201 3rd Street East
Northfield, MN, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Drew H. Lord House

Statement of Significance:

The Drew H. Lord House is primarily significant as the home of one of Northfield's leading builders and businessmen, who was Instrumentally linked to Northfield's late nineteenth century expansion and the built environment of that period. The house is significant architecturally as a locally distinctive residence utilizing the popular Eastlake design features and representative of the success achievable by a prominent local builder. Drew H. Lord first came to Northfield in 1873 and was employed as millwright at the Ames Mill. Soon thereafter, during a period of increased prosperity and significant building activity in the community. Lord established a building and contracting business.

His firm was the principal builder for many notable structures in town, including Goodsell Observatory (1886) and Scovllle Memorial Library (1896) at Carleton College, Steensland Library (1902) at St. Olaf College, the Nutting-Phillips Building (1887-now the First National Bank) in downtown Northfield, and much of Northfield's late nineteenth and early twentieth century housing stock. Lord constructed his home on Third and Washington, overlooking downtown Northfield, in 1887. The house served both as a private residence and as rental units for Carleton students. Lord resided in the house until his death in 1911. The locally distinctive dwelling is a reflection of the success achieved by a leading local builder and a representative of the many residential structures constructed by a man more widely known for his associations with public buildings.