By Renée Stovsky
Looking at octogenarians Dr. Wiliam H. Danforth II, chancellor emeritus of Washington University, and his brother, John Danforth, the former United States Senator, and imagining them as toddling tykes is hard. Very hard. But if you happen to be curious about the place they once called home, check out this English manse, set on an 1.73-acre, park-like setting in the heart of Clayton.
Designed by Louis Baylor Pendleton and now on the National Register of Historic Places, the house was built for Donald Danforth, son of Ralston-Purina founder William H. Danforth, in 1928. Head of the Danforth Foundation, the American Youth Foundation, the United Fund of St. Louis and the St. Louis Christmas Carols Association, Donald Danforth was considered one of St. Louis’ most illustrious leaders.
The picturesque, 14-room Tudor Revival home, constructed of natural Missouri limestone in a half-timber style, has an immense stone front gable with large, basket-arched nine-part windows above the entryway. Inside, the foyer floor is the original terrazzo; the staircase, the original wrought iron.
In the formal living room, there’s original wood paneling, a massive stone fireplace and French doors leading to tiered terraces overlooking the back yard. A sprawling, screened-in porch, complete with an interior working fountain, stands off the living room.
The dining room has a Tiffany chandelier, elaborate millwork and three more French doors opening to the backyard terraces. The main floor also includes a St. Charles kitchen with glazed marble flooring, butler’s pantry with wall-to-wall glass-front cabinetry, a breakfast nook with beadboard ceiling and refurbished servants’ quarters, including a full bath with claw-foot tub.
The second-floor master bedroom suite features a corner fireplace, private dressing room and balcony with two sets of double doors leading to a sunny sitting room. There are three more bedrooms, two full baths and a sitting room-cum-children’s playroom on the second floor; three more bedrooms, another full bath, and two enormous cedar closets are on the third. Rounding out the living quarters is a newly remodeled lower level with crushed marble floors, a fireplace, billiard room and a walkout to the immense backyard.
Stretching beyond the tiered terraces are a formal, boxwood maze garden, private tennis court, meadow and a small but majestic forest of mature trees. As far as places to grow up go, this one’s hard to beat.
