St Paul Historic Home 6

This weeks showcase Historic Home is 365 Summit Avenue.

Built in 1891 by J.W. Bass and designed by James Knox Taylor (who also built two other homes with his partner Cass Gilbert), the Bass family lived in the home until 1903, when they exchanged homes with Chauncey Griggs.

Once Griggs took possession, the home forever changed. Originally, the home was designed as a Queen Anne Victorian. If one looks closely, you can see the typical Victorian bay windows, four panel double hung windows, and double doors. Apparently, Griggs liked the Neoclassical look, so he changed the roof from gables to front facing, and added the full-height Ionic columns. He also added a Greek looking railing above the porch, but since then it has been replaced by a simple iron railing.

The home returned to single family residential in 2002 according to a St Paul Zoning Ordinance and has about 8000 finished square feet. I am not 100% sure but the home has about 7-9 bedrooms and maybe 4 bathrooms. I would love to see the inside though, and see if this once Victorian home still has its once Victorian guts.

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