Classroom

According to the Sappington House Foundation, "The Library of Americana and Decorative Arts nestled in verdant Sappington Park contains an extensive collection of books detailing Missouri and American history, antiques, and genealogy. The Library of Americana is a nationally recognized research library where reading and browsing are encouraged; however, holdings are not available to borrow."This research library was dedicated on September 21, 1975, and is currently open to the public for specialty research. There are over two hundred books and seventy rare books in the collection. Some of these include "The American Gardener's Calendar" by Bernard Mahon, written in 1809, and "Morse's Universal Geography" by Jedidiah Morse, written in 1812.The Library of Americana and Decorative Arts has a few art pieces as well. These include gild-framed oil paintings, one of Mrs. Carolyn McDonnell's. Mrs. McDonnell is responsible for the restoration and refurbishment of the house. Many of the books in this collection were used by Mrs. McDonnell to plan the restoration of gardens as well as the house. There are also a few different ceramic pieces, including vases and plates. Because the Thomas Sappington House is only partially handicapped accessible, a nineteen-minute virtual tour of the Thomas Sappington house can also be found in the Library of Americana and Decorative Arts.

The Library of Americana and Decorative Arts 

View of The Library of Americana and Decorative Arts from the Barn

Inside The Library of Americana and Decorative Arts 

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The Library of Americana and Decorative Arts is located behind Sappington House and The Barn Restaurant.  The library contains an extensive collection of books detailing Missouri and American history, antiques, and genealogy. Additionally, the library is home to some artifacts from the Sappington family as well as from the archaeological dig. 

This tour of the Sappington property includes stops at a variety of historic sites related to the life of Thomas Sappington, Underground Railroad leader Moses Dickson, and other residents of this part of St. Louis. The tour concludes at the Sappington Cemetery. 

Father Dickson Cemetery was established in 1903 and named after Moses Dickson. On October 6, 2021, the cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Father Dickson Cemetery was established on August 30, 1903, and is 12.36 acres purchased from the Sappington family. The International Order of the Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor members established the Father Dickson Cemetery Association in 1903. Father Dickson’s remains were relocated to the cemetery in 1903, and a midnight service was held.        Initially, ownership of the cemetery grounds was in the hands of shareholders Fred Authenreith, W.D. Turner, R.L. Johnston, and T. R. Appel. The property would be sold when Fred Authenreith passed away. Fred Authenreith was buried at Father Dickson Cemetery. The property changed hands many times before landing with the DiLiberto family. Under the ownership of the DiLiberto family, the cemetery records would be donated to the St. Louis County Library. The DiLiberto family would struggle to maintain the grounds at Father Dickson Cemetery. Over the years, they would attempt to sell the property, and once the Friends of Father Dickson Cemetery group was established, they would often butt heads with the group over the maintenance of the grounds. In 1988, the Friends of Father Dickson Cemetery group was established. To this day, the group has been instrumental in the maintenance and preservation of the cemetery, and in 2021 Father Dickson Cemetery became a registered historic site.

The resting place of underground railroad pioneer Moses Dickson. After travelling the south and settling in the St. Louis area, he organized he Knights of Liberty who played a vital role in the Underground Railroad in St. Louis, MO. He was also an ordained minister.

Father Dickson Cemetery

Thomas Sappington's 200 acres were gifted to him by his parents, John and Jemima (Fowler) Sappington, as a wedding gift. Thomas Sappington's first wife was Mary Ann Kinkead. Thomas had the house built in 1808. The labor of enslaved persons was used to complete the house.The construction of the house is very unique. The design of the house is Federal style. The bricks used for the house are not kiln-baked. Instead, they were set to dry out in the sun. The house frame is held together with wooden pegs, no nails were used. Wooden shingles were used for the roof. The wooden fireplace mantles and cabinetry are something to be seen.Inside the house are many unique artifacts. Some of the artifacts are original to the Sappington Family. One item is the prayer book of Thomas Sappington's adult daughter, Lucinda Sappington. Inside the prayer book, she lists the birth and death dates of the enslaved people who served her household. Some other unique items include a courting candle, apothecary's chest, beautiful embroidery pieces, and so much more. There is even a cherry sugar chest.There is much to be seen on the property as well. Including, the gardens surrounding the house which are designed to match the historical accuracy of the original gardens.

The Thomas Sappington House is one of the oldest brick structures in St. Louis County. Built in 1808 by enslaved people, it is named after its namesake, Thomas Sappington (1783-1843), whose family was one of the first to settle in the county. The house is a well-preserved and rare example of Federal-style architecture in the state. Given its association with Sappington and architecture, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The house is part of a complex that features the research Library of Americana and Decorative Arts, and The Barn restaurant. The site is owned and maintained by the City of Crestwood, and the Sappington House Foundation, conservators for 55 years, operate the facility, with the exception of the restaurant.

Thomas Sappington House Museum

The Herb garden is located on the front side of the Thomas Sappington House. Originally, these herbs would have been used by the Sappington family for medicinal purposes in addition to flavoring food. Herbs included in the garden currently are:Basil	(Ocimum basilicum)French Tarragon	(Artemisia ranunculus)Sage	(Salvia officinalis)Plain Parsley (Petroselinum)Lemon Verbena	(Aloysia triphylla)Lavender	(Lavandula officinalis)Hoarhound	(Marrubium vulgare)Spearmint	(Mentha spicata)Common Thyme	(Thymus vulgaris)Apple Mint	(Menthia rotundifolia)Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)Curly Parsley	(Petroselinum crispum)Germander	(Teucrium)Tansy	(Tanacetum vulgare)Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)Golden Lemon Thyme (Thymus serpyllum var.)Lovage (Levisticum officinal)Costmary (Chrysanthemum balsamita)The Formal Garden is located behind the Thomas Sappington House Museum. The garden changed from a sun garden put in in 1966 by the Crestwood Area Federated Woman's Garden Club to a shade garden. For 55 years the club has maintained the garden. Flowers in the Formal Garden include:Larkspur (Delphinium elatum of Perennial Var.)Fernleaf Peony (Paeonia Tenuifolia)Peony (Paeonia officinalis)Daylily (Hemerocallis, Fulva)Fringed Bleeding-heart (Dicentra eximia)Crested Iris (Iris cristata)Pink Grass (Dianthus plumaris)Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum superbum)Iris (Iris florentina)Thermopsis (Thermopsis mollis)- This is not in the gardens currently, but Sappington House Foundation is on the lookout for it.Aanchusa, Dropmore (Anchusa italica)Gayfeather (Liatris spicata)Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)Balloonflower (Platycodon grandiflora)Creeping liriope (Liriope spicata)Spike Speedwell (Veronica spicata)American Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium)Roses (Rosa gallica, Rosa damascene 'Celsiana', and Rosa Madame Louis leveque)Autumn Crocus (Colchicum speciosum)Canada Lily (Lilium canadensis)Snapdragons (antirrhinum)Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana, mixed)- This is not in the gardens currently, but Sappington House Foundation is on the lookout for it.French Merigold (Tagetes patula)Cockscomb (Celosia, argenta)Coneflower (echinacea)Bee Balm (monarda didyma)Prairie Blazing Star (liatris pycnostachya)AstilbeTickseed (coreopsis)Yarrow (achillea)Wild Sweet William (Phlox / phlox divaricata)Carpathian Bellflower (campanula carpatica)Evening Primrose (oenothera lamarckiana)Lily of the Valley (convallaria majalis)Columbine (aquilegia Winky Pink)Japanese Painted Fern (athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum')Plantain Lily (hosta ‘Patriot’)Coral Bells (heuchera)Black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia)In addition to the gardens, there are several tree markers throughout the property. The trees on the property include:American HollyAmerican BeechFlowering DogwoodPin OakBlack OakSpicebushWhite PineWitch HazelEuonymusHosta grand floraAmerican HornbeamHop HornbeamBlack HawthorneDeciduous HollyMultiflora Rosa

Over the years the gardens at Sappington House have changed. Currently, there are 2 gardens surrounding the house. The first is the formal gardens with a brick walkway that wraps around the side of the house and into the back. The second is an herb garden towards the front of the house. In addition to these gardens, the property has several established trees. 


Sappington House Gardens

Originally a separate Summer Kitchen would have been used by enslaved persons to prepare food for the Sappingtons during the warmer months. By 1820 a kitchen was built attached to the house around 1820 and the Summer Kitchen was no longer used. Archaeological digs performed by students during 2015 through 2019 confirmed this suspicion when they uncovered proof of the Summer Kitchen and cistern off to the left side of the house close to the current kitchen just past the cottage. An estimated 2,000 artifacts including various broken pottery shards indicate that this area was used for culinary purposes. Additionally, various animal bones, mostly pig, were also found.A few other artifacts were also uncovered, including Native American arrowhead points.

It was suspected for years by the Sappington House Foundation that the current kitchen at Sappington House was not the only kitchen the Sappington's used. Archaeological digs during 2016 through 2019 confirmed this suspicion when they uncovered proof of the Summer Kitchen off to the left side of the house close to the current kitchen.  

Thomas Sappington Summer Kitchen

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.

Over the years, the property of Thomas Sappington has evolved. The location of several barns and outbuildings has changed over time. A painting from early 1900 indicates that a barn was located where a pond is today. Additionally, there was a larger barn where the Barn Restaurant and Loft Gift Shop are now located.

Thomas Sappington Barns and Pond

The Sappington family was one of the largest families in early St. Louis. John Sappington had seventeen children, including Thomas Sappington. Joseph Sappington may have been John's nephew and Thomas' cousin; he was a witness to John's will. Joseph had his log house built in 1816, a few years after Thomas Sappington had his brick house built.The Sappington House Foundation's goal is to relocate and repurpose the 1816 Joseph Sappington Log House. The white clapboard siding will be removed, exposing the log exterior. The house will also be moved to the same property as the Thomas Sappington House.

The Joseph Sappington Log House is a two-story log cabin that is thought to have been built in 1816. There are three rooms on the first floor, each room has its own chimney. The interior of these rooms has been restored and the logs are visible from the inside. Currently, the Sappington House Foundation is in negotiation with the city to be relocated to the same property as the Thomas Sappington House.

Joseph Sappington House

Sappington Family Cemetery has been referred to as Sappington Burial Ground, and Sappington Graveyard. Not to be confused with the Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site in Saline County.John Sappington established this cemetery for his family shortly after arriving in the area. Neighbors were also buried here, and it is believed that the remains of enslaved persons can also be found at the cemetery. The markers for enslaved persons would have been made of wood and have disintegrated over time.Some headstones have not withstood time but many have. A few soldiers are buried at Sappington Cemetery.Soldiers Burials include:<ul><li>Revolutionary War: Sgt. John Sappington, Capt. John Long, and John Wells</li><li>War of 1812: William Lindsay Long, Richard Wells, Zephaniah Sappington, Thomas Sappington, and John Sappington Jr.</li><li>Mexican War: Samuel Parke</li><li>Civil War: John Sappington Parks</li></ul>Sgt John Sappington was born September 3, 1750, and died August 10, 1815. He served with General George Washington at Valley Forge. He had 17 children. Capt John Long married one of Sgt John Sappington's daughters. Many of Sgt John Sappington's children are also buried here. Including Zephaniah Sappington, Thomas Sappington, Elizabeth Sappington Long, Margaret Sappington Parke, Rezin Sappington, and Patience Sappinton Smith just to list a few.Additional family names found at the Sappington Cemetery:BaylesBerryBowlesBrownByerlyGoskenHouserLongMauroParkeParksParrSaleSappingtonSmithSteinhauerThomasWells

Sappington Family Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Missouri. This cemetery was originally a part of the vast plantation of John Sappington, father of Thomas Sappington. Within this cemetery rest the remains of pioneer settlers, servicemen, and the Sappington family. Sadly, some of the headstones have been lost to time, but many remain. 

Historic Sappington House Property Tour

The Library of Americana and Decorative Arts

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

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