Partners in Preservation: Twin Cities Initiative 2011

Make sure you take the time to vote for who you think should receive top honors for the Twin Cities Partners in Preservation contest. The program is sponsored by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation who will donate $1 Million in preservation grants.

Personally I am voting for the "underdogs", those being locations outside Minneapolis and St. Paul. So often our more rural Minnesota landmarks are overlooked, and they are the ones who need the money more. Currently the Basilica and Swedish Institute are in the top two places, but really, do they need the money as much as other places? But that is just my opinion....vote for your favorite!

Open houses this weekend at most locations!

Partners in Preservation: Twin Cities Initiative 2011

Summit Aveneue Home For Sale is a Great Bargain

This week a beautiful home on Summit Avenue in St. Paul went on the market with Edina Realty for the stunning price of $649,900, 265 Summit Avenue. I wrote a post about the history of the home back in May 2010. The current owners purchased the home for $800,000 in December 2007, and it was in need of a new kitchen and bathrooms. It appears it still is in need of those repairs.

If you are interested in more information, please let me know.

Burbank-Livingston-Griggs House on Summit

432 Summit Avenue, St. Paul
The Burbank-Livingston-Griggs is the second oldest home still standing on the avenue and was built by James Burbank in 1862. It is constructed of Mendota Limestone and was designed by Otis E. Wheelock of Chicago. Over the years the home has been touched by some of the most famous architects in Minnesota, including Clarence Johnston (1884), Allen Stem (1925), and Edwin Lundie.

The home is a fantastic representation of the Italianate style that was very popular from 1840-1880. Of the five Italian style villas built on the bluff, only two remain. Key exterior features of the home are the cupola that sits on top of the roof, the low pitched roof, tall narrow windows with arches, and large decorative brackets at the eaves. The home is situated on an acre of land and boasts a little over 10,000 square feet. With 7 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, the home is larger than it seems from the outside. Those lucky enough to see the inside would be astounded by the beauty. Mrs Theodore Griggs had many rooms imported after 1900 including a French drawing room, an Elizabethan study, and Italian paneled dining room, and a marble corridor to the mirrored ballroom. The last recorded sale of the home was in 1996 and is believed to be the only sale of the home in the last century.

The Weyerhaeuser Mansion in St. Paul

480 Grand Hill, St. Paul, Minnesota

Designed by William Channing Whitney and built in 1908, this grand Tudor Revival historic home was fashioned for Frederick Weyerhaeuser towards the end of his life (1834-1912). He was a German immigrant from Niedersaulheim, Rhein-Hesse who began his lumber career in Illinois around 1858.

When he first arrived to the States in 1852, he was penniless. He worked as a day laborer in Pennsylvania, married, and a few years later moved to Illinois. There he worked on a railroad as a carter, then at a sawmill and a timber mill. Soon thereafter he acquired both businesses and furthered his holdings, buying up large tracts of land filled with quality timber. He became know in the world as the "Timber King". Later, he moved his headquarters to St. Paul, MN in 1891 where he quickly became friends with James J. Hill. His accumulation of wealth through hard work is just another example of the great opportunities available in the States, and the dream that is America.

The house sits on a lovely bluff site overlooking St. Paul and has around 11,000 square feet. The woodwork decorating the home is quite beautiful, especially in the large foyer. Probably my favorite feature is the inset fireplace, big enough to fit a few chairs inside to enjoy the warmth of the fire on our cold Minnesota winter nights.

Short Biography
St. Paul Mansion For Sale

Italianate Home in Pelican Rapids

22 Fifth Avenue Southwest, Pelican Rapids

In Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, there is a great Italianate home that sits on a hill which is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. It was built circa 1883-1887 for Otto Andreas Edward Blyberg, known in the area as "the first merchant, the first postmaster, the first man to build a frame house, and the father of the first child born in the village". Pelican Rapids was settled mainly by Norwegians, starting when the town was platted in 1872. 

It features over 3800 square feet, 5 bedrooms, and 3 baths.

Photo of home, 1974

Photo of home, 1983

First United Methodist Church in Red Wing

403 East Avenue, Red Wing

The First Methodist Church of Red Wing was founded in 1853 and had a Greek Revival styled church constructed in 1858. One year later the church was damaged by a storm, and a new church was constructed on site in 1860. The Second Methodist Church of Red Wing survived until 1907 when it was destroyed by fire three days before Christmas. It took two years to construct the current structure (the Third Methodist Church now know as the First United Methodist Church) which was dedicated December 1909.

During the 1909 dedication, a times capsule was created by the congregation and placed behind the corner stone cap. One hundred years later, in 2009, the capsule was opened to reveal newspaper clippings, a hymnal, and a bible (just to name a few). The church was rededicated and a new time capsule was created with items chosen by the current congregation.

Learn more about the history of this church, including old photos of the First and Second Methodist buildings, and photos of the time capsule contents at the church website.

The current church was built with local quarried stone and has some beautiful gothic features, as seen in the above photo.

The Bean Mansion in New Prague

211 2nd Street NW, New Prague

The Bean Family is best know as the founder of International Multifoods. The son of the founder, Francis A. Bean, Jr. had this large Tudor home constructed in 1906. At one time, the property contained a tennis court as well as a rose garden, but sadly, both are no more.

Many of the family papers about the father Francis Bean Sr and his son are kept with the Minnesota Historical society. The father was originally from Massachusetts, moving to Minnesota in 1855.

The Theodore Sheldon Mansion in Red Wing

805 W 4th Street, Red Wing

When driving by this grand historic home in Red Wing, MN, it becomes quite apparent that something just doesn't seem right. You would be correct to notice that the Italianate looking home has a tower that seems to stand out more than usual for a home of this style. The answer to the mystery is that the third floor is missing.

Built in 1876 for Theodore B Sheldon, the home was designed by St. Paul architect A.M. Radclifff in the French Second Empire style. Born in Massachusetts in 1820, Mr. Sheldon was involved with many business ventures which helped his fortune grow including, mercantile, real estate, grain, transportation, and bank President. He died in 1900.

Home as originally built

Over the years, the home has seen many owners, but has remained in fantastic condition for its age. It is also listed on the National Registry for Historic Places. Sometime around 1960, the owner at the time was unable to finance the repair of the Mansard roof (due to water damage) so he removed the entire third level of the home, forever changing the home from Second Empire to Italianate. While it would cost a great deal to reconstruct the third level, it would be nice to see the exterior of the home returned to its full original splendor.

Picture of the home 1960

Picture of home 1974

Grand Victorian in Bryn Mawr, Minneapolis

2006 Laurel Avenue W, Minneapolis

This grand Queen Anne Victorian home located in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis was constructed in 1888 by Erick Lund for Eugene A.L. Arnold at a cost of $6000. It was later bought by Henry R. Higgins in 1904. The best interior feature of the home is the grand central staircase and wide entry foyer.

The most notable family to reside in the home was the Viehmann family, who owned the property from 1908-1931. George Viehmann ran the Viehmann Grain Company, and his family continued to have success in other business ventures.

Below are additional photographs of the home, the first being a winter view. The second is a photo from the Hennepin History Musuem, most likely taken sometime before 1970 when the home was addressed as 2000 Laurel Ave W.

Brick Tudor Revival Home on Portland

487 Portland Avenue, Saint Paul

This stately Tudor Revival home is just over 100 years old having been designed by Thomas Holyoke in 1909. Built for Charles Bigelow III, president of Saint Paul Fire and Marine Insurance from 1876-1911, the home has a sister house right next door at 495 Portland, which was built the same year and by the same architect for Fred Bigelow, his son.

While originally built as a single family home, it is currently two condo units, with the initial divide happening in 1951. The grand staircase was removed at this time, but many original features remain, including the numerous leaded glass windows. In the 1990's, the current owners renovated the large main floor living room which still retains the original wainscoting. Under decades of paint they uncovered beautiful Honduran Mahogany wood.

View a photo of the two Bigelow homes from 1972.