Rare Open House and Tour of Casa Alvarez, City’s Oldiest House
Photo courtesy of Gurry Chappel of The Chappel House
An open house was held at Casa Alvarez on Aug. 24, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Florissant Valley Historical Society.
The current owners, Mark and Mary Rolwes, (left photo with Rosemary Davison) opened their home at 289 St. Denis for the gathering. Guests could tour the first floor of the house and have lemonade and cookies on the lawn and patio.
The Historical Soceity’s first fundraiser 50 years ago was a tea held in August at Casa Alvarez, believed to be one of the oldest homes in Florissant.
Augustine Alvarez, son of Eugenio Alvarez, military storekeeper for the King of Spain and later for Auguste Chouteau, acquired the property which still carries his name in 1840. His descendants lived in the house until 1905.
Florissant folklore contends the house was built by his father in the 1790s and the Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory dates it as circa 1790 (see plaque at right) Others place it at a later date, but it certainly is one of Florissant’s oldest homes.
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