MY TOWN

Although I've been in the St. Louis area since I came to college here in 1967, I do not live in the city proper. It has a small and declining share of the metropolitan population. We have sprawling suburbs. This one is now considered inner ring, older by local standards. According to Wikipedia

Webster Groves' location on the Pacific Railroad line led to its development as a suburb. In the late 19th century, overcrowding, congestion, and unhealthy conditions in St. Louis prompted urban residents to leave the city for quieter, safer surroundings. In 1892 the developers of Webster Park, an early housing subdivision, promoted the new community as the "Queen of the Suburbs", offering residents superb housing options in a country-like atmosphere, as well as a swift commute to downtown St. Louis jobs.  

That may have been just real estate promotion but it's still a nice place to live, although passenger trains haven't come here in decades. Now the old station houses a model railroad club.

       

SUBURBAN DEATHSTAR

Or that's what it made me think of when I edited the photo, a fiery floating orb with nasty stuff sticking out. Of course, it's just an old fire hydrant that has been painted and repainted many times. I like the patterns in the worn paint.             

Where I Want To Live

Back to color, if only because I'm out of B&W stuff. It looks like this would be the perfect place for a shooter to hang out. Actually, it's a very small commercial street not far from my home, marked by the pointer on my car's nav system. No idea how it got the name - it doesn't have any photographic businesses.