We’re Your New Neighbors and We’d Like to Introduce Ourselves!

The Spanish Lake Community Asssociation has just purchased The Twillman House (formerly the Old Homestead Restaurant) at Bellefontaine and Redman. We plan to renovate this Historic Building as a Home for the Association and a Community Center for Spanish Lake Residents.

You may have noticed many volunteers clearing the grounds. Work on the interior will begin this spring. This will be an enormous undertaking for our community. Funds will need to be raised and much volunteer help will be needed. Our neighbors can also help by keeping watch over the building.

If you notice any suspicious activity, please contact the County Police at 911 or 889-2341.

For more information about this project or to volunteer, call the Spanish Lake Community Association’s voice mail at 741-4100. Leave your name and phone number and we’ll return your call.

This notice was distributed to about 200 of our residential neighbors after the purchase of The Twillman House in the spring of 2005 by the Spanish Lake Community Association.

Suggestions for Uses from Members & Residents
for The Twillman House – A Community Center for Spanish Lake

• Coffee Shop and Gathering Place (computers/games)
• Antique Shop
• Receptions – Rental Income
• SLCA meetings – Board, Committees, Members
• Meeting space for other community groups: e.g., Spanish Lake Business Association
• After-school tutoring – Team with OASIS and Twillman School
• SL County Library “Branch” – computer connection to County Library on-line catalogue; drop off/pick up library books?
• Annual Plant Sale
• Period garden – Victorian? German Farm?
• Art classes for kids –connect with COCA/Craft Alliance
• Parenting Classes – connect with Hazelwood School District’s Parents as Teachers program
• Community Service Projects involving Hazelwood and Trinity high school students
• Neighborhood Watch meetings
• Subdivision meetings
• Fund-raising events
• Bridge Club
• Girl Scout/Boy Scout Meetings
• Gardening Classes for Homeowners
• Classes for New Homeowners – run by County/others
• Flu shots for Residents – Other health “services”/classes – connect with Christian Hospital/St. Louis County Health Department
• Information for families on Recreational opportunities in the area
• Extension classes – Connect with Florissant Valley Community College
• Older Adult Services from St. Louis County – connect with
• Neighborhood Police Substation
• History Room
• Museum
• Consignment Shop
• Provide Bus Service to North County Recreation Center
• Corner with Books for Children (Perhaps a bathtub to “read in.” Soft rugs to lay on, etc.)
• Table for playing cards, games, etc. for all ages.
• Classes for basic computer, quilting, playing marbles
• Croquet on the lawn, etc.
• Health Screenings. Health information and speakers
• Speakers/Classes for teens
• Perhaps a small food Kiosk – coffee, soda, sandwiches, cookies, salads for lunch–similar to the new Northwest HealthCare on Graham Road
• Create a Conference room with a large table that can be rented out to local businesses when they need a place to meet. Especially good for those working out of their home and really small businesses.
• Trips for Seniors
• Any kind of seniors’ activities and luncheons or dinners
• Limited Capacity Computer/Reading Room
• Coffee Shop
• Screened Porch/Social Area
• Beautiful Back/Front Yard Area
• Private Parties, anniversary celebrations, baby showers
• Museum, with history of Spanish Lake going back to 1767; such notables as Ceran St. Vrain whose family settled in the area and made fur trading popular on the Santa Fe Trail
• Meeting room, also for parties, perhaps with minimal fee to suport the house
• Gardens out front, possible a place for a wedding. Use of house for receptions. Fees for such events to support house.
• Senior Center, Teen Center
• Meeting place for Spanish Lake Board
• Meeting Place for small groups
• Small family reunions
• Seniors’ Card Club and luncheon
• Baby and Wedding showers
• Youth Nights w/PingPong or Air Hockey
• Neighborhood meetings
• Information about Spanish Lake for new residents
• Recreation Program for all age groups
• Center for Volunteer Efforts to support residents and the community
• Affairs that would interest teenagers and families
• Senior activities and gathering place
• Young people (teen) activities
• Reception area for large family gatherings; weddings, anniversaries. Etc.
• Explore possibility of County Police renting space for their Spanish Lake headquarters.
• If kitchen space and equipment left intact, explore possibiies of renting out to catering service or have fish fry’s, BBQ’s, Sausage dinners, etc.
• Election Board may be interested, as use for a polling place
• Gathering location for opponents running for local elections to have informative debates.
• Association members have ability to rent space for private events at discounted rates.
• Game room and/or activity room for kids.
• Weight room & exercise facility for adults
• Is there enough room for an indoor basketball court? (Unfortunately, no)
• Basketball Court – on parking lot
• Archives/ Historical Library/Resource Library
• Boys to Mens Circle
• Girls Club
• Homework Help Sessions
• Practical Parent Partnering
• Bingo for adults or seniors (no kids).
• Fish fries if possible.
• Continued plant sales.
• Yard sales – people could rent booth space.
• Community coffee/gathering (1-2 hours a week); place for community members to offer lessons of various sorts (yoga, meditation, musical instruments, gardening,…); place to offer programs for children & youth (games, homework help, community projects, teach & learn activities,…).
• Used Book Store with coffee served. Sell produce from Stand by Garden.
• Eventually I would like to see the “Helping Hand Food Pantry” (now at St. Peter’s Lutheran on Trampe) – move to Twillman House Community Center

2009 Onwards

The Twillman House

11840 Bellefontaine Road
Spanish Lake, Missouri 63138

The following information was prepared by Esley Hamilton, Historic Preservationist,
St. Louis County Parks Department, for the Office of Historic Preservation in Jefferson City, Missouri. It is dated June 1988.

History and Significance

The two-story brick house on Bellefontaine Road facing Redman Road was built in 1870 by John Henry Twillmann, who had been baptized Johann Heinrich Twellmann in 1827 in Bielefeld, Germany. He came to St. Louis County with his parents in 1842. John bought this property after his marriage to Louisa Nolte in 1850. By this union he had two surviving children. After Louisa’s death in 1855, he married Fredericka Kaune (1884-1917) and they had five surviving children. After John Henry Twillmann died in 1882, his 370-acre farm was divided among his family. His widow and son Louis Henry Twillmann (1871-1951) ran this 64-acre farm for many years. In 1911 the house was described as “a large-old-fashioned brick structure to which age has lent a certain dignity, and it is now one of the most imposing and beautiful country homes in the section of the county.” The school across the street is named for the family. In 1945 the house was acquired by Carl and Sally Plitt, who opened the Meadowlark Restaurant here. Since 1974, the Twillmann House has been the Old Homestead Restaurant, established by John and Mary Spiller and now operated by their son Warren Spiller.

Original Pen and Ink Drawing “The Twillman House” 2005 © Helen Bylinowski

Description of Important Features

The house has few stylistic features except the thick lintels over the windows, the wrought-iron balcony over the front door and the returns on the gable ends. Windows are 2-over-2 and have working shutters as does the center door to the balcony. Basement windows have segmental arches rising sightly into the brickwork. The front door has been altered, as indicated by old photos. It was originally deeply inset under a thick lintel. It is now set in a pilastered frame with a slightly pedimented lintel and a toplight. The front stoop of four steps originally had high sides, but they have been cut down. A one-story flat-roofed frame addition on the south side has three large fixed double windows toward the street. A two story addition has been made at the southeast corner of the main house and the northeast porch and staircase have been enclosed. The front cornice has been boxed in with some sort of siding.