6th St Proctor House
In about 1875, John and Caroline Proctor and family relocated from their Greek Revival home at 220 South Fourth Street (also a Landmark home) into this fine Italianate house perched on a hill well above street level at 522 South 6th Street. The well-preserved house still retains typical features of this style, including ionic columns lining the porch and scrolled brackets supporting the cornice, which is emphasized with a dentil molding. The broad porch wraps around the front and side of the house and allows lovely views toward the river, and the distinctive tympanum above the porch entrance remains today. _x000D_ _x000D_ The South Hill survey indicates that this house is the same as that listed at the corner of South Sixth and Goodwood in Pryor`s 1876-77 city directory. Proctor held many roles over time in Stillwater, including prison warden, postmaster, register of deeds, and three terms as mayor. He was involved with the St Croix Boom company, and in 1881, Governor Pillsbury appointed him as the district surveyor general for logs and lumber._x000D_ _x000D_ John and Caroline Proctor are listed at their new 6th Street address in the 1880 census, at home with their son, Levi, 17-year old servant Lizzie Sheriden, and 11 year old boarder Ada Densmore. In the 1885 Minnesota state census, daughter Gerty is also listed in the household, along with Ellen Slattingreen. _x000D_ _x000D_ Proctor, however, appears to have become a bit restless in Stillwater, and offered his resignation to the board of education in April in preparation "to leave the city to take up his residence on his farm in Dakota." (St. Paul Globe, April 6, 1885.) The family shift to the Dakotas seemed to have already been made by son Levi C., as the Globe reported two weeks later (April 26, 1885): _x000D_ "On Friday evening a reception was given to Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Proctor of Aberdeen, Dak., at the residence of his father, Mr. John S. Proctor. The presents were numerous, as all felt pleased that one of their old companions had captured such a bonny bride. There was a large attendance." _x000D_ _x000D_ The move to Milbank, Dakota was not a clean break for the Proctors, as the newspaper continued to report on both families` comings and goings in Stillwater for several years after. In 1887, for example, John S. Proctor is noted as planning two brick stores at the corner of Main and Nelson. While the 1890 Stillwater city directory lists John Proctor as an employee of F.E. Joy & Co. residing in Milbank, South Dakota, by 1894, he is again listed as residing at the 6th Street address, along with son Levi. John S. Proctor died in March, 1897, and the funeral was held at the home._x000D_ _x000D_ By 1900, widow Caroline (who died in 1923) had left to the house to board with the Clewell family on South 3rd Street and Charles Mosier, a "capitalist," occupied the house with his wife, Mary, daughters Gertrude and Grace, and son Ollie. In 1910, H. K. (Harry) Huntoon, president of the Minnesota Mercantile company, had moved into the house with his wife, Phoebe, and a servant, Angie Dahl. Phoebe Huntoon died in 1927 and Harry remained in the house with a small platoon of servants: Jane Davis (also listed as a nurse), Josie Davis and Loraine Zabel. The real property value at the time was $7000. Harry died in March of 1935... and city directories list Mrs. Josie (apparently Davis) Huntoon at this address in 1937. Josie`s fate is unclear (as is the accuracy of the city directory listing) and the house changed hands frequently in the following decades.
6th St Proctor House
In about 1875, John and Caroline Proctor and family relocated from their Greek Revival home at 220 South Fourth Street (also a Landmark home) into this fine Italianate house perched on a hill well above street level at 522 South 6th Street. The well-preserved house still retains typical features of this style, including ionic columns lining the porch and scrolled brackets supporting the cornice, which is emphasized with a dentil molding. The broad porch wraps around the front and side of the house and allows lovely views toward the river, and the distinctive tympanum above the porch entrance remains today. _x000D_ _x000D_ The South Hill survey indicates that this house is the same as that listed at the corner of South Sixth and Goodwood in Pryor`s 1876-77 city directory. Proctor held many roles over time in Stillwater, including prison warden, postmaster, register of deeds, and three terms as mayor. He was involved with the St Croix Boom company, and in 1881, Governor Pillsbury appointed him as the district surveyor general for logs and lumber._x000D_ _x000D_ John and Caroline Proctor are listed at their new 6th Street address in the 1880 census, at home with their son, Levi, 17-year old servant Lizzie Sheriden, and 11 year old boarder Ada Densmore. In the 1885 Minnesota state census, daughter Gerty is also listed in the household, along with Ellen Slattingreen. _x000D_ _x000D_ Proctor, however, appears to have become a bit restless in Stillwater, and offered his resignation to the board of education in April in preparation "to leave the city to take up his residence on his farm in Dakota." (St. Paul Globe, April 6, 1885.) The family shift to the Dakotas seemed to have already been made by son Levi C., as the Globe reported two weeks later (April 26, 1885): _x000D_ "On Friday evening a reception was given to Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Proctor of Aberdeen, Dak., at the residence of his father, Mr. John S. Proctor. The presents were numerous, as all felt pleased that one of their old companions had captured such a bonny bride. There was a large attendance." _x000D_ _x000D_ The move to Milbank, Dakota was not a clean break for the Proctors, as the newspaper continued to report on both families` comings and goings in Stillwater for several years after. In 1887, for example, John S. Proctor is noted as planning two brick stores at the corner of Main and Nelson. While the 1890 Stillwater city directory lists John Proctor as an employee of F.E. Joy & Co. residing in Milbank, South Dakota, by 1894, he is again listed as residing at the 6th Street address, along with son Levi. John S. Proctor died in March, 1897, and the funeral was held at the home._x000D_ _x000D_ By 1900, widow Caroline (who died in 1923) had left to the house to board with the Clewell family on South 3rd Street and Charles Mosier, a "capitalist," occupied the house with his wife, Mary, daughters Gertrude and Grace, and son Ollie. In 1910, H. K. (Harry) Huntoon, president of the Minnesota Mercantile company, had moved into the house with his wife, Phoebe, and a servant, Angie Dahl. Phoebe Huntoon died in 1927 and Harry remained in the house with a small platoon of servants: Jane Davis (also listed as a nurse), Josie Davis and Loraine Zabel. The real property value at the time was $7000. Harry died in March of 1935... and city directories list Mrs. Josie (apparently Davis) Huntoon at this address in 1937. Josie`s fate is unclear (as is the accuracy of the city directory listing) and the house changed hands frequently in the following decades.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Heirloom Homes and Landmark
