ST. LOUIS — The historic Lyle Mansion in Carondelet Park burned overnight.
Fire crews arrived early Wednesday to see flames already engulfing the back of the vacant, two-story home.
Authorities said the city-owned home sustained extensive damage to the rear and moderate damage inside. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but a city parks ranger said the house may have been used by homeless people.
The alderwoman who represents the ward said Wednesday she was furious the city had not moved more quickly to renovate the building.
“My first reaction is being absolutely heartbroken by the fire but frustrated and angry because for the last several years the city has had money to secure this building,” said 1st Ward Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer. “But it always felt like the can was being kicked down the road.”
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Firefighters work to put out a fire early Wednesday May 28, 2025, at the Lyle Mansion in Carondelet Park.
The Lyle Mansion, on the southern edge of Carondelet Park off of Loughborough Drive, was built in 1842 by Alexander Lacey Lyle, according to St. Louis’ Cultural Resources Office.
The building became a city landmark in 1971.
According to a Post-Dispatch article about the home in November 2021, a Carondelet historian said the house was the oldest high-style wooden frame house standing in the city of St. Louis. There are older ones that are smaller and simpler.
Local groups that year were holding a fundraiser to renovate it. Windows were boarded up and broken. Black shutters were falling off or coming loose. Raccoons were getting inside, and homeless people left blankets, sleeping bags and trash under the back porch.
Schweitzer said Wednesday that the $1.4 million renovation project would have brought the city-owned building back “to productive use.” The fundraiser raised about $30,000 toward that goal.
“For years I tried to get them (city officials) to move faster,” she said. “There have been so many people from the community who put in time and effort to make sure the city understood what an asset and important piece of history this was.”
Schweitzer sent an email as recently as March 11 to the parks commissioner, saying she was worried about fire damage and wanted a status on the Lyle house project.
The commissioner did not immediately reply on Wednesday to request for comment.
Schweitzer said she saw the fire damage firsthand Wednesday while visiting the site and was pessimistic about the ability now to restore it.
“There is a structural engineer who is assessing the building,” she said. “I don’t have a lot of hope.”
In this 2021 file photo, from left: St. Louis Alderwomen Sarah Martin and Anne Schweitzer, and Christa Edelen, president of the Holly Hills Improvement Association, stand in front of the Lyle House in Carondelet Park. The women led an effort to raise money to get the Lyle House “user ready” for a tenant like a restaurant, cafe, retail store or caterer.
Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
The front of the Lyle House after a fire caused damage to the historic home in Carondelet Park in St. Louis on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
Battalion 4 reports: Carondelet Park, Lyle House: Initial attack, defensive operations (aerial waterway and three hand lines) knocked down the main body of fire.
— St. Louis Fire Dept (@STLFireDept)
Companies have transitioned to interior operations. Two hand lines working. Overhauling and ventilating ongoing.
Storms rocked the St. Louis area with a tornado damaging neighborhoods from Clayton to north St. Louis. View photos from the Post-Dispatch photographers during the week here. Video by Jenna Jones.
