Homer G Phillips Senior Apartments

Homer Phillips was born in 1880 in Smithton near Sedalia, Missouri on April 1, 1879 . He became an attorney and moved to St. Louis "on the eve" of the Worlds Fair. He married Ida Perle Alexander, an actress and soprano. In 1918, the Phillips were living at 2335 Market Street in Mill Creek Valley. He later lived in the Ville at 4524 Cottage with Ida his wife, and father in-law, John Alexander.

Around 1908 George Vaughn, Joseph E. Mitchell, Charles Turpin, and Homer G. Phillips formed the Citizens Liberty League to promote and endorse Black political candidates. Their activism resulted in the election of Turpin to the position of St. Louis constable in 1910, the first Black candidate elected to a public office in Missouri. In 1916, Phillips led the opposition to a segregation ordinance that was passed in St. Louis. The ordinance prevented Blacks from moving into neighborhoods where 75 per cent or more of the population was White. In the aftermath of the 1917 East St. Louis, Illinois riots, Phillips was retained to help defend Black soldiers who were court-martialed, and several other Black defendants who were charged for rioting. And in 1927, Phillips was an attorney for Annie Turnbo's divorce proceedings from her husband, Aaron Malone. Phillips, a well respected attorney, often went up against famed attorney and ally, George Vaughn.

At the time of his death in 1931, he lived at 1121 Aubert Avenue in the Fountain Park neighborhood. In 1916, after St. Louis became the 1st city to pass mandatory housing segregation laws, he fought against the referendum. Phillips also helped open a hospital for the African American
community in St. Louis.

He was allegedly shot by George McFarland (18) and Augustus Brooks (19) over a lawsuit and died June 18, 1931. Both were found not guilty. His funeral at St. Paul AME (Leffingwell & Lawton) was attended by tens of thousands” of mourners, among them were the most prominent African American leaders and many white politicians, judges and attorneys.

Construction on the hospital began a year later in October 1932, with the city initially using funds from the 1923 bond issue and later from the newly formed Public Works Administration. The building was completed in phases. by the same architect who also designed the nearby Tandy Community Center. The central building was finished between 1933 and 1935, and the two wings were finished between 1936 and 1937. The hospital was dedicated on February 22, 1937, with a parade and speeches. It was renamed in 1942 from City Hospital #2 to Homer G. Phillips, in his honor.

It continued to operate after the desegregation of city hospitals, and continued to serve the Black community of St. Louis until its closure in 1979. It was adapted for residential use, and reopened as senior living apartments in 2003. It was listed as a St. Louis Landmark in 1980 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.