The living room of the home is furnished in period appropriate décor. The room is highlighted by a wallpaper border and a recessed ceiling.
Furniture in the master bedroom is period specific to the early 1900 era when the home was constructed.
The imposing front of the Bruce home in Compton Heights features elaborate patterns in the terra cotta. High above the entrance, the busts of two ladies silently greet visitors.
The entry foyer features substantial woodwork on the walls and crown molding. Light sconces on the walls were originally gas lamps, now converted to electric fixtures.
The trophy room in the Compton Heights home of Robert and Suzanne Bruce features decor and furniture that has been left largely unchanged since the original owners created the space in 1903. Three leaded glass windows in the trophy room are each made up of 186 panes of glass.
The master bath retains the original fixtures and floor tile, and it has been in continual daily use for 98 years.
The inscriptions in German that line the upper section of the walls in what was the trophy room were discovered under layers of paint and restored, as was the decorative design on the ceiling.
Both the square and circular columns on the front porch feature a terra cotta design. The mold for the art was destroyed after being used on the home.
Robert Bruce believes a trio of tall stained-glass windows on the landing between the first and second floors provided the colors for the walls in the home, which are green, maroon and light brown.
“I have looked at every inch of this house, and I cannot find one mistake the architect made,” Robert Bruce says, almost with disbelief.
That is quite a compliment considering he has lived in the home for 73 of his 78 years. His is only the second family to occupy the 1903 residence.
Robert Bruce talks about his favorite room in the home he shares with his wife, Suzanne. Video by Hillary Levin
Bruce is as much a curator as owner. The home could qualify as a period perfect example of how affluent St. Louisans lived in the early 1900s.
Why? Bruce’s family purchased the home in 1944 along with 50% of the original furniture, which remains. The dining room table was custom made for the expansive space. Table legs feature hand-carved lions, which also appear on each of the 14 chairs, and in the design of the fireplace mantel.
Most light fixtures, including a Tiffany lamp, are original. So are several Oriental rugs. The chandeliers and ornate-leaded glass windows that had been removed and stored were returned to their original locations. The 1903 master bedroom suite and bathroom remains unchanged.
Built for Louis and Bertha Stockstrom by German-trained architect Ernst Janssen, according to Bruce, the home design is based on an 1886 German residence. He has records showing that when built, the home cost $31,400, plus $8,600 for the large lot. Even for 1900-era dollars, it seems like a bargain price for the size of the home.
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