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BY JEANETTE EBERLIN RIZZELLO

The City of Hazelwood is in the process of offering the public a unique way to have a social or business gathering in a personal atmosphere. Plans are in progress to restore the interior and parts of the exterior of the historic Knobbe House in Brookes Park.

“Construction has begun on restoring the inside of the house, not a period restoration, but making the first floor fully available to rent out for various activities,” Doug Littlefield, Hazelwood’s superintendent of parks and recreation said in an interview this week.

“We feel this kind of environment, or setting, will create a nice atmosphere for gatherings. There is a big front porch and an enclosed porch in the back,” Littefield said. He explained that only the first floor will be rented out, the whole first floor, for each occasion. There will be no multiple groups; just one group at a time.

“It’s something new, a building getting a face lift and keeping its historic look, even the porch railings are kept in their original state,” he said.

The bottom floor will be fully accessible with all types of modern amenities for any kind of meeting, business, social or family activities. There will be an elevator lift for disabled persons, a full kitchen facility and for business purposes, internet access. The groups should be a maximum of 50 persons.

The renters will have use of the park features, that will include a gazebo which could be used for wedding parties, he said. “once we open we will give a tour of the facility before it’s rented.”

Years ago the Joseph S. Knobbe – Korte family lived in the big gracious house on a large farm in the area south of what now is Village Square. The road on the east side of the farm was named Bridgeton Station Road and later became Lindbergh Boulevard.

The other historic structures in Brookes Park are the Utz-Teson House, moved to the park from Utz Lane in 2003, and the original Elm Grove School, built in 1852 , known as The Little Red Schoolhouse and moved to the park in 1961. Brookes park is at the end of Brookes Drive in the Big Foot area.

When asked about the probable opening date of the Knobbe house, City Manager Ed Carlstrom said, “Possibly by the beginning of October.”
At a recent public hearing on the 2007-2008 city budget, Carlstrom had explained that funding for the project will be used from the city’s hotel, motel tax for tourism attractions.

The contract for the reconstruction is approximately $300,000. The city has put a down payment and the rest of the cost will be completed in five years. The second story will contain offices for some personnel, he said, for example, the city’s economic developer.
Speaking for the City Council, Mayor T. R. Carr said, “The Knobbe House represents part of the history of the City of Hazelwood. We believe that it is important to preserve our heritage for future generations”

For more information call the Hazelwood Community Center at (314) 731-0980.
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