1345 Summit Ave
St Paul, MN 55105, USA

Pictures from NPS

The Pierce and Walter Butler residence is significant for its association with
Pierce Butler, Ramsey County Attorney and United States Supreme Court Justice, and Walter Butler, one of the Midwest's best known building contractors; and as one of the more visually distinctive residences on St. Paul's Summit Avenue. Pierce Butler, born in 1866 in Waterford, Minnesota, graduated from Carleton College and moved to St. Paul in 1892. In 1900, Pierce, with his brother Walter, constructed a double residence at 1345-1347 Summit Avenue. In 1923, Pierce was appointed to the U. S, Supreme Court by President Harding, serving until his death in 1939. Walter Butler, born in 1858, moved to St. Paul to become Chairman of the Board of the family construction firm which (associated with the Ryan Co.) constructed the Minnesota State Capitol and numerous structures located throughout the Midwest. Walter is noted in particular for directing the 1907-1909 construction of the Detroit River Railroad Tunnel, the first subaqueous tunnel linking Detroit, Michigan with Windsor, Ontario. In addition, the firm was a pioneer in the development of the iron mining industry in Minnesota. Their achievements in the areas of mining innovations and improved employee relations stimulated investment
and development of Minnesota's Mesabi Range for over four decades. Pierce and Walter Butler's architecturally impressive residence reflects the inherent imagination and cooperative spirit of the Butler Brothers which made them leaders in the fields of law, business, and industry.

National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form

Attached is the application that was submitted to the National Register of Historic Places in March 1981. Below are excerpts from the application.

Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance:
The Pierce and Walter Butler Residence is an imposing three-story red brick double house, situated at the northwest corner of Summit and Hamline Avenues, in St. Paul. The height of the structure is accentuated by its setting on a raised lot, a high multiple gable-hip roof, and soaring Flemish-type coped gables. Erected by Butler Brothers Construction Company (of which Walter Butler was chairman of the board) in 1900, according to designs by St. Paul architect Clarence H. Johnston, the residence is exemplary of the trend toward the Medieval and Renaissance Revival styles popular at the turn of the century.

The Butler residence is essentially square in plan and is divided longitudinally in a north-south manner as to allow both front entries to face onto Summit Avenue. Each entry is 'shielded by a colonnaded portico with semicircular arches and balustrade like parapet. The primary distinguishing architectural features are the six '"'Flemish gables: two facing Summit Avenue and two facing Hamline Avenue. The gables nearest the Summit-Hamline intersection are taller than the other two, (however, detailing is' similar.' Each is arranged to allow three steps, finial, and a catenary curve ending at a hooded peak. The copings are of a red stone to compliment the brick.

The, entire third floor of the Butler Residence is contained within the roof. Several small dormers and two large chimneys provide the only interruption to what otherwise would be an unbroken expanse of roof and a dominant element in the design.

The Butler Residence is in an excellent state of preservation on both exterior and interior. Original hand-carved quarter-sawn woodwork on the main floor survives intact as does the mahogany woodwork in the former third floor ballroom. It continues to serve as private-residences.

Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder - Butler Brothers Construction:
The Pierce and Walter Butler residence is significant for its association with
Pierce Butler, Ramsey County Attorney and United States Supreme Court Justice, and Walter Butler, one of the Midwest's best known building contractors; and as one of the more visually distinctive residences on St. Paul's Summit Avenue. Pierce Butler, born in 1866 in Waterford, Minnesota, graduated from Carleton College and moved to St. Paul in 1892. In 1900, Pierce, with his brother Walter, constructed a double residence at 1345 & 1347 Summit Avenue. In 1923, Pierce was appointed to the U. S. Supreme Court by President Harding, serving until his death in 1939. Walter Butler, born in 1866, moved to St. Paul to become Chairman of the Board of the family construction firm which (associated with the Ryan Co..) constructed the Minnesota-State Capitol and numerous structures located throughout the Midwest. Walter is noted in particular for directing the 1907-1909 construction of the Detroit River Railroad Tunnel, the first subaqueous tunnel linking Detroit, Michigan with Windsor, Ontario. In addition, the firm was a pioneer in the development of the iron mining industry in Minnesota. Their achievements in the areas of mining innovations and improved employee relations stimulated investment and development of Minnesota's Mesabi Range for over four decades. Pierce and Walter Butler's architecturally impressive residence reflects the inherent imagination and cooperative spirit of the Butler Brother's which made them leaders" in 'the fields of law, business, and industry.

Architecture People of Minnesota Place Weather

Black and white slide of people standing in the snow in front of the Pierce and Walter Butler House on the NW corner of Summit and Hamline Avenues in Saint Paul.