Irvine Park Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Irvine Park Historic District
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The Ohage and McDonald Houses in Irvine Park
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Irvine Park, W. 7th, Walnut, and Sherman Saint Paul, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1849 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000993 |
| Added to NRHP | November 27, 1973 |
Irvine Park is a special neighborhood located just west of downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. It's famous for its many old and beautiful homes. This area was first planned out by John Irvine and Henry Mower Rice way back in 1849.
Right in the middle of the neighborhood is Irvine Park itself, which is a public square designed like those you might see in New England. This whole neighborhood is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city of Saint Paul also calls it a historic district. This means the buildings and the area are protected because of their history and unique look.
For much of the 1900s, the Irvine Park neighborhood faced some tough times. In the 1930s, many of the grand old homes had become rundown. By 1970, most houses were not in good shape. The city even thought about tearing down the area to build new apartments.
But people worked hard to save Irvine Park! In 1973, it became a National Register Historic District. Then, in 1982, it was named a Saint Paul Heritage Preservation District. These special titles helped protect the neighborhood and bring it back to life.
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Exploring Historic Homes in Irvine Park
The Irvine Park area is home to many unique and historic houses. Each one has its own story and special architectural style. Let's take a look at some of them!
The Murray-Lanpher House
This house was designed in 1886 by Edward P. Bassford. It's a great example of a Queen Anne house, known for its fancy details and towers. Many people think of this house when they imagine a classic Queen Anne home.
The Jay and Henry Knox House
Built in 1860, this house belonged to two brothers who were bankers. It's one of the few Carpenter Gothic houses in the Twin Cities. This style often uses vertical wooden boards. For a long time, the original wooden siding was hidden under stucco. But in the 1970s, new owners started restoring it, bringing back its original look.
The Parker-Marshall House
This house is designed in the Greek Revival style and is the oldest house right on Irvine Park, built in 1852. It has moved a few times! It was first built where the Murray-Lanpher House now stands. Then it moved to a nearby lot in 1883, and finally to its current spot in 1976.
The John McDonald House
The John McDonald House, built in 1873, shows off the Italianate style. This house also moved from its original spot on Smith Avenue in 1978. There's a fun local story that says this house once got a parking ticket! It was "parked" in the street overnight while it was being moved.
The Justus Ohage House
This house, built in 1889, has a Romanesque Revival style with some German touches. It's said that Dr. Justus Ohage designed it to look like his wife Augusta's childhood home in St. Louis, Missouri. Sadly, Augusta passed away shortly after the house was finished. Dr. Ohage was a very important person in Saint Paul. He helped start the city's public health service, built public bathhouses, and even opened the first city zoo at Harriet Island. He also performed the first successful gall bladder operation in the United States in 1886.
The Simpson-Wood House
This is a simple Federal Style house that was first built in 1853. It was originally located a block away on Sherman Street. In 1978, it was moved to its current location in Irvine Park.
The Joseph Forepaugh House
This house, built in 1870, is now known as Forepaugh's Restaurant. It was built by Joseph Forepaugh, who was a dry goods dealer. He made enough money supplying troops during the American Civil War that he was able to retire at just 34 years old!
The Alexander Ramsey House
You can find the Alexander Ramsey House just across Exchange Street from Irvine Park. This was the home of Alexander Ramsey, who was the first governor of Minnesota Territory and later the second governor of the state of Minnesota. The house was finished in 1872 and is built in the French Second Empire style. Today, the Minnesota Historical Society owns it and operates it as a museum, so you can visit and learn about its history.
The Charles Symonds House
Built in 1850, the Charles Symonds House is thought to be the oldest house in Saint Paul. It was built by Charles Symonds, who used to be a sea captain. This house was also moved from its original spot, which was across the street and a bit to the east.
The William A. Spencer House
The William A. Spencer House at 47 Irvine Park was built between 1856 and 1857. It's a type of pioneer Greek Revival architecture where the roofline runs parallel to the street. The two-story veranda on the front was added later.
