The Vital Sainte Gemme Beauvais Home, built in 1792,
is located in the historic square of Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, the first French settlement West of the Mississippi. Surrounded by local wineries and B&B's,
Ste. Genevieve is a charming town full of history, within an easy commute to St. Louis or a quick ferry ride across the Mississippi river into Illinois.
This one-of-a-kind home is one of only four remaining poteaux-en-terre structures in North America. Of the four remaining poteaux-en-terre homes in the country,
the Vital Sainte Gemme Beauvais home is the only residence, the rest having been turned into museums.
Poteaux-en-terre (posts in earth) was a historical a type of construction used in French colonial structures in New France in which vertical, cedar,
roof-bearing timbers or posts sit three feet in the ground on a single stone.
The sides of each post are scooped out and packed with pierrotage (stones and mud) to form the walls which, in the Vital Ste. Gemme Beauvais home, were brought in directly from the Mississippi river.
The house has been beautifully renovated from top to bottom following strict historical guidelines, yet impressively updated with all modern conveniences. All new plumbing and electricity have been concealed to retain originality.
The wide plank hardwood floors, doors, windows and trim were all lovingly restored to their original patina.
Historic colors have been used on all of the plaster walls.
The 2,730 sq. ft. house features upper and lower porches that span the length of the house, large rooms and an open floor plan.
The main level boasts a large open living area and dining room which contain the original iron candelabras.
14x14 inch timbers sit side by side across the length of the entire house, forming the impressively rare first floor ceiling.
The original cooking fireplace, which divides the living room and study,
was altered in the 1820's when the summer kitchen was built.
This keystone fireplace was hand-laid to replace the brick-face
which was added on in the 1950's
A Prairie style butler pantry, copied from a 200 year old cabinet from Quebec, leads into the kitchen.
The design of the kitchen (originally added on in 1893) is a replication of the Prairie style kitchen from Frank Lloyd Wright's
Chicago, Illinois home of the same time. Modern conveniences are cleverly housed within the historical features of beautiful pine countertops, open shelves, a carved drain board next to the farmhouse sink, and a center island which conceals the Bosch dishwasher.
The two spacious bathrooms are outfitted with large claw foot tubs
and the main floor bath features a rare oval pedestal sink from
1888 Czechoslovakia.
Main level bath
Upper level bath
The kitchen staircase leads upstairs to the master bedroom and sitting room, both of which have vaulted ceilings.
The vaulted ceiling in the upstairs sitting room features the exposed Norman Truss (King post) roof beams.
The second bedroom boasts a stone hearth and a gas replication
cast iron wood stove,
as well as a built in window seat which opens up into an additional sleeping space with large storage drawers underneath.
The third large bedroom has its own rear staircase which leads down into the study.
Both middle bedrooms have access to the
second story porch.
Mature trees and foliage, French inspired historical gardens, fruit trees, and a kitchen garden based on the original owner's French design from the early 1800's make up the surrounding landscape.
An immense tulip tree shades the entire brick patio in the backyard, two Empress trees, Autumn Blaze maples,
apricot, red pear, plum and many red bud trees grow around the property.
The driveway hosts a custom built arbor and lattice wall, along which climbs an impressive mature wisteria and 6 clematis.
The front yard and gardens are housed within an early 1900's scalloped picket fence, and the back yard has two additional
arbors and grapevines. There are two (dual-zoned) Rudd furnaces/air conditioners (2001) and a new water heater.
Also located on the property is the original French covered well and the original brick summer kitchen and smoke house.
Additionally, a new building was constructed in 2009 which contains a fully equipped kitchen and half bath
and is furnished with an instant-on gas Bosch water heater.
This beautiful building currently houses the popular Rosemary & Thyme Cooking School,
and could easily be converted into a separate guest house, small business or storefront.
This property has limitless possibilities and would also make a charming bed & breakfast or vacation rental.
Due to the extraordinary lengths the owners went through to restore the house back to is original and historical standards, the Vital Sainte Gemme Beauvais House has received multiple awards including the prestigious
Preserve Missouri Award for Outstanding Work in Residential Rehabilitation by the Missouri Preservation Society,
the Missouri House of Representatives Resolution Award from the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation,
and Ste. Genevieve Landmarks Award for Historical Preservation.
Please visit the restoration page to experience the transformation of the Vital Sainte Gemme Beauvais House.