Blow School is a classic example of William Ittner's influential school designs, featuring his signature approach of combining functional planning with handsome Jacobethan Revival detailing in warm red brick. The building's symmetrical façade, decorative brickwork, large grouped windows designed to maximize natural light, and prominent entrance create an inviting yet dignified presence in the Carondelet neighborhood.
Blow School was constructed in 1904 as part of a major expansion of St. Louis's public school system during a period of rapid population growth. The school was named in honor of Henry Taylor Blow, a prominent St. Louis businessman, politician, and diplomat who had served as a United States Congressman and Minister to Brazil and Venezuela. Blow, who had also played a significant role in the Dred Scott case by helping to finance Scott's legal fees, was a fitting namesake for an institution dedicated to public education in the Carondelet neighborhood. Designed by William B. Ittner, who served as Commissioner of School Buildings for St. Louis from 1897 to 1910, Blow School represented part of his ambitious campaign to modernize and standardize school construction throughout the city. Ittner revolutionized school design nationally, and Blow School was among the dozens of educational buildings he created for St. Louis during his tenure. The school served generations of children in the Carondelet community, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, which had been an independent municipality before its annexation to St. Louis in 1870. Throughout the twentieth century, Blow School continued to operate as an elementary school, adapting to the changing demographics of the Carondelet neighborhood. The building remains standing today, a testament to both the durability of Ittner's school designs and the enduring importance of public education in South St. Louis.
