Ste. Genevieve in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

First Brick House West of Mississippi River

Photographed By Jason Voigt, December 12, 2019

1. First Brick House West of Mississippi River Marker

Inscription. First Brick House
West of the Mississippi River
Built in 1785
First American court
held here

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1785.

Location. 37° 58.729′ N, 90° 2.756′ W. Marker is in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, in Ste. Genevieve County. Marker is at the intersection of 3rd Street and Market Street, on the left when traveling south on 3rd Street. Marker is mounted on the Old Brick House restaurant. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 90 3rd Street, Sainte Genevieve MO 63670, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. El Camino Real (within shouting distance of this marker); In Honor of Milice de Ste. Genevieve (within shouting distance of this marker); Revolutionary War Patriots (within shouting distance of this marker); John Ferguson Scott (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Sainte Genevieve Parish (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sainte Genevieve (about 600 feet away); Louis Bolduc House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Merchants Bank / Ste. Genevieve Savings Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ste. Genevieve.

Regarding First Brick House West of Mississippi River.

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The brick house was built by John Price, a Kentuckian who was a local merchant and ferry operator between Ste. Genevieve and Kaskaskia. A local legend claims that the bricks used to build it were hand-made in France and brought over to North America. It is said that the house was at one time used a courthouse and a school. A fur trading post was later built in the back. The cellar of the house was the quarters for the slaves. The house was later known as the Shaw House. As of December 2019, a restaurant is in operation, fittingly known as The Old Brick House.

While the marker says 1785 was the year it was built, many researchers have suggested other years, including 1780, 1790 and between 1800 to 1804. According to Missouri: A Guide to the Show-Me State (published in 1941, p. 274), Price's house was sold by Sheriff Henry Dodge to Joseph Pratt. Dodge would serve as a U.S. Marshal, a captain while fighting in the War of 1812, and would become the first of two U.S. Senators to represent Wisconsin.

Also see . . . Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 25, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

First Brick House West of Mississippi River image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, December 12, 2019

2. First Brick House West of Mississippi River

Marker is mounted on the right side of the building

Piaget-van Ravenswaay Survey / HABS (courtesy of the Library of Congress), 1935

3. First Brick House West of Mississippi River

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 521 times since then and 106 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 13, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.