Summit Avenue Historic Home, Saint Paul - #26

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Kirby Fine Homes


This weeks Historic Home in St Paul is 353 Summit Avenue.

Built in 1882 for William Dean, the home "only" cost $15,000 to build. Mr. Dean was a partner for the local wholesale hardware firm, Nicols, Dean, and Gregg, and also sat on the Great Northern Railroad board of directors. Little is known about the architect. A photo exists of the home taken in 1895. Designed as a Queen Anne Victorian, it is a great example of half-timbering.

Around 1900, the home was altered beyond recognition of its original Queen Anne style. Below is a photo of what the home had looked like up until 2005.

As you can see, it looks nothing like the beautiful Queen Anne of 1882. The front gable and chimneys are the only remaining pieces visual to the eye that haven't changed. In 2005, a very expensive renovation was begun, with the owners wanting to bring back the facade of the original home. After a complete inside/outside renovation of the main house, and an exterior renovation of the carriage house, the home recently sold for $1.7 Million with Edina Realty, and photos of the home are still available via a virtual tour. The home has over 7000 square feet, 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and for one simple word, is stunning.

***************************************************

If you would like to learn more about Minnesota architecture, visit my blog dedicated soley to Historic Homes and buildings of Minnesota.

Comments (4)

Carolyn Gjerde-Tu-Davis
Lyon Real Estate - Davis, CA
Ca Real Estate
Jennifer, there is a lot of gorgeous woodwork in the virtual tour photos.  The porch seem like a great place to be on a summer evening.
Jan 25, 2008 04:23 PM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Jennifer -it's a shame to see the porch gone. Not only is it a place to enjoy life, it's a critical ingredient in getting the know the neighbors and improving the quality of life.
Jan 27, 2008 03:43 AM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent
Carolyn - I love porches. However it seems the old trend was to enclose the porches for more square footage as you can't sit on your porch in the cold during winter. But this trend seems to be going to the side as many homeowners are opening back up their porches, adding the original design to the home. The funny thing about some home owners who enclosed their porches is that the space became a catch-all for junk, and is never used.
Jan 28, 2008 07:55 AM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent
Sharon - oh, the first photo is what the home now looks like after the extensive renovation. The second photo is of what the home looked like before the renovation. The owners wanted to bring the home back to what it originally looked like in the 1895 photo link. Now that the porch is back, the home "pops" out at you as you drive down the street.
Jan 28, 2008 07:59 AM

What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry?

Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam?