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John and Katie Jackson were not looking to move in 2017. They had plans to add on to their Glendale home to create more space for themselves and their seven children, who were all sharing a single bathroom, until Katie saw an online real estate listing for a familiar house just a couple of miles away.

One of the oldest properties in Kirkwood, the Singleton-Hartman House was built in 1853 by architect Henry Singleton, who was recruited to ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ from Massachusetts to help design the Old Courthouse downtown. He settled in Kirkwood and designed the house as his family home. Decades later, the Hartman family would own and reside in the house for 50 years, raising nine children there.

Katie was best friends with one of the Hartman family’s granddaughters and John was best friends with one of their grandsons — the couple even met each other through the Hartman family. Katie recalled visiting the house as a teen with her friend. After seeing the listing, she says, “I had a dream about it that night and told John that maybe we should go look at it.�

The Jacksons came to see the house the night before Thanksgiving 2017 and were somewhat conflicted.

“It had amazing bones, but it needed a ton of work. It was cosmetic, but everywhere,� Katie remembers. Still, she had a feeling about it. “If I know, I know.�

John was more apprehensive and overwhelmed by the home’s age and size, especially since they had just completed a full kitchen renovation in their Glendale home.

“We could tell that the old parts of the house were incredible, like the front windows and the front porch, and we loved the idea of the extra bedroom space and the third floor,� he says. “There is so much room in the house, but the kitchen here was 20 years old and coming up on time for an update.�

Nonetheless, they decided to act quickly and put in an offer as they knew another couple was bidding as well. Ultimately that couple won out, but the Jacksons decided to remain a backup offer in case the other contract fell through; and as fate would have it, it did.

Once the house was theirs, things began to move quickly. The previous owner had already moved out and generously allowed the Jacksons to get started on renovations before closing. They began to tackle the third floor, painting and replacing carpet. Once they moved in, they started on the other spaces.

Finally, in March 2020, they began the largest undertaking — building an addition for a new chef’s kitchen. With a one-acre lot, there was plenty of room to expand the home’s footprint without compromising its historic street-facing architecture. The Jacksons worked with Ellisville-based Gegg Design & Cabinetry to create a Victorian farmhouse-inspired kitchen that suits the home’s original era with loads of modern amenities and touches.

The centerpiece of the kitchen is an enormous island custom designed to mimic an antique dresser and armoire that Katie inherited from her grandparents. The footed island has inlaid burled walnut panels and a butcher-block top with stool seating for four and plenty of prep and serving space for large family meals.

“I really wanted it to look like a piece of furniture,� says Katie.

The Jacksons were able to preserve an original wood butler’s pantry off the kitchen with some slight reconfiguring including relocating its antique apron sink to a nearby powder room. They created a cozy family/TV room where the original kitchen was located. More of the home’s period details can be seen in the formal living and dining rooms and the foyer, including original oak floors and crown moldings.

An expansive covered front porch is a favorite relaxing and entertaining spot for the family nearly year-round with a comfy sitting area as well as a large outdoor dining table. The home’s setback from the street provides plenty of privacy along with a nice view of the neighborhood.

“It’s the best ‘room’ in the house,� John says.

A bronze plaque mounted on the home’s exterior notes its designation as an official historic landmark by the City of Kirkwood in addition to a framed certificate hanging in the dining room.

Another piece of the home’s history on display is a small painting of the carriage house created by a member of the Hartman family, with whom the Jacksons still maintain connections.

“We had them back for a reunion. We always say the house is open to any Hartman decedents any time they want to come over,� Katie says. “It’s a gathering space for us, but it was for everyone else who lived here, too.�