Published on: Thu, 08/09/2007 - 11:38
The Olaf Lee House, a National Register of Historic Places property, is located in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood on Saint Paul’s East Side. The house, built in 1905, was designed by Clarence Johnston, the famous Saint Paul architect. According to the National Register nomination “the house is architecturally significant for its unusual eclectic design which combines Swiss Chalet, Craftsman and other elements into a convincing composition, making it the most sophisticated turn of the century house in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood.”
This past summer, soil testing revealed that the house had been partially built over the edge of a former lake bed. Over time, the southeast corner of the limestone foundation sank into the soft soils. By 2006, the subsiding foundation had dropped more than a foot! The damage caused by the unstable soil was particularity visible on the prominent front porch. Bolstering the foundation became critical to preserving this architectural gem on Saint Paul’s East Side.
Since this restoration project was a major undertaking, the homeowners contacted Historic Saint Paul. Through the Restore Saint Paul loan program, Historic Saint Paul provided the homeowners with financial assistance for the porch restoration. Working in partnership with Design for Preservation, Historic Saint Paul also identified a general contractor, City Venture, capable of performing the extensive foundation repair.
City Venture began work by shoring up the house with steel beams, excavating the affected area and removing the foundation blocks. The house was then slowly jacked up to a near-level elevation. Next, the contractor drilled helical-shaped steel pilings to a depth well below the unstable soil. The pilings were topped with steel-reinforced concrete beams on which the limestone blocks were reassembled. City Venture completed the foundation work by backfilling with compacted soil and removing the support beams.
Once the foundation was stabilized, the homeowners contracted with City Venture to restore the porch’s roof and hardwood flooring. Additionally, damaged trim was repaired and painted. Thus, the homeowners’ dedication to preserving the house went beyond merely stabilizing the structure; they took additional measures to restore the appearance of the house. The porch restoration and painting have made a highly-visible impact on the streetscape.
The Olaf Lee House demonstrates the ability of architecturally significant single-family homes to contribute to a neighborhood’s sense of place. The work of the homeowners, Historic Saint Paul, Design for Preservation and City Venture ensures that the Olaf Lee House will retain its distinctive presence in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood.
