St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

313 E. Second St, Jordan

St. John the Baptist, located in Jordan MN, is a gorgeous brick church located in the heart of downtown. Construction on the church began in 1889 at its current location, but is not the first church to be built in Jordan.

Church and Convent Photo, 1912
Aerial Photo of Church, 1973

Historic Preservation Awards

This past week I had the honor of sitting on the Jury Panel for the 2010 Minnesota Preservation Awards, my second year doing so. It is not an easy task deciding on who should win an award, but it is exciting and interesting to see the numerous projects all over Minnesota that are striving to preserve our historic heritage. Now in its 26th year, the Preservation Awards honor the top Minnesota preservation projects for various categories, including but not limited to Adaptive Reuse, Restoration, Stewardship, and Community Efforts.

This years event will take place on September 16th, in Winona at the Winona County History Center. If you would like to attend, please visit the Preservation Alliance website for more information.

Tower View near Red Wing

If you happen to find yourself traveling to Red Wing, Minnesota you cannot miss the large brick tower rising out of the trees, nestled among various buildings and a main house. Built by Alexander Pierce Anderson between 1915-1921, the Tower View complex consists of the larger water tower, main house, and out buildings, not to mention underground tunnels connecting each building. The property was used as a working farm, laboratory, and homestead for the Anderson family.

Mr. Anderson was an inventor of Swedish decent who grew up working on the family farm, later attending the University of Minnesota where he earned his B.S. in Botany in 1894, and a M.S. a year later. The Anderson Puffed Rice Company was created in 1901 where he utilized his invention of puffed rice and some 25 patents on the process. He purchased the current property between 1910-1920, and proceeded to build the complex seen today, including a large Georgian Revival style home where his family lived.

In 1997, a huge restoration and renovation process began which encompassed the entire property. Tunnels were restored and reopened, and each building received some type of renovation. The Tower View, all 330 acres of it, is currently being used as the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.

More information can be found about Alexander Anderson on the MNHS.org website, and you can also view a photo of the home from 1950.

30th Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference

If you have time in September, then you might want to consider attending the Historic Preservation Conference held in Winona, MN this year. For two days, September 16-17, 2010, attendees can learn about various historic topics like:

• The recently passed Historic Renovation Tax Credit
• Regulating New Construction in Historic Districts
• Dealing with Threatened Buildings through Re-use Studies
• Historic Rehab Standards
• Preserving Local Landmarks

There are also tours available around Winona to showcase certain historic areas/buildings. For more information about the event, please visit the Minnesota Historical Society webpage.

Brick and Stone House on Summit Avenue

332 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota


Built in 1889 by Edgar Long, the home was designed by the Cass Gilbert and James Taylor (who also built together the home next door, 322-324 Summit Avenue). At the time, this amazing home was built for only $30,000. It is reported that Mr. Long was the in the lumber business, as were many of the wealthy home owners on Summit, and the general manager of the Railway Supply Company.


Amazingly, not much has changed with this home. While many homes in the area have lost their porches, or had additions put on the home, this home has only had a few minor changes. The coach port, as seen in this photo, has been enclosed and now houses the kitchen on the main floor, with a sun room on the second level (addition). For the grand homes on this side of Summit, the kitchens were originally located in the basement, with food delivered via dumb-waiters. It was believed that the smell of food would cause appetites to sour, so all food was prepared below the home. The new kitchen, since placed in the once porte cochere, has the exterior wall of the home as an interior wall, letting you see the grand door arches that were once entrances into the home from a carriage.

The rear of the home has seen some changes, namely to the porch stairs, as well as the missing railing on the top balcony, and the third story breeze way has been enclosed with glass. You can see how the home looked in 1890 from this photo.

At about 7600 square feet, the home is very large, with seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a third story game room. One of the draw backs would be the one car garage underneath the kitchen, but many of these homes lack adequate garage stalls. The saving grace is that the garage is a drive through into the back yard, offering further private parking if needed. When these mansions were built, carriage houses existed to the rear of the home, but most of these are long gone. At 332 Summit, the ruins of the original carriage house are still present.

The home recently sold in 2006 for $1,499,000.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home in Stillwater

I am sure there are plenty of people living in Minnesota that have no idea we have an architectural gem for sale in Stillwater, designed by none other than the infamous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

10121 83rd Street N, Stillwater, MN

Known as the Donald and Virginia Lovness estate in Stillwater, Minnesota, the home sits on 20 acres of lakefront, featuring a 2 bedroom home, as well as a small cottage. The home was completed around 1957 and was personally built by the Lovness family. They also had Mr. Wright design furniture and light fixtures, all included with the sale of the home. I have to say that the stone fireplaces in both buildings are absolutely stunning!

Built of Wisconsin dolomite stone and Fir wood, the home is now called the "Studio", setting it apart from the 800 square foot "Cottage" (pictured above) just a few yards away that was completed in the late 1970's. Wright also left plans for three additional cottages, which also are included with the sale of the home and await the new owner to finish.

Mr. Lovness died in 2001 and is survived by his wife, who sadly is selling her dream home. Being the original owner, she and her husband have meticulously maintained the home over the years, which shows as soon as you step onto the property. For all this tranquility, it won't cost you much - the current list price is $2.4 Million, listed with Lakes Sotheby's Realty.

If you would like more information on the home, or are an interested buyer, please feel free to contact me anytime!

View 360 of Studio Exterior

View 360 of Studio Interior

View 306 of Cottage Exterior

View 360 of Cottage Interior

Kees and Colburn Designed Home in Minneapolis

2008 Pillsbury Ave S, Minneapolis

Built in 1905 for Samuel J. Hewson, this home was designed by the Minneapolis firm of Kees and Colburn, with the interior of the home designed by John S. Bradstreet. Mr. Hewson worked for the Menomonie Hydraulic Press Brick Company in the late 1880's and then later incorporated The Minnesota Paving Brick Company in 1908.

Interior decorator John Bradstreet was known for his Arts and Craft design, incorporating into the home a willow tree design on the fireplace surround tiles and leaded glass cabinet doors.

The home was recently put on the Minnesota Preservation Alliance 10 Most Endangered Places 2010 due to the fact the home was a foreclosure and left vacant. The homeowners tried stripping the place of all its decorative and historic elements to sell them at an estate sale before the bank took back the property. Luckily, they were discovered and stopped! The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission then took steps to designate the property as a Minneapolis landmark protecting it while a designation study was completed. The house has since been put up for sale and looks to have sold to a new owner!

The house in 1914 and in 1974. Kees and Colburn also designed this home on Mount Curve. If you look at the porch pillars of each home, you can see the similar design in the drip molding.

Summit Avenue Queen Anne in Saint Paul

265 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Built in 1885 for $10,000, the home was designed by C.W. Mould for John Robertson. Designed as a simple Queen Anne Victorian, it has a brick exterior and limestone foundation. You cannot see it from my photo, but there is a tower on the right side of the home. The top of the tower was closed in at the time of this photograph, but at one time was an open balcony with spectacular views of Summit Avenue and the surrounding homes. I believe the last time I drove by the home it appeared the new owners had opened the area once again.

With about 5500 square feet, the home has three stories, and if you know anything about the third stories of these historic homes, then you know they have amazing ceiling heights. The home has only had about five owners during its long life, and the last owners have been stewards for over 40 years. There are original Tiffany light fixtures in the home, as well as the original woodwork and trim. The best room in the home is probably the oval dining room with curved built in buffets. Take a look at the "Fire, Wind, Water" stain glassed windows located at the grand staircase.



I had to opportunity to view the home for a client a while back when the home was listed for sale. It is a very beautiful home, in need of many updates and remodeling. I am sure the new owners will have a wonderful time restoring the home to its former splendor.

Mount Curve Historic Home in Minneapolis

1712 Mount Curve, Minneapolis

The oldest house on its block, this home was built in 1906. It was built for Lawrence S. Donaldson by Kees and Colburn with obvious influences from the Prairie school of design and Beaux Arts.

The old home has some wonderful architectural details that would cost a fortune to replicate in today's homes. The front porch is absolutely beautiful with its drip molding and ornate trim. The chimneys even have similar drip molding and trim at the top.

The last recorded sale of the homes was in 2000 with a purchase price of $2.825 Million. Taxes alone on the property are around $42,000 per year! But with the unbeatable views, I am sure that is a small price to pay. The home has about 9500 square feet and 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms.

Kees and Colburn also designed this home on Mount Curve. If you look at the porch pillars of each home, you can see the similar design in the drip molding.

The Julian Weaver House

863 Lincoln St, Granite Falls, MN

Saving a historic home is not an easy task, especially when no one wants it. In 2005, the Weaver house was placed on the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota's 2005 10 Most Endangered List, as the city wanted the home to be moved off the flood plain, and if no site was found, the home would be demolished.

Built in 1878 by Julian A. Weaver, a civil war veteran, this Italianate home is one of the most intact examples of 1870s residential architecture remaining in west-central Minnesota. Seeing as most of the surrounding homes had been demolished over the years, or moved, it was extremely important that this home be saved.

The Granite Falls Historical Society and the City of Granite Falls had looked for three years to find a buyer to no avail. In January 2008, just as the home was slated for demolition, Sarina Otaibi, an undergraduate college student, offered to purchase it and saved it from demolition.The house was moved three blocks away in May of 2008, and Ms. Otaibi spent the next year in renovations, and eventually sold the home to a new owner in December 2009.

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota awarded Ms. Otaibi a Minnesota Preservation Emerging Leader award for her efforts in historic preservation.