1210 Georgia

Built circa 1854, by William Luce, a wealthy subdivision developer, for his personal home, this fine Italianate style mansion set the tone for the fashionable neighborhood that developed up and down Louisiana, Missouri’s beautiful tree lined Georgia Street. Today the well maintained home situated on over one half acre is surrounded by lovely landscaping and mature trees.

The home has always been a fashionable and elegant residence with its gracious formal entry, magnificent floating curved staircase, beautifully proportioned and generously sized rooms, but its chief asset is its livability. The well proportioned rooms bright with natural light from the beautiful Italianate arched windows just make one feel welcome and comfortable.

The excellent proportions and elegance in design of this home was likely more than mere serendipity. It is generally accepted, but not documented, that this home was designed by renowned 19^th Century St. Louis architect, George Ingram Barnett, (1815-1898). Barnett who emigrated from London to St. Louis in 1839, had trained as an architect with Sir Thomas Hine, was known for his buildings that exuded “character expression and proportion.”

Barnett had connections to the prosperous 1850s, Louisiana, Missouri; his daughter married into Louisiana’s famous Stark Brother’s Nursery family. Whether or not, sleuthing can prove Barnett was indeed the architect of this marvelous home, it is clear that the creator of the original design was highly skilled and possessed exquisite taste with the ability to combine elegance with livability.

The home stayed in the Luce family until 1891, when it was purchased by John J. McCune. In 1945, the home was sold by its owner J. Hurlie McCune, a local banker, to his wife’s sister. The new owner Mrs. Irma Smith Pribe is said to have spent $50,000 dollars adding modern conveniences to the home including three bathrooms and a “modern” kitchen. Later owners made more updates to 20^th Century necessities

The current owners purchased the home in 1981, and continued the tradition of updating the home while honoring the quality and architecture of the original design. They have painstakingly restored the fabulous wood floors, used period paint colors and document reproduction wallpapers from Schumacher, and carefully maintained the homes exterior. They have loved living in this wonderful home and, like many of us who love historic homes, view themselves as caretakers of this historic architectural treasure.

During the Christmas season the owners wrap the house in a large ribbon and bow; the tradition started their first Christmas in the home as a symbol that the joy of owning and living in this special home is a gift.

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