Archive for the ‘Summit Avenue’ Category

Second Empire Historic Home in St Paul

Sunday, November 18th, 2007

This weeks featured Historic Home in St Paul is 649 Summit Ave.

Built in 1874 by A G Manson, the home is a fantastic representation of Second Empire architectural design. Out of the four Second Empire homes built on Summit Avenue between 1867-1883, this is the only one still standing. Major features that distinguish this style are the Mansard roof with many dormers, brackets at the eaves, paired entry doors, and cresting along the roof line.

The home sits on a beautiful third of an acre with a very simple but elegant landscape design. This home was at one time used as a Funeral Home, circa 1920. It was recently sold in late 2004 for $1,125,000. With about 4200 square feet, the home has 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. The previous owners restored the home to much of its original splendor, while making it more functional for modern times, ie. new kitchen, central air etc. The backyard has also been newly landscaped and it the perfect retreat. Definitely a gem on the avenue!

The photo taken in 1919 shows that there was a small second story porch on the East side of the home which has since been removed. The other photo, taken in 1973, shows that both the upper and lower porch were removed. Sometime since then, the owners have brought back the lower porch which is designed similar to the orginal. It is always nice to see the character of a historic home returned!

Queen Anne Victorian in St Paul

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

This weeks showcase home is 513 Summit Avenue.

This gem of a Queen Anne Victorian was built in 1887 for W.W. Bishop, a local real estate agent. At a cost of $10,000, it was constructed by Wirth and Haas.

It is one of the only wood-frame houses standing on Summit and has a well preserved polygonal tower. The full facade porch has thankfully not been closed in. The current owners have painted the home in well matched colors, bringing out the architectural details in the woodwork. A photo of the home in 1973 shows the home without the details highlighted.

Around 1920 is was occupied as Mrs. Charles Porterfield’s Boarding House and frequented by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Today it is once again a single family residence, with the last recorded sale in 1994 for $626,000. It has approximately 8300 square feet and 4-5 bedrooms.

Summit Avenue Historic Home in St Paul

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

This weeks Historic Home is 465 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, MN

Built in 1886 and for a cost of $18,400, this home was designed for William Constans, a French-born grocer. From one book I read, he ran the largest wholesale firm for hops, malts, and brewer’s supplies in the Northwest and the only one in St Paul. The business later evolved into the Schmidt Brewing Company.

You might be looking at the home and wondering “What style is this?”. Well it was originally designed by A.F. Gauger as a Queen Anne Victorian mansion. Take a look at this photo taken in 1890. You can just see a five-story tower on the southeast corner of the home and a spindle trimmed porch, classic designs of a Queen Anne. Sometime later, the porch and tower were removed and replaced by Colonial style moldings and decoration. For some reason, people liked to change the facade of the Victorian homes, most likely to give the home some extra character to set it apart from other Queen Annes on the Avenue. A carriage house was also constructed directly behind the house.The home has approximately 7300 square feet and 9 -10 bedrooms and currently single family residential.

I came across a rumor that one owner of the home ran a funeral business in which his wife refused to let him advertise. His solution was to add a casket looking decoration to the top of the home. Take a look and see what you think….kinda looks like a casket to me!

Summit Avenue Historic Home in St Paul

Monday, August 6th, 2007

This weeks Showcase historic home is 495 Summit Avenue

Built in 1881 by Cyrus B. Thurston, this home stands out on a beautiful corner lot and is one of the only homes on the avenue with an original date panel built into one of the gables. Originally the home was painted white and had a beautiful full facade front porch that slightly wrapped around the western corner of the home. You can easily see the original outline of the roof, around the only remaining portion of the porch.

The architectural design of the home is Victorian Queen Anne and was the first built on the Avenue in this style. Common elements that the home has with other Queen Anne homes are the numerous gables, dormers, and high pitched roof. The home also has bay windows and porches that break up the surface of the walls, giving the home a unique feel that only a Queen Anne can give. Unfortunately the architect of the home is unknown. The home boasts approximately 5200 finished square feet, has two stories + finished attic space, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths, and sits on a little less than half an acre.