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St. Albans combines luxury with quaintness
If feeling somewhat adventurous but limited on time, West County residents might want to take a drive down Highway 100, the roadway otherwise known as where Manchester Road dramatically changes from a mecca of strip malls. Pavement panoramas are instantly replaced with greenery. In these parts, it would seem traffic lights are things that haven't yet been invented. About 10 minutes from the Manchester and Clarkson Road intersection, there's a two-lane highway, Highway T, that winds through grassy fields. If distracted by the country view, you might miss the "Welcome to Franklin County" sign as you happen upon a grandiose entrance with a large fountain. The spot is a clear marker for the upscale yet quaint community that is St. Albans. Driving down St. Albans Road, one will notice people walking. Though you don't know them and they don't know you, they smile and wave. Passing motorists wave too, leaving you, the outsider on a drive, thinking: Who are these friendly people? And what are they so happy about? Upon further investigation, the answer is obvious. St. Albans is laid-back, year-round resort living. Its advertising slogan is "Wish you were here." There is a country club with golf courses, a pool and clubhouse with dining amenities. It is home to The Gardens at Malmaison, a private school named Chesterfield Day School (public schools are in the Washington School District), and a quaint general store owned by Thom Sehnert, who owns Annie Gunn's and The Smokehouse in Chesterfield. Head's Store, the old-time general store, sits beside an equally old-time post office with a ceiling low enough that extra tall people will have to duck to enter. The spot, the "commercial" heart of St. Albans, overlooks a man-made lake decorated with a children's playground. Walk into the post office of Head's Store and you will feel like you've unknowingly been sucked into a time warp. People are chatting. Children are buying candy at 3 o'clock. People are sitting on the chairs outside, enjoying a soda or a fresh sandwich from Head's Store. There is laughing, smiling. There is a jovial feeling in the air, and visitors be warned, the feeling is contagious. So what is this place that is close but not too close to civilization? "It's certainly something different than what is typical in West County," said Joe Pottebaum, a spokesperson for St. Albans Realty. "It's a community, not a development." Pottebaum said St. Albans was founded in 1837. It was a conglomerate of land owners until the early 1900s, which was when the Johnson family, the owners of International Shoe Co., took it over. Under the Johnsons' ownership, it was a family resort and top-producing dairy farm. In 1988, members from the closing Cherry Hills Country Club in Grover formed St. Albans Properties LLC. The group bought the property — 5,400 acres — from heirs of the Johnson estate to start their own club, the Country Club of St. Albans. Since then, homes have been built and families have moved in. There are about 300 homes to date, and they range from attached villas to grand homes on multiple acres. Homes in The Bluffs, for instance, sit on 3- to 10-acre lots and start at $2 million. Some of those lots overlook the Missouri River or the golf course. The area is touted for the homebuyer looking for privacy and luxury. Pottebaum said homes sold for an average of $850,000 last year. For reluctant drivers, St. Albans might seem like a long way out, but residents shrug off the distance in favor of the benefits of the peace and quiet, security and ambiance; or maybe the drive gives a more accurate meaning to the adage, "Home sweet home." Chris Waltemade and her husband moved from Town and Country to St. Albans in 1999. They recently bought their second home there. The Waltemades' villa looks over the golf course and river bottoms. "Once we get here, we are so happy to be home," Waltemade said. "St. Albans is Missouri natural beauty at its best. We have panoramic views and an old-time lifestyle where kids ride their bikes everywhere." Five-year resident Carol Kelleher added, "The drive sometimes is difficult, but once you get here, you don't have to go anywhere." Kelleher said the drive to Dierbergs in Wildwood is 12 minutes. Between trips to Dierbergs, food or other necessities are available at the country club, Malmaison and Head's Store, which will be offering more goods and services. Sehnert said his purchase of the store, which was built in 1892, was more an emotional decision than a business one. He plans to restore and preserve it the way it was intended; to serve the community as a gathering place where they also can pick up essentials. "It's such a unique building, like something you'd see in New England," said Sehnert, who said it has been placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The goal in restoring it, he said, "is so it can be around another 100 years, serving the community." For recreation, there are country club offerings for members, community events such as the annual Christmas party and Independence Day celebration. Otherwise, there is simply enjoying the outdoors and neighbors. Waltemade said her mornings may be spent walking her dog around the lake and stopping at Head's Store for a newspaper. If someone is there, "you end up chatting with whoever is standing around," she said. She and her husband, both retired, flirted with the idea of moving there for a few years before they finally did. When they decided to downsize, they didn't want to leave St. Albans. "Living here is just really a lot of fun," she said. "I haven't found anywhere in St. Louis I'd rather be." Note to visitors: postcards may be purchased at Head's Store. You can contact Kate Miller at katemiller@yourjournal.com.
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