Month: May 2007

One of the things I love most about Saint Paul is that it is graced with so many lovely older homes. In fact, according to the Census Bureau, the majority of our homes were built before 1949. These solid senior citizens are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods, giving us a genteel sense of place that anchors our lives.

There are two important reasons why these older homes are so wonderful. The first is that they were built in a very middle-class city where lumber was cheap and plentiful, giving people the opportunity to build for the ages. The second reason is that while some older homes were not built as soundly as others, they have all been left behind by history with only the stronger ones remaining. A well built home that has stood the test of time is a glory to behold.

Since there are so many older homes, we have the resources locally to take good care of them. Hardware stores stock the bits and pieces needed to do a proper restoration, and plenty of good contractors know how to do their jobs right.  With many neighbors to help the do-it-yourself handyman, anyone can show their house the respect it deserves.

What I love the most about our houses is the sense of space and light. The most popular era you will find in Saint Paul stretches from about 1900 to 1929, and encompasses mainly Foursquare and Craftsman styles. These houses never relied on electric light, and typically have large windows framed with solid natural oak trim. The rooms that drink this light in usually have high ceilings and carefully maintained proportions which spread the spaciousness out, blending it with your daily routine in a warm and comfortable feeling that can only be home.

Many of these homes also carry quaint amenities that enrich the owners’ lives. Built-in buffets and fireplaces make entertaining a treat, but the room dividers with neo-classical columns are what usually catch your eye first. The people who built these houses wanted more than comfort – they wanted a feeling that this gracious living would somehow ennoble the people who set their lives in these walls.

It is the porches that make the house a member of the neighborhood, though. Wide expanses set relatively close to the sidewalk are places where people can, and do, spend their summers greeting their neighbors. That closeness amongst all the luxury turns so many older homes into a statement in wood or brick or stone of our basic values in Saint Paul – a good life working side by side with good people.

Saint Paul’s older homes are more than just a visible reminder of what this city once was. They make us what we still are – a people that are usually kind and decent to each other. We certainly have our problems from time to time, as any place does. But the good life our housing heritage gives us helps us get through hard times. That legacy says a lot about Saint Paul.