Edward S Brown House
This home was built in 1874 when the assessed value of Lots 7-12 jumped from $150 to $4,400. The original house faced Third Avenue S. and had the house number 1114 Third Avenue S. The somewhat Italianate house is a large broadside two-story with a bay and a chimney on either end. It has a number of Greek Revival characteristics which are surprising for a house built at this later date. The house has been changed considerably, including a newer porch and attached garage, but its original structure is intact and retains it places as a notable home in the neighborhood. _x000D_ _x000D_ Edward Brown was one of the owners of the Hersey Staples (later the Hersey, Bean & Brown) sawmill below this house on S. Main Street. He, as many early Stillwater residents, came to the area from Maine in the 1850s with his wife Hannah, bringing with him with a knowledge of the lumbering industry. He initially settled in and served one term as mayor of St. Anthony and relocated to Stillwater in 1873._x000D_ _x000D_ The Brown household in 1880 (listed in the census as living on Broadway) was quite extensive, including Hannah, son Jerry C., daughters Lucy and Susan, sister-in-law Lucretia Colburn, border Chas. Brown, "serving girl" Ida Esterbrooks and servants Margaret Hauley and John Sampson. Evidently Edward kept apple trees near the house, as in 1884 the newspaper noted: _x000D_ "A number of boys on the outskirts of the city on the south hill are making sad ravages in the gardens of their neighbors. Mr. E. S. Brown has been trying to keep a tree that has a new kind of apple to get ripe for a couple of years, and so far has been unsuccessful. This year there were quite a number of large apples on, but the boys have got them all, except three, and he does not expect to have them. Being a new seedling he values them highly. His other fruits have suffered equally. Could the culprits be found, it would be only right to make examples of them." (St. Paul Daily Globe, Aug. 7, 1884). _x000D_ _x000D_ Daughters Lucy and Susan were well known in the city, often entertaining their friends in the home in the 1880s, including the Young People`s Whist Club, the Young Ladies` Cooking Club, and progressive euchre parties. In 1886, Edward himself helped to found the St. Croix Social and Improvement Club, and in 1889 hosted the Allbright band from the Presbyterian Church for a concert in the house. Brown also was, in essence, a serial house builder, contracting with Thomas Roney for homes at 1029 3rd Ave. South (1887), 1019 4th Ave. South (1888), and 1017 4th Ave. South (1890). _x000D_ _x000D_ Unfortunately, in 1891, daughter Lucy died of consumption. Edward died in his home on July 11, 1899; records suggest that Hannah died in about 1906. While the Browns` social status suggests that the house, especially considering its size, was a notable one, the following years may not have been so kind, and later photographs show an intact but somewhat dilapidated structure. Through the 1920s and 1930s, the house was occupied by August and Martha Wojann and family. As a cabinetmaker and dressmaker, this family was likely of modest means. _x000D_ _x000D_ In the mid-1930s, Fr. Nicholas Odone, a respected, Italian-born priest bought the home. He earlier had served the Holy Redeemer Italian Catholic community in St. Paul (beginning in 1899) and around 1910 was the resident chaplain for the House of the Good Shepherd, a "female reformatory" in St. Paul. Father Odone died in 1947 and the home was subsequently purchased by Maple Island secretary and attorney Sherman Crane and family. In the 1960s it came under the ownership of 3M manager Robert Richards, whose family lived there for over two decades. _x000D_ _x000D_ The current owners began remodeling and restoring the home in 2001, creating a refined look for the home with updated siding, shutters, the addition of a porch on the front side and a sunroom replacing the former Third Street entrance. The preservation of window placement, the oriel window bay and the Italianate roof brackets contribute significantly to the home`s historic appearance.
Edward S Brown House
This home was built in 1874 when the assessed value of Lots 7-12 jumped from $150 to $4,400. The original house faced Third Avenue S. and had the house number 1114 Third Avenue S. The somewhat Italianate house is a large broadside two-story with a bay and a chimney on either end. It has a number of Greek Revival characteristics which are surprising for a house built at this later date. The house has been changed considerably, including a newer porch and attached garage, but its original structure is intact and retains it places as a notable home in the neighborhood. _x000D_ _x000D_ Edward Brown was one of the owners of the Hersey Staples (later the Hersey, Bean & Brown) sawmill below this house on S. Main Street. He, as many early Stillwater residents, came to the area from Maine in the 1850s with his wife Hannah, bringing with him with a knowledge of the lumbering industry. He initially settled in and served one term as mayor of St. Anthony and relocated to Stillwater in 1873._x000D_ _x000D_ The Brown household in 1880 (listed in the census as living on Broadway) was quite extensive, including Hannah, son Jerry C., daughters Lucy and Susan, sister-in-law Lucretia Colburn, border Chas. Brown, "serving girl" Ida Esterbrooks and servants Margaret Hauley and John Sampson. Evidently Edward kept apple trees near the house, as in 1884 the newspaper noted: _x000D_ "A number of boys on the outskirts of the city on the south hill are making sad ravages in the gardens of their neighbors. Mr. E. S. Brown has been trying to keep a tree that has a new kind of apple to get ripe for a couple of years, and so far has been unsuccessful. This year there were quite a number of large apples on, but the boys have got them all, except three, and he does not expect to have them. Being a new seedling he values them highly. His other fruits have suffered equally. Could the culprits be found, it would be only right to make examples of them." (St. Paul Daily Globe, Aug. 7, 1884). _x000D_ _x000D_ Daughters Lucy and Susan were well known in the city, often entertaining their friends in the home in the 1880s, including the Young People`s Whist Club, the Young Ladies` Cooking Club, and progressive euchre parties. In 1886, Edward himself helped to found the St. Croix Social and Improvement Club, and in 1889 hosted the Allbright band from the Presbyterian Church for a concert in the house. Brown also was, in essence, a serial house builder, contracting with Thomas Roney for homes at 1029 3rd Ave. South (1887), 1019 4th Ave. South (1888), and 1017 4th Ave. South (1890). _x000D_ _x000D_ Unfortunately, in 1891, daughter Lucy died of consumption. Edward died in his home on July 11, 1899; records suggest that Hannah died in about 1906. While the Browns` social status suggests that the house, especially considering its size, was a notable one, the following years may not have been so kind, and later photographs show an intact but somewhat dilapidated structure. Through the 1920s and 1930s, the house was occupied by August and Martha Wojann and family. As a cabinetmaker and dressmaker, this family was likely of modest means. _x000D_ _x000D_ In the mid-1930s, Fr. Nicholas Odone, a respected, Italian-born priest bought the home. He earlier had served the Holy Redeemer Italian Catholic community in St. Paul (beginning in 1899) and around 1910 was the resident chaplain for the House of the Good Shepherd, a "female reformatory" in St. Paul. Father Odone died in 1947 and the home was subsequently purchased by Maple Island secretary and attorney Sherman Crane and family. In the 1960s it came under the ownership of 3M manager Robert Richards, whose family lived there for over two decades. _x000D_ _x000D_ The current owners began remodeling and restoring the home in 2001, creating a refined look for the home with updated siding, shutters, the addition of a porch on the front side and a sunroom replacing the former Third Street entrance. The preservation of window placement, the oriel window bay and the Italianate roof brackets contribute significantly to the home`s historic appearance.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Heirloom Homes and Landmark
