955 Jessie St
St Paul, MN 55130, USA

The Olaf Lee House

The Olaf Lee House, built in 1905, is architecturally significant for its unusual, eclectic design which combines Swiss Chalet, Craftsman, and other elements into a convincing composition, making it the most sophisticated turn of the century house in the Payne Phalen neighborhood. The house is also one of few designs in this part of St. Paul by one of the city's most prominent and prolific architects, Clarence H. Johnston, Sr. (1859- 1936) who designed dozens of houses in St. Paul's Ramsey and Summit Hill neighborhood, numerous commercial buildings in St. Paul and many school and public buildings throughout the state. The house was built at an estimated cost of $5,000, according to the building permit, and its original owner and occupant was Olaf Lee, a druggist who owned two pharmacies near his house--one at 908 N. Payne Avenue: the other at 966 N. Arcade Street. The Lee family lived in the house until Olaf Lee's death (4/9/1937). Lee's widow then moved to 988 Fairmount Avenue and sold the house to Fred Schwartz, a salesman for the East Side Motors Company. Members of the Schwartz family owned the house until 1982.