 Lafayette
William Strayer (Ella M.)
John Junkerman (Christine), employee Atna Window Cleaners
Martha Junkerman

1968
City directory listed resident at 2102 Lafayette
William R. Strayer (Ella M.)
Barry Strayer
City directory listed resident at 2108 Lafayette
Alice Blankership (widow of Robert E.)

July 7, 1972
Tax assessor’s office
From: Marvin Frankel & Mildred, h/w
To: John F. L. Komar, single

1973
City directory listed 2102 & 2108 Lafayette
Vacant

July 26, 1974
Tax assessor’s office
From: John F. L. Komar
To: Kirby Greene, single
1976/1977
City directory listed 2102 & 2108 Lafayette
Vacant 1980
City directory listed 2102 Lafayette
Vacant
City directory listed resident at 2108 Lafayette
Kirby R. Green
1985/1986
Phone book listed
Kirby R. Greene, 2108 Lafayette
1990
Criss cross directory listed residents at 2108 Lafayette
Clay Cummins
Kirby R. Greene
1995/1996
Criss cross directory listed residents at 2108 Lafayette
Clay Cummins
Kirby R. Greene
1996/1997
Criss cross directory listed residents at 2108 Lafayette
Clay Cummins
Kirby R. Greene

November 3, 1998
Tax assessor’s office
From: Kirby Green, single
To: Wayne Michael White & Julie A. Padberg-White

.