Historic Italianate Home in Stillwater

911 Sixth Ave S, Stillwater, MN

Known as the John Moodhe House, this fine representation of Italianate architecture was constructed somewhere between 1878 -1882 for the sum of $700. While brick construction is not common for local Italianate homes, the brick does allow for architectural details not found in wood sided homes. At the corners of the home are prominent quoins and under the windows are lentils. The arched windows, brick window crown, and low pitched roof are some other characteristics of the style. The only thing really missing are large decorative brackets under the eaves, but it looks like the home never had them.

The house was sold a year ago for $504,000. It has a little over 2700 square feet, three bedrooms, and three bathrooms.

St. John's Lutheran Church in Chaska

In 1884, St. John's was organized into a congregation, and the first church building was built one year later. Tragically, like many historic churches, fire destroyed the building in 1921. The current grand church was built in its place around 1922, with a touch of Gothic Revival in its styling.

A Darker Version of Tudor Revival on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul

This weeks historic home is located at 485 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul.

Built in 1907 for and by James A. MacLeod, this Tudor Revival designed home, with its muted tones is a stark contrast to the Victorian homes on Summit. I wasn't able to find any original photos of the home in the archives, but it is well documented that a two story addition was added in 1911 designed by Reed and Stem (see another house they designed on Summit), and that a sleeping porch and sunroom were added in 1922.



Mr. Macleod did not own the home for long. He sold the home to John G. Ordway in 1913, whose family owned the home until 1975. Ordway was the manager and treasurer of the Crane Company, formerly known as the Crane and Ordway Co., which produced plumbing and heating supplies.



The home is currently valued for about $1.5 Million, sits on .25 acres, and boasts over 6600 square feet!