Thomas Sappington Barns and Pond

Thomas Sappington's property was originally gifted to him by his parents as a wedding gift. It was 200 acres! His land extended east to Big Bend and West to Watson road. The property stretched north past Sam's Club on Big Bend and south past Crestwood Elementary on Sappington Rd. Now the property is 2.5 acres. Over the years many changes happened to this property besides it getting smaller.

A painting from the early 1900s suggests that a barn was located where a pond is in the present time. Additionally, there is proof that a larger building was also on the property. This was located where the Barn Restaurant, built-in 1975, now sits. The restaurant was started in 2013. There is a gift shop on the second floor of the barn.

During the 1960s Sappington House restoration, outbuilding timbers were discovered near the Library of Americana and Decorative Arts. These rough-hewn timbers were stacked in a way that made it unclear the exact type of building these timbers were used for. It is possible that these may have been from the cabins of enslaved persons. It is also possible that these timbers were the frame for a chicken coup or simple outbuilding that may have served many purposes.

Ideas for Sappington House Virtual Tour, January 1st 2021. Accessed April 9th 2021.

The Thomas Sappington house museum. (n.d.). Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://historicsappingtonhouse.org/

ONeal, T. (2021, February). Sappington Family [Photograph]. St. Louis.