A compilation of original home designs showing actual photogrpahs of exteriors and accurate floor plans of moderately priced residences, cottages, bungalows, garages, and farm buildings.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Judge Hollis R. Murdock built the original house in 1859 at 210 Laurel Street East in Stillwater, Minnesota. Also known as the Mildred Houghton Comfort home.
The John and Mary Curtis House is located at 706 West Churchill Street, Stillwater. Constructed in 1858 by John Curtis, a stone mason from Ireland. By 1894, Charles Jackson and Claude Jackson were residents. Charles Jackson was one of the few black men in Nineteenth Century Stillwater. He was born a slave in central Georgia about 1851. After the Civil War, he followed the Union Army north, and eventually ended up in St. Paul, Minnesota. While working in a livery stable in St. Paul, he met Albert Lowell, proprietor of the Sawyer House, Stillwater's grand hotel. Lowell offered him a job, and Jackson came to Stillwater to work as a barber, first for Lowell, later on his own, and at one time, as a partner with Samuel Hadley, another black barber. His son Claude, also a barber in 1894, was also a longtime choir director at the Church of St. Michael in Stillwater.
Twelfth edition of Sedgwick's Best House Plans. The plans are for one-story bungalows, cottages, frame cemented houses, brick houses, and other styles of houses. The designs are done by Charles Sedgwick and have been built across the United States and Canada.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Second edition of Keith's Interiors Beautiful, featuring artistic interior views of American homes. Rooms include halls and stairways, living rooms, music rooms, libraries, dining rooms, bedroom, billiard rooms, porches, and more.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The home of Gustaf Erickson at 218 Everett Street North in Stillwater, Minnesota. Erickson, the proprietor of Erickson Furniture, was the father-in-law of the Frederick Holcombe, the photographer. Holcombe marred Elizabeth Erickson in the house.
Second edition. A selection of a few designs of attractive homes, including bungalows, semi-bungalows, houses and two- and four-unit apartment buildings. Working drawings and specifications available for each house.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
A survey carried out at the request of the St. Paul Association of Commerce. After visiting more than 5,000 dwellings, Wilder researchers concluded that housing conditions were "a menace to the health, safety and privacy of thousands of St. Paul people." The findings from the report led to the enactment of the first St. Paul housing ordinance in March, 1918.
Exterior view of the Gag family home, built in 1894. Wanda Gag was born March 11, 1893, to Anton and Lissi Gag in New Ulm. She was the first of their seven children. Wanda Gag lived there until age 20. After the death of her parents, Wanda was forced to provide for her sisters and one brother. She also wanted to pursue her dream of becoming an artist. She wrote and illustrated "Millions of Cats", which was published in 1928. Wanda Gag died in 1946. The Gag house is located at 226 North Washington Street and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Submerged houses, St. Paul, 1897. Contributed by Richard Uriah Jones, Macalester College Class of 1901, and Macalester Head of Chemistry Department 1903-1941, and Dean of the College, 1917-1936.
Flooded homes in St. Paul. Contributed by Richard Uriah Jones, Macalester College Class of 1901, and Macalester Head of Chemistry Department 1903-1941, and Dean of the College, 1917-1936.