| My primary residence
(above) was built in 1880 for Joseph and Frances
Haag, who raised five children on this property. Joseph (1852-1915)
was a German tinsmith and hardware dealer whose shop was located at
305-309 West Seventh Street in St. Paul. The house originally faced
Leech Street to the west on the same lot, but in 1886 Haag built a
much larger house for his growing family and moved this house to its
current location farther east, facing Goodrich Street and the bluff.
Haag's second and larger residence has since been demolished. Notably,
Joseph Haag had been raised on the same block. His parents, Valentine
and Annie Haag, built their first home in St. Paul at 88 Leech (then
numbered 13 McBoal). Their original 1857 homestead still stands near
the alley to the rear of 88 Leech, where it is currently used as a
shed. Several other "alley houses" (some pre-dating the Civil War) can
be found in Uppertown today, most having been converted to garages or
storage sheds.
 Before
Generally a neo-gothic, Victorian stick style
home is constructed of wood; and is angular, asymmetrical, vertical
and has a lot of detailing! This style originated with Andrew Jackson
Downing (1815 –52) and house pattern books of the 1860s and 1870s.
Downing also founded the magazine “Horticulturist” and was known for
his garden and park design. A representative of the Victorian Stick
Style, the Haag House features this typical gabled, steeply pitched
roof with overhangs. Although the house has lost its original porch
and southwest bay
The location of this home is at a unique point of
the bluff of the Mississippi River Bridge. The gardens enhance this
choice bluff site and its river valley character. The landscaping
features beige granite traditional Japanese lanterns and stone path
lighting. These complement natural and sculpted limestone retaining
walls. The perennial gardens merge oriental and western design.
The interior of the first floor or the original
house has lost its original woodwork except for the front stairwell.
The redesign of the front formal rooms reflects Scandinavian and deco
influences with a mix of maple, walnut, oak and wengee for flooring
and trim. The kitchen features a circa 1930 stove and antique Dutch
tiles. The music room and back stairwell is oak. Handrails are from
the notorious Faust Theater (Dale and University Avenues; demolished
1995). The second floor bedrooms of the original house retain their
window and door trim and maple flooring. The entertainment room
features a sweeping view of the urban river valley, and its maple trim
was recycled. |
Il buono e il bello