The Gallant Lady – Historic General Store in House Springs, Missouri

The Gallant Lady, formerly known as The Leight General Store, is a late Victorian country store and family‑owned historic building in House Springs, Missouri. Built in phases between about 1894 and 1910 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, this two‑story frame general store once served as a mercantile and community hub for Jefferson County, Missouri. Today it stands as a rare surviving example of a rural Missouri general store and vernacular architecture.

The Gallant Lady at a Glance

• Location: 4566 Main Street (Old State Road MM), House Springs, Jefferson County, Missouri, about 25 miles southwest of St. Louis.
• Built: Approximately in 1894 as a two‑story frame country general store with later additions on either side in 1900 and 1910.
• Historic status: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 as the Valentine Leight General Store.
• Also known as: Garden of Eva (antique and gift shop era) from 1969 to 1995, and now The Gallant Lady.
• Notable features: Late Victorian porch trim, tall display windows, 14‑foot interior ceilings, tongue‑and‑groove wall paneling, original bins, shelves, and counters, surviving kerosene and water pumps.
• Ownership: Family‑owned and occupied since 1995; not open to the public as of 2024.