Just off South Grand Blvd. in St. Louis City, the Magic Chef Mansion is a timeless testament to the city's rich history and architectural grandeur. Located in the Compton Hill neighborhood, this charming estate was originally constructed in 1908 for Charles Stockstrom, the founder of the Magic Chef Stove Company. Designed by prominent architect Ernst Janssen, this three-story, 12,000-square-foot mansion since its construction has captivated visitors with its intriguing past, grandiosity, and enduring legacy of the Magic Chef brand. Stockstrom's daughter, Adda Ohmeyer, owned the mansion until she passed in 1990. In an interview with St. Louis REALTORS®, the current owner, Shelley Donaho, recalled that there was a dumpster in front of the main entrance in the MLS listing photo. After several initially declined offers, Ohmeyer's estate sold Donaho the mansion for $400,000 cash, as was, with no inspections.

Donaho was a REALTOR® member in the Association for roughly 40 years and sold homes in the neighborhoods surrounding the Magic Chef Mansion for Vintage Realty, where her tagline was "sold on old." She says she loves old architecture and was immediately smitten with the house, even though she knew taking care of such a large estate would be a huge undertaking. As a REALTOR®, she had seen many historic homes that had changed hands over the years and were altered by each individual owner to fit their tastes. The Magic Chef Mansion, however, was still fully intact with many of its original fixtures. "In 1990, it was still 1908 here in this house, and that made me fall in love with it… I had witnessed far too many homes that had been rehabbed and butchered instead of restored," Donaho said of the property.

Upon entering the front door of the Magic Chef Mansion, visitors are greeted by lavish grandeur. The interior boasts beautifully preserved original details, including intricate woodwork, hand-carved mantels, stained glass windows, and ornate chandeliers. But when Donaho purchased the home, it was far from this condition. "The condition was frightening and beautiful all at once," she said of the property, "[Ohmeyer] loved the house and didn't mean to let it go, but it was beyond her reach."

Donaho set out to begin restoring the property shortly after purchasing it. She says the exterior was covered in coal soot, the ceiling over the main staircase had caved in because of a leak in the roof, the boiler was huge and inefficient, there was no air conditioning, and the home still had knob and tube wiring with the original electrical panel still in use. Donaho said she could look beyond all the work that needed to be done and notice the little things that gave hope to the project, such as the quartersawn oak woodwork still in excellent, level condition.

Of course, restoring a mansion to its original 1908 wonder nearly 100 years later was not an easy feat. Donaho says the vastness of the house was one of the most immense challenges she faced, along with finding artisans capable of doing the work. She says her neighbors were beneficial in the restoration's success because of their own craft abilities or knowing a specialist that could. The City Museum even assisted in making molds of the missing terracotta balustrades to replace them. It quickly became evident that community members were just as interested in seeing this home restored as Donaho was.

Throughout her career as a REALTOR®, Donaho says one lesson she learned was if you do not keep up with maintenance, it will cost you down the road. That lesson was reinforced during her restoration of this home and in the years she has lived there. Even today, the house is about to get a new roof and copper finials, something Donaho says is a massive gift to the preservation and longevity of the home. The two most significant benefits Donaho sees in owning a historic property with so much significance to the St. Louis region are the pride of ownership and being able to share it with other people who love old homes. She says that even though the property is a lot to keep up with, she loves being its caretaker.

In 2007, Donaho opened her home to the public for tours and events. She enjoys allowing guests to experience the grandeur and beauty of years long past. Every year, those fascinated by Gilded Age history and architecture are drawn to the home's historical significance, stunning façade, and timeless elegance. In a city with such a long, storied past there is an importance in taking a home that holds so much history and making it whole again through restoration. Donaho’s work on this house is a testament to her commitment to the preservation of our city’s architectural history. Preserving these homes will help keep the luxury and sophistication of a bygone era alive in St. Louis for generations to come.

Return to the St. Louis REALTORS®' Report.

 

Photos courtesy of Shelley Donaho.