SoHa Directory 2026

12 2026 | SOHA Community Directory Southampton History Let’s journey back to the late 1800s. The Southwest section of the city of St Louis was farm and pastureland from King’s Highway (the original spelling) to Watson Road. King’s Highway was a dirt road from at least Arsenal Street south to Clark Road (later renamed Eichelberger Street) to Clark Farm, later Frances Farm. Chippewa Street didn’t exist west of King’s Highway where instead it was rolling farmland. Coming from the dark clouds of soft coal soot hanging over the densely populated sections of St Louis, the air was fresh and clean west of King’s Highway, with inviting vistas of rolling farmland. The Switzer Farm was sold at auction to property capitalists (today’s real estate investors) who wanted to develop the farm into a residential subdivision that would become Southampton. Many of the streets would have English names such as Devonshire and Nottingham. A streetcar line was needed for transportation but for this to happen, King’s Highway had to be widened and regraded. The change was held up by the city. Years went by. As the private streetcar line neared completion, the investors got to work with the City Plan Commission to lay out utility lines, lots, setbacks, etc. Zoning codes didn’t exist at the time, so the developer assigned land to schools, churches and commercial structures without city oversight. The two-track streetcar line at Arsenal Street ran south along King’s Highway and then west along Devonshire Avenue with the turnaround loop at the northwest corner of Devonshire and Macklind avenues. (The three one-story ranch structures west of this intersection were built in 1959 after the Southampton line was taken out of service.) The brick manufacturer Laclede-Christy Clay Works was on a large tract bordered by Delor Street, Ridgewood and Lansdowne avenues, and Kings Highway. It was the area’s only heavy industry. Lot sales began in September, 1901, with the earliest structures lining King’s Highway and slowly proceeding west, mostly along Devonshire Avenue at first. These early structures show Art Deco influence but are mostly Arts and Crafts-style with American Four Square and all sorts of variations. It took nearly a year to build each home. By 1914-1915 enough homes had been built and were occupied to justify commercial structures. One can imagine the early commercial buildings in the Macklind Business District, continuing south along Macklind Avenue. Southampton joined “streetcar suburbs” throughout the country. Sales of lots were brisk. In the 1920s and 1930s home building continued, from Macklind and Brannon avenues west to Hampton Avenue. “Gingerbread Houses” with Tudor Revival elements constructed in brick and stone without timbers predominated. The northwest section of Southampton (January to Sulphur avenues and generally south from Chippewa Street a few blocks) showcases emerging single-story ranch homes. Taking a stroll through Southampton immerses you in its character and charm. Photo Credit: Laura Derrington, a Southampton neighbor