This weeks Historic Showcase Home is 445 Summit Ave.
Know as the Shipman-Greve house, the home has been described by some as the perfect example of the Queen Anne style. Construction began in 1882 by Henry Shipman. For some reason lost through time, he was unable to complete the home, so Herman Greve, a local real estate broker at the time, purchased the home and finished it in 1883. In 1912, the home was bought by Frank Ford who added the iron fence and the west wing as seen in the photos.
It is easy to see the Queen Anne details in the spindle work, gables, half-timbering, and lattice design. The home has a Japanese flair to it making it truly one of a kind. The architect is unknown and research has shown no other similar work in St Paul. Construction materials include limestone, a second floor sheathing of wood and plaster, ending with wavy patterned slate at the third floor gables.
As you can see, the current condition of the house is begging for revival. I took this photo fall of 2006 and you can see the overgrowth that consumes this once beautiful home. It sits on a wonderful corner property and I wish the owners would open up the lot so the home can shine through. The only time to see the entire structure is in the dead of winter when all the vegetation is dormant.
The home has not changed owners for quite a few years. Public records show the home at approximately 8000 square feet and about 7 bedrooms.
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Ayn Rand, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 1966
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