Bunge Elevator – Head • pronounced vertical emphasis historic statement. Maria Sanford was the Tower • the hallmark element – a mansard roof – first woman professor at the University of 1936 a dual pitch hipped roof, usually flat Minnesota, a noted speaker and beloved 13th Avenue SE by BNSF topped public figure, and among the leaders of railroad tracks • prominent dormers, often in symmetri- Minnesota’s nascent environmental move- cal rows, on mansard roof face, and ment that led to the creation of Itasca State This building is the main other towers and domes Park to conserve the northern Minnesota visual landmark of the • prominent entablature band, below the wilderness forest at the Mississippi headwa- Como Como neighborhood. Min- roof cornice ters. This house appears generally to follow

l l l neapolis was called “Mill City” because of its the Victorian Stick style, whose features are:

• prominence in flour milling, along with Donald CaCatttttanachtanach very steep pitched gable roof • many lumber saw mills. Accompanying the House prominent vergeboards on gables • flour milling industry were dozens of grain Gothic Style decorative trusses on gables (not present elevators along rail lines throughout Min- here) 1893 neapolis. The Bunge is a generally un- • 1031 13th Avenue SE horizontal and vertical banding in the Architecture styles: adorned, resolutely functional commercial wall surfaces and on decorative pieces. structure – but the form of this reinforced The charm of this pe- Remodeled siding here covers any Stick concrete tower is enlivened by its pentago- tite stone house in wall detailing, but the vergeboards show nal wall outline, shaped roof parapet, and Gothic style often in- grooved decorative striping, a key Stick window groupings. After a 2007-2008 re- spires visitors to imagine it as a fairy tale set- style detail. construction, the head tower will remain, A Guide ting. The use of stone for a residence of this l l l l becoming part of a residential housing rede- scale is very unusual. Donald Cattanach was velopment. a mason, and it is believed that he designed Victorian /

the house and did the masonry construction Eastlake House Second Empire himself. The front window stonework is es- 1880s House pecially notable. Other stylistic features in- 1059 12th 1885 clude: Avenue SE. 1021 13th Avenue SE • multiple front gables, a common Gothic Photo circa 1895 style expression A very good example • (MHS) Gothic quatrefoil detail above porch of this quite distinc- • polychrome detail above second floor Now lacking most of its original decorative tive style. For its pe- window riod of fashion (1855- ornament typical of other gingerbread • round bullseye window in gable above 1885) in the Northeast and Midwest U.S., “painted lady” Victorians, an 1890s photo door Second Empire made a “modern” stylistic shows this house to have been an early and

statement – since it followed contemporary isolated construction at this Como site. Maria Sanford French building construction instead of Generally, the western area of Como was looking retrospectively to past architecture. House built up earlier than the portion east of 18th l With homes and businesses from the The house features side towers, with a line of Stick Style Avenue SE. On this house, key historical 1870s to recent days, the Como neighbor- paired windows that reinforces the vertical- 1885 Eastlake style features to note: hood in Minneapolis offers fine examples of ity of the Second Empire style. Original 1050 13th Avenue SE • the sawn gable decorations a variety of American architectural styles. It’s window treatments have been removed and • elaborately decorative turned porch a heritage to treasure and preserve. This conventional replacement siding used, but Although certainly posts and roof edge trim guide presents architecture style and history the asymmetrical plan and massing of this missing some original • shingle siding in the gable wall information for a selection of notable Como house still make its stylistic impact. Key decorative elements, houses and buildings. Second Empire features: this house still makes a strong stylistic and Queen Anne House The single-story form of this style is the brick makes a strong and elegant Second popularity. In the South the much larger Circa 1880s “Cape Cod” house. Empire statement from both front and side scaled plantation examples of the style con- 1041 12th Avenue SE views: stitute the Southern “antebellum” mansion • distinctive Second Empire mansard roof architecture. Here on this Como house, A good example of an- – a dual pitch hipped roof, usually flat note the urns at the roof corners, certainly a other easily recogniz- topped recent item from house restoration, adding a able Victorian period • strong vertical emphasis and massing somewhat whimsical decorative note that style, popular from • French doors nonetheless is very compatible with the • aims of the neoclassical house style. 1880 to 1910 and often irregular roofline, with towers or domes,

seen in Minneapolis. Talmadge Green Housing Complex and with prominent dormer windows The blue exterior color Neoclassical houses built from the mid- Late 1960s on the mansard roof face adds interest and diversity to its street set- • 1890s to 1920, like this one, may have been Between Como and Talmadge Avenues prominent entablature band, below the ting. Queen Anne house style features in- inspired by examples shown at the Chicago along 11th Avenue SE roof cornice clude: Columbian exposition in 1893. At 1070 13th It is unusual to find a house in a “high style” • Avenue SE is a similar Neoclassical house, corner tower or projecting bay, here on The steep, asymmetrical shed or “salt box” such as Second Empire to be adapted to with smaller columns, but with notable the right front side, with a cutaway roof style on these townhouses immediately mixed commercial and residential use. This • dentil trim below the porch roof. usually shows an asymmetrical layout dates this complex to the late 1960s/1970s is one of the oldest houses in Como, its • irregular roofline period. A reasonably successful design for original owner appears to have been a brick- • fish scale, tooth, or other decorative pat- high-density housing complex, constructed layer by trade. Folk Victorian terned wall shingles around the time that I-35W freeway con- • narrow siding struction made a divisive realignment of the Neoclassical / CoCoCotCo ttttagetage • porch is often partial width or wrapped Como community’s west border. The Greek Revival Circa 1880 to side, instead of full front canted roof lines and staggered front wall House 1060 14th Avenue SE alignment of the townhouses create wel- 1901 Harry Sova come visual flavor. The scale and color of 1097 13th Avenue SE This cottage shows House the development makes a generally harmo- the combination of Victorian period de- Colonial RReeeevivalvival nious fit to the older residential blocks that Major features of this surround it. romantic style, which tailing on a simple Style folk, or traditional (non-architected) building 1933 aimed to evoke the Greek temple form, form. The cottage has a gable front with a 1034 12th Avenue decorative bracketed bay. The new, and SE Second are all obvious on this carefully restored house: readily available range of mass-produced EEEmEmmpirepire milled decorative wood detailing elements • full width porch A pleasingly proportioned example of the House (brackets, spindles, columns) in the 1880s • prominent, full-height columns that Colonial Revival style, built for a Marshall Circa 1870s made simple detailing of basic folk house dominate the façade, often rounded with High School teacher. Note features such as: 1116 13th forms possible for even a builder with a very • capital or base detailing lateral gable roof, minimal overhang, Avenue SE • modest construction budget. In larger moderate pitch symmetrical front gable houses this effect became “carpenter’s gin- • • symmetrical façade layout, with wide An unusual wide frieze or entablature bands below gerbread.” On this Como cottage, the effect clapboard siding combination of building style and function. the roof edge is a pleasing blend of small scale and mini- • • single sash window pattern, Colonial 6 This French Second Empire house, after re- boxed eaves, often with a triple window mal detail. over 1 pane glazing style modeling, also served as a neighborhood row beneath gable peak • decorative window shutters store (from 1930s to 1950s), and traces of its This Como example is a modestly scaled • front door entry with detailing previous design adaptation for that purpose house that fits in well with its surrounding • traditional white color are still visible in front where the building dwellings. The neoclassical style was fol- abuts the sidewalk. This Como house in lowed in various parts of the U.S. from the start of the 1800s, through several phases of Andrew William Simms Rayvic Service Rasmuuusussssensen Photo circa Victorian / Station House 1920 Queen Anne Early 1930s Arts & Crafts Style House 1501 E Hennepin FouFourrrrsquaresquare Circa 1890 1926 1085 14th A delightfully re- 1055 14th Avenue SE Avenue SE stored 1930s ser- vice station, with period paint scheme de- A Craftsman styled Foursquare house that This house is tails, including a matching bright red pair of also shows clear Prairie style influences. Como CongrCongreeeegationalgational Church generally in the Mobil Oil Pegasus figures that add a touch of Note features such as: 1886 with 1909 and 1919 additions Queen Anne style of the Victorian period. mythology. The three doors with bowed • the Arts & Crafts 6 over 1 pane sash win- 1035 14th Avenue SE Note features such as: overhang roofs, flowerboxes, and other de- dow glazing pattern • asymmetrical front façade tails add much visual interest to the low scale structure, with its stepped parapet • typical low pitched, overhanging hip A major piece of Como architectural history. • angle bay on right side roof , with boxed eaves (Prairie) This 1886 church features a very impressive • steep roof pitch roofline. A quite refreshing, but still fully utilitarian commercial building that enlivens • a strongly textured tile block exterior, interior worship space. It is currently repur- • irregular roof line its locale amid an otherwise plain and func- showing alternate color patterns with the posed as the home of a preservation insti- tional arterial street environment. In 2008 triangle arch motif that is repeated in tute of sword weaponry and armor, while William Simms was a prominent Como adaptive reuse of the building is planned. the porch window frame lines continuing to serve as a church. In the business man. In Dinkytown, the painted

• the matching style door glazing pattern, 1950s the tower was removed and exterior wall sign for his Simms Hardware store can

with dentils below was stuccoed, muting its visual impact. The still be seen. Simms also built the attractive • Prairie style square spindles on the architect is believed to be Charles S. Sedg- Bungalow house, in the Arts & Crafts style balcony railing, with overhanging post wick, who designed the Dayton’s Depart- with some European flavor, next door at caps ment Store and Westminster Presbyterian 1089 14th Avenue SE, in 1911 for his son. Church on downtown Nicollet Avenue. Built on the site of a razed public school, While many details have been lost, the style this house was designed for University of is the Gothic style often used for churches, Minnesota Anatomy professor Andrew T. as can be seen in the massing, shortened Hawkinson Company Building ––– Rasmussen by architect Carleton W. Farn- tower, and in some preserved window de- GGGothicGothic Revival Streamline Moderne Style ham. During this same period, other U of M tails. The very interesting building interior Style House 1946 may be visited by arrangement when the Medical School doctors commissioned sev- Circa 1890 1325 Winter Street NE Oakeshott Institute hosts public events. The eral notable Prairie style houses around the 1022 15th Avenue SE recent building restoration is a welcome ef- city. Farnham shortly after designed the The curved aluminum and glass entry, the fort of conservation in Como. landmark 1928 Mediterranean style Frank This brick house, now a typestyle of the building entry sign, rounded

Grove villa on Lake Harriet, for the construc- rental property, has cer- building corners, and horizontal protruded tion industry magnate. The Rasmussen tainly lost most of its brick band all make this single-story com- house in Como also features an early style of original stylistic detail mercial building a good, energetic expres- attached garage, appropriately sized for a (windows, doors, porches, and similar), but sion of the 1930s-1940s Streamline Moderne

Ford Model T era motorcar – possibly the still strongly calls attention with its strong version of the Art Deco building style. first attached auto garage in a Como resi- vertical massing and its prominent bays and dence. tower.

BBBoyumBoyum Block ––– Witte Dental “Lost Como” – Early 1900s Office – Van Cleve Park CommeCommerrrrcialcial Eclectic Pond 1914 Modern 1905 North side of CoCoComCo mmmercialmercial Como and 15th Como Avenue BuilBuilddddinging Style Avenue SE between 15th and 1963 – 1601 Como 16th Avenues SE (Photo MHS) Postwar Modern Style House An unusual small medical office building, Photo 1962 (MHS) with a striking mix of design features that set 1956 While Van Cleve Park and Como residents 1060 15th Avenue SE it off from more conventional commercial Because Como a major Twin Cities streetcar box buildings of its 60s period: now enjoy recently renovated park play- ground facilities and landscaping, here is an line served Como, here at a major intersec- • contrasting wall surfaces on front and The Como neighborhood is also home to a amenity that long ago vanished from the tion where the line turned south from Como side walls (stucco, brick) number of post-WWII styles, during the park – a shallow scenic pond with walking towards the University and Dinkytown, a • a typical flat roof, but very prominently residential building boom that created the paths around its edge. This view clearly typical small streetcar business hub devel- emphasized with a playful zig-zag white suburbs. Here is an example of how some shows the park design esthetic that came oped. The Boyum business block shows decorative cornice elements of the Postwar Modern (Ram- typical brick construction, recessed door- from Horace Cleveland and other landscape • side walls with concave outlines and in- bler/Ranch) style can be traced as a simpli- ways, and simple cornice – in the past there designers around 1890-1900 for Minneapolis set widows fied 1950s adaptation of the earlier Prairie were awnings over the four storefronts. It parks, parkways, and the UM campus knoll. • front façade with overhanging bay win- style from 50 years before – envisioned as a contained the common local businesses that dows horizontally stated roofline over a single serve neighborhood needs – hardware, drug, Houghtaling story dwelling, with more open and flowing • side wall brick façade and front bay butcher, and Boyum’s grocery – several of House – Tudor interior floor plan replacing the Victorian overhangs create a “raised” effect, seem- which continue at the location today. Also Revival Style interior design scheme of separate room typical is a second floor of residential ing to lift up the main building mass boxes packed inside the house box. On this from the ground line 1906 apartments, for use by business proprietors 1519 Brook Como house, note the unusually prominent, Compare this commercial structure to the or other renters. heavy massing of the chimney over the hip Woodsy Modern house example on 25th After 1900, a turn roof line, a feature that signals a strong stylis- Avenue in Como, for a similar design spirit. to revival modes tic continuity with many low profile Prairie such as Tudor house designs, including those by Wright. “Lost Como” – Photo expressed an elegant upper and middle- Other elements here – the absence of 1954 Charles Way class ethos that was again defining its archi- porches or balconies, the living room pic- (MTM) Mansion tecture through European style adaptations, ture window, and exterior siding – are all Circa 1890s rather than the American-rooted Prairie or very typical for the Postwar Modern style. 15th Avenue SE Craftsman styles. This is a clean, and

and Brook strongly styled large Tudor Revival house, by

leading Minneapolis architect Harry W.

“Lost Como” – Como Streetcar Line No longer existing. Built for the manufac- Jones – noted for the Butler Square building, “Lost Como” Como Streetcar Line turer Way, who was a Como neighborhood and his own Elmwood house on Nicollet pioneer, this house may have been the larg- This 1954 picture shows the Harriet-Como Avenue by Minnehaha Creek. The house streetcar turning from 15th Avenue SE, est home constructed in the Como commu- features an unusual side gable form, with nity, and also notable for its third floor ball- heading east on Como. Growth in the Como other characteristic Tudor style features: room. Later in the 1930s the house served as • neighborhood was fed by easy transit on a decorative false half timbering (on house main double track streetcar line between the a UM Jewish men’s student fraternity, before sides) being demolished in 1963 for the construc- Twin Cities during the first half of the twen- • stucco wall finish tion of the University Church of Christ (now tieth century. • decorative, heavy vergeboard on the Southeast Christian Church). front entry roof The Houghtaling house was originally built Dutch Colonial Arts & Crafts Style and occupied by members of the Elwell and Revival House Bungalow Way families, who figure prominently in 1922 1921 early Como history. 894 18th Avenue 1915 Como SE

When the Dutch Postwar MoModdddernern (Ranch) Style House colonized Man- 1955 hattan in the early 1600s, they originally in- A rather well preserved example of this 1900 1911 Talmadge Edward Baker troduced this “barn-like” house style to New to 1920s style of small house. The bungalow House – Prairie York state. When during the post WWI was popularized in its time in several styles The Como neighborhood displays many in- Style Foursquare building boom the Colonial Revival style – as an East Coast Craftsman style, in Chi- stances of post-WWII house styles, which 1910 returned attention to early American East cago suburbs constructed of fireproof brick, usually infilled the remaining open lots dur- 1734 Como Coast house forms, this Dutch style variant and as the California Bungalow style (often ing the postwar residential building expan- became especially popular. Its hallmark fea- with Japanese style influences). This style, sion of the 1940s and 1950s. Here is a clean An example of the ture is the prominent gambrel roof – a steep, both as a house form and as an interior example of this postwar style, envisioned as utilitarian and very dual-pitched gable roof. This house, in ex- decoration fashion (such as Mission oak fur- a moderate-cost single story dwelling, along common Foursquare house form, favored in cellent condition and with pleasing propor- niture) has recently strongly revived in with the necessary utilitarian addition of the the Midwest because of its cost-efficient de- tions, shows a lateral gambrel roof, along popularity for preservation since the 1980s. attached auto garage – all typically under a sign for maximum usable space and easy with another common feature – a long sec- single hip roofline. As usual, this long rec- winter heating. The foursquare form is also ond floor shed dormer. The front entry col- This Como house shows several key prized tangular Ranch house is sited laterally to the notable for its adaptability to a broad range umns, and the fine round arch roof over the features of the style in the Midwest, such as: street, using a wide building lot and posi- of architectural stylistic expression. The front door, also signal Colonial styling. • small form of the house, single or 1 1/2 tioning the typical living room picture win- Prairie style, pioneered in Chicago and the story (the bungalow house form) dow to face visitors. This Ranch style re- mained popular from 1950 to the 1970s. Twin Cities during 1900-1925, forms the first • low-pitched gable roof, with distinctive American architectural style that is modern Hubert Humphrey wide eave overhang beyond side walls Overall, this Como example of this more re- and does not draw from past European House • exposed roof rafter tails, roof braces or cent suburban style makes a pleasing con- sources. This house was built for Dr. Ed- 1927 knee brackets are typical trast amidst the older Victorian two-story ward Baker — the Prairie style was especially 890 19th Avenue SE • exposed gable end beams house styles surrounding it, while keeping a popular among professionals and self-made • a porch, which often features tapered, good consistency with home sizes along its business men and women. The house im- This house is histori- full length columns street. mediately conveys its Prairie School styling cally notable as the • wood board, shingle, rough-faced brick by: residence of Hubert or tile, or river rock stone as materials for • strongly emphasized horizontal lines, Humphrey while he was Minneapolis mayor visual texture, and as an expression of even in a two story building form, (1945-1948); he later served as U.S. Senator authenticity through local materials through proportions, rooflines, and ex- and Vice President. After building a coalition

posed wood beams in walls of citizen, labor and business groups, Hum-

• low pitched hip roof, with pronounced phrey led reform of the Minneapolis gov-

overhang and boxed eaves ernment and police in order to combat civic

• corruption, and later gave the renowned visible Prairie window divider pattern 1948 “Sunshine of Human Rights” speech and glass panes that helped spark the U.S. civil rights move-

ment of the 1950s and 1960s.

quarters and manufacturing plant, in the • the large laboratory wing added on the Italianate Style House Moderne style with a striking corner tower west side of the main building, probably Circa 1875 (architect Walter H. Wheeler) – now a Min- mid/late 1930s, architect Carleton W. 2108 Talmadge neapolis Historic Landmark – represents a Farnham combination between a Midwestern food • the current Quinn Violins shop, the science invention and a very effective early standalone building at 1081 21st Avenue 20th century advertising campaign – for a SE, 1947, possibly also designed by Farn- popular packaged breakfast food. ham

Both these buildings have been intelligently The laboratory addition makes its statement The Italianate style intended to follow Italian NortNorthhhhwesternwestern Terminal repurposed in the last decade, as high-tech through strongly pronounced horizontal country villa houses as models. This style 1919 office and administrative space, and as con- window bands and continuous sill. strongly dominated American residential 500 Stinson Boulevard dominium residences respectively. construction from 1850 through the 1880s, Photo 1930 (MHS) when housing development of Como began. This early Como house now unfortunately The standalone lacks some of its original defining stylistic 1081 building (now details (such as, probably, its original porch) partly obscured by – but the house still presents a very clear instance of the Italianate style. Italianate fea- Farnham an ivy cover) fea- presentation tures continuous tures to look for: drawing, glass block window • typical square floor plan circa 1930s bands that curve • two story height

around the build- • a vertical emphasis created by the façade ]. General Mills Laboratories ing corners, with heightened emphasis from proportions and narrow windows the narrow band of clear windows above the • Streamline Moderne Style Buildings very low hipped roof, with prominent glass block. These window treatments on Cream of Wheat BuilBuilddddinginginging 1930 with later 1930s/1940s additions rounded eave brackets both buildings create the sleek “streamline” • 2010 East Hennepin Avenue. deep trim board below roof Art Deco ModerModernene Style look that is a hallmark expression of the • narrow, often arched windows, usually 1928 1930/1940s Streamline Moderne building This complex is the birthplace of renowned with decorative crown hoods or full sur- Stinson Boulevard at Broadway style. The rake-faced tile block exterior wall breakfast foods such as Cheerios and rounding decorative trim Photo 1928 (MHS) construction on the Quinn building also Wheaties! This complex of food science re- adds a rougher surface texture and visual search facilities and laboratories was The Elwell family that founded the Como interest that strikingly contrasts with the launched in 1930 by the Minneapolis mill- neighborhood originally farmed on land smooth machined window appearance. ing firm. With WWII military needs, Gen- along Stinson Boulevard, north of Hennepin. eral Mills converted much of the complex

over to electronics and computer hardware In the post WWI economic boom, this area development activities until the end of the was developed as a main rail delivery termi- 1950s – when the deep undersea diving nal for industrial purposes. At the time, submersible “Alvin,” which explored the Minnesota was considered a gateway from wreck of the lost RMS Titanic liner, was de- the East into the “Northwest” region of the signed and built here. US, hence the Northwestern Terminal name for this large rail and truck shipping delivery warehouse terminal complex serving Min- Two Art Deco / Streamline Moderne style neapolis. buildings from the 1930s/1940s in the com-

The 1928 Cream of Wheat company head- plex stand out for attention: MaMannnnning’sning’s National Folk Brick Storybook Style Café with Style HoHouseuse DDDuDuuuplexesplexes House Streetcar 1910 Circa 1950 1931 1907 2211 Talmadge 23rd and 24th 1017 25th Avenue SE 2200 Como Avenues SE, An example of a between Elm and Fairmount In the 1920’s to the Photo 1954 popular folk Depression the vari- (MTM) style of dwelling, with a basic house form For Como, an unusual grouping of single ous revival styles oc- Originally built as a corner butcher/grocery that was easily constructed by an owner or floor duplexes constructed in brick and a casionally were bolstered by a strong stylistic store, it was acquired in 1927 by the Man- carpenter from available sawn lumber, and simplified functional style. The duplexes are playfulness, coming from Hollywood, Los ning family, who established as a tavern in with minimal or no ornament. This L- part of the post WWII building boom that Angeles and other California builders. This 1932, after Prohibition ended. It went on to shaped, gable front version was especially filled remaining lots in the eastern half of Como house shows that the basics of the become a popular and well-known Como popular in the Northeast and Midwest areas the Como neighborhood. solid Tudor style could be propelled up into eating and drinking establishment. Seen of the U.S. an exuberant picturesqueness -- what is here in a 1954 street scene, shortly before now distinctively named the Storybook style. the end of Como streetcar service, Man- The sharp gable rooflines, round arch top ning’s has received façade and interior re- front door in its emphasized stone surround, modeling several times during its history as the prominent and strongly splayed chim- a café (1957, 1977). 1920s Period Kit ney stack, and the vertical ornament on the House Prairie StylStylee House chimney all make for an amusing and strik- MoModdddernernernern 1924 1913 ing statement that is lighter and more care- American / 1048 23rd 2508 Como free than many other house styles. Minimal Avenue SE

TradTradiiiitionaltional This house stands out from its neigh- Style House After World War I, bors through the 1939 Sears Roebuck, Aladdin, Montgomery Ward sharp austerity of its boldly simple form and 867 22nd Avenue SE and many other sources pioneered the con- decor. The house is a simplified version of Arts & Crafts cept of inexpensive kit houses, consisting of the quintessential Prairie “cube house” de- During the Depression 1930s through WWII precut, numbered lumber and other house FouFourrrrsquaresquare Style sign, in a two-story plan with strong stylistic to 1950, new house construction was often components that could be packaged and House features such as: done in this plain but comfortable style: shipped to the building location by rail and 1924 wagon, then assembled from a blueprint in • an extreme porch roof overhang • small scale 1069 25th Avenue SE a few days. These homes were offered in • a small visor roof running below the top • single floor catalogs with many styles and sizes to select, flat roof line A notable and very • minimal traditional detailing, here seen from Craftsman to Colonial. This Como ex- • typical Prairie earth toned stucco and pleasantly presented in the Colonial decorative window shut- ample shows a modest but pleasant, quite trim color palette Craftsman house in stucco, on which the ters simplified Craftsman style, intended for • symmetrically placed and paired win- splayed porch columns are accentuated by a Similar Minimal Traditional houses are lo- mass consumption by working families. dow groupings quite effective period color scheme. The cated throughout Como, but these are • house’s esthetics clearly assert the early mixed in among other house styles on their absence of other decorative ornament 1900s Craftsman movement ideals of an blocks, in contrast to some post-WWII Twin American family lifestyle that would be sim- Cities suburbs where this style can be seen This small house makes its powerful, pure ple, honest, and egalitarian, within a well- repeated continuously along streets. Later in statement through its severe geometrical designed house of simple building materials the 1950s new housing was more often con- form and lines, in a way that is very unusual and décor, in authentic harmony with structed in the larger Ranch and Split-Level among most other Como homes. beauty and nature. styles.

Woodsy Postwar War I ended, Tudor style was an especially Bill. These 1970s co-op residences are pre- General information Modern Style popular revival version choice for homes in sumably much more quiet and conducive to • Privacy: None of these buildings are House Minneapolis neighborhoods through 1940. study during rainy weather. open to public, except for the commer- 1979 cial properties as noted. Please respect 1089 25th Avenue SE This house displays key features: Como street- the privacy of all property owners and • a dominant front gable roof, here capped car stop by remain on public property when view- In a probable reac- by a small hip section, often steep University ing residential buildings in this guide. tion against the pitched Village • This guide is published by the South- prevalence and sameness of mass-produced • an expressive wall surface pattern Quonset hut east Como Improvement Association. 1950s/1960s suburban Ranch style housing, formed by the dark decorative half tim- student Primary research for this guide was done from around 1970 throughout Minneapolis bering (false timbering) and windows housing by Naomi Austin, for the SECIA History a number of eclectic or “woodsy” Modern • the light colored stucco finish, with con- Photo circa 1950 (MTM) Group (Connie Sullivan, Jeane Moore, houses began to appear. trast to the visible dark half-timbering Jennifer Lee, Larry Crawford). The Tudor Revival style romantically calls • Photos courtesy of: MHS - Minnesota Stylistic features of these Woodsy Modern back with its mix of features, which are ac- Historical Society, MTM – Minnesota houses include: tually drawn more from medieval and early Other historical Como resresiiiidentsdents Transportation Museum (Aaron Isaacs). • wood clad exterior with emphasized tex- English houses. and their homes • For further information about architec- ture and visuals – diagonal grooved sid- tural styles and Minnesota architecture, ing, battens, or similar Some other notable residents of the Como see Virginia and Lee McAlester, A Field • narrow casement windows or awning neighborhood over its history include: Guide to American Houses (New York: windows, often asymmetrically placed Knopf, 1997); David Gebhard and Tom • combination of shed-like and projecting • Frederick Manfred – Western novelist Martinson, A Guide to the Architecture cube shapes, with steep shed (half gable) and historian, at 1076 18th Ave SE, dur- of Minnesota (Minneapolis: University or full gable roof ing the early 1940s. of Minnesota Press, 1977); Larry Millett, • Les Bolstad – a renowned golfing AIA Guide to the Twin Cities (Saint Paul: This house, with its board-and-batten wood champion during the 1930/40s, later the Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2007). finish, asymmetrical massing, irregular and University of Minnesota team coach, protruding front wall line, paired casement Como Student CommunitCommunityy CooperCooperaaaativetive whose family home was at 1100 12th Southeast Como Improvement Association windows, dark red-brown color scheme and Housing Complex Avenue SE. The U of M golf course 837 15th Ave. SE landscaping, expresses this Woodsy/Eclectic 1974 nearby in Falcon Heights carries his Minneapolis, MN 55414 Modern style quite well. The University Como and 27th Avenue SE. name. Phone 612612----676676676----17311731 • Grove neighborhood in Falcon Heights has a James Wright – the Pulitzer prize win- Web www.secomo.org number of similar woodsy style houses. Another generally successful high-density ning poet and UM professor, resided at Email [email protected] housing development in Como, aided by the XX Como during the late 1950s. appropriate scale of the units, well designed • The house occupied by Como The Southeast Como Improvement Associa- Tudor Revival landscaping, and the handling of the design neighborhood founder Tallmadge Elwell, tion works to maintain and enhance the Style House problems of density, common access, park- built for him by his son James Elwell, is physical, social, and economic environment of our neighborhood: 1926 ing and amenity spaces, and other needs of at 1064 16th Avenue SE. Tallmadge El- • 104126th Avenue SE its student family residents as a community. well lived in it from around 1882 until Through programs that serve our com- his death in 1903. munity's present and future needs. • In the 1920s, when a Immediately after WWII, this site had hous- • Well-known Star Tribune columnist, Through communication, stewardship, new wave of revival ing constructed out of war surplus Quonset outdoors writer and bicyclist Jim and citizen involvement, we strive to fos- styles emerged into huts (one-story half-cylinders of corrugated Klobuchar (whose daughter is Senator ter a sense of community and to pro- vogue after World galvanized steel panels) and trailers, for the Amy Klobuchar) lived at the 1720 Como mote the neighborhood as a vibrant numerous ex-service men and women re- rooming house during his U of M stu- place to live and work. turning to U of M studies aided by the GI dent years. V8 – 7/25/2008  20o8 SECIA