1816 JOSEPH Sappington House RAISING

At the close of an unusual year and at the beginning of 2021, the Sappington House Foundation has been presented with an unparalleled opportunity.  The new owner of the Joseph Sappington house, a log cabin built in 1816, has offered the building to the City of Crestwood on the condition it be relocated to Historic Sappington House Park, 1015 S. Sappington Road 63126.  The owner’s timetable for the move is six to nine months, deadline August 1st.  Unfortunately post-pandemic, Crestwood (park owner) and the non-profit Sappington House Foundation (for 55 years, conservators of history) are both experiencing the constraints of limited resources.

We ask your help as we preserve another piece of St. Louis history before it is lost.  Fundraising for Phase 1 in the amount of $200,000 begins now.  Phase 1 includes the relocation of the log house to a new foundation and includes any repairs necessitated by the move.  Later in Phase 2, we will fundraise to prepare the log house to serve the public.

The Sappington cousins’ houses offer a contrast from the current Sappington House Museum, Thomas’ brick, almost a mansion in its day, to Joseph’s traditional log house in exceptional condition.  It will provide another setting where history can come to life, engaging school children and life-long learners alike.  The log house fits into our long-term plan by providing extra educational, event and exhibit spaces, instead of constructing a modern structure as previously proposed.  For more information, read the National Register of Historic Places form with photos of the interior when scrolled to the end - https://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/82000589.pdf

If this project does not go forward, donors may request a refund.  Funds remaining in this account will go toward preservation of the 1808 Thomas Sappington House Museum.