Perryville in Perry County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Levi Block Building
Photographed by Thomas Smith, July 12, 2025
1. Levi Block Building Marker
Inscription.
Levi Block Building. . Believed to be the oldest building on Perryville's Downtown Square, this property was first owned by Isidore and Leah Moore, his wife, who acquired the lot on May 24, 1823. This real estate was Lot 33, one of Perryville's original 100 town lots. The Moore's transferred the property to Levi Block in 1830 for $65. Block, who was perhaps Perry County's first Jewish resident, was a merchant at this location and was also living in Perryville's first brick store building. Quite successful in this endeavor, Block left for St. Louis in the 1840's. The weekly Perryville Union newspaper said he amassed a fortune of $50,000, which is equivalent to nearly $1.75 million dollars in 2022. The property was used for retail in the hands of Leon and Joseph Delassus and their heirs until 1924, when the building was sold to John Lottes and William End. For some time there was a tavern located on the first floor. The second floor was occupied by photographers. The End Art Gallery occupied this space for many years followed by Counts, and Dobbelare Studio. Many Perry County residents still remember the glass enclosed display case at street level, which was regularly watched for new portraits of locals documenting their graduations, weddings, and other life events.
Believed to be the oldest building on Perryville's Downtown Square, this
property was first owned by Isidore and Leah Moore, his wife, who acquired
the lot on May 24, 1823. This real estate was Lot 33, one of Perryville's original
100 town lots. The Moore's transferred the property to Levi Block in 1830
for $65. Block, who was perhaps Perry County's first Jewish resident, was a
merchant at this location and was also living in Perryville's first brick store
building. Quite successful in this endeavor, Block left for St. Louis in the 1840's.
The weekly Perryville Union newspaper said he amassed a fortune of $50,000,
which is equivalent to nearly $1.75 million dollars in 2022. The property was
used for retail in the hands of Leon and Joseph Delassus and their heirs until
1924, when the building was sold to John Lottes and William End. For some time
there was a tavern located on the first floor. The second floor was occupied by
photographers. The End Art Gallery occupied this space for many years
followed by Counts, and Dobbelare Studio. Many Perry County residents still
remember the glass enclosed display case at street level, which was regularly
watched for new portraits of locals documenting their graduations, weddings,
and other life events.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.
Location. 37° 43.541′ N, 89° 51.735′ W. Marker is in Perryville, Missouri, in Perry County. It is at the intersection of S. Main Street and E Sainte Marie Street, on the left when traveling south on S. Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 E Sainte Marie Street, Perryville MO 63775, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Missouri. It is also
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in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 121 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
