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Saint Paul Historic Home # 32 - Slowly, the Neglect Shows

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Kirby Fine Homes

* I orginally featured this home on my luxury blog, last April. Since then, the home even looks worse when you drive by it, which is what I did today. Sparkly winter snow doesn't even help.

This weeks featured historic home is located at 475 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, MN.

Why is it that I am always saddened when I walk by this home? Probably because it looks to be slowly deteriorating, but I could be wrong. Originally built somewhere between 1880-1883, this simple Queen Anne was commissioned by James Gamble, and designed by George Wirth. Mr. Wirth built six homes on Summit Avenue.

The exterior is constructed of stone, the home has most of its original features. The front bay window on the second floor has been altered, but the most significant change came to the front porch, only a decade after it was built. The Victorian styled lattice porch was changed to a more Richardson Romanesque style porch made of stone, which can be seen in the photos below.

Here are some photos of the home as it appeared in 1888, 1890, 1900. According to public records, the home has over 7000 square feet with 10 bedrooms. It is currently used as apartments.

Comments(4)

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Brian Belcher
RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
Charlotte Realtor

Hey, great post. Thanks for the information about your area.

Jan 02, 2009 03:24 PM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes

It is amazing how many chimneys there are but I guess as cold as your area gets and that was all the eat they had back when it was constructed, explains it.

Jan 06, 2009 03:26 PM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent

Trey - these mansions had multiple fireplaces, either coal or wood burning...yep, it gets pretty darn cold here..currently it is 2 degrees outside.

Brenda - the cyle for these homes is single family, apartment, single family...maybe in 10-20 years, it will be single family again, once the current owners give up on it or sell.

Jan 07, 2009 01:03 PM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Manyof the large, older homes in the Old Northeast area of St Petersburg were divided up into apartments, but many of them have been restored back into single family homes.

Feb 13, 2009 12:28 PM