The House
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| 1676 Hague Ave. in September 2018 |
The 2.5 story single family house at this address in Saint Paul was constructed sometime around 1909. Like many Midwestern homes of the era, it follows the American Foursquare form without much ornamentation. Unlike many homes in Saint Paul, 1676 Hague is not served by an alley, but instead has a driveway and no garage.[1]
The floor plan is typical of an American Foursquare with public areas (living room, dining room, kitchen) on the ground floor and private areas (bedrooms and full bath) on the second. There is a large attic connected to one of the bedrooms that has been carpeted and is currently being used as a child's playroom.[2]
The Neighborhood
In 1880, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad opened the short-line route connecting St. Paul and Minneapolis. Two years later, Col. John L. Merriam opened a station at the halfway point and platted about 140 acres – including three acres set aside for a park bearing the neighborhood's name. This first plat was quickly populated with affluent commuters and ornate Victorian homes. Further additions away from the railroad station were developed in subsequent years and saw a change in architectural preference toward a more modern aesthetic (Prairie School, Arts and Crafts, etc.). [3]
By the mid-1880s both Saint Paul and Merriam park were booming. The state legislature passed a bill in 1884 allowing Saint Paul to extend its city limits westward to the Mississippi River[3] and the land 1676 Hague occupies was officially accepted into the city on July 21, 1886, as part of Schroeder’s Addition to the City of Saint Paul.[4]
The property sits near the eastern boundary of Merriam Park, just three blocks from the bustling Snelling/Selby intersection. Despite it's quaint origins, Merriam Park has become a very urban neighborhood with a mix of residential (about equal numbers of renters and homeowners) and retail property.[2]
Sources
- ↑ 1676 Hague Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104 | Zillow. Retrieved September 6, 2018, from https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1676-Hague-Ave-Saint-Paul-MN-55104/2044931_zpid/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Imbertson, Kyle. Personal recollection. 6 September 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sonnen, J. (1971). "Merriam's Vision: Rural Village Between Cities". Ramsey County History, 8(2), 10-14.
- ↑ Resolutions. (1886, July 24). Saint Paul Daily Globe, p. 6.
