H. Alden Smith House
Encyclopedia
The H. Alden Smith House is a historic Richardsonian Romanesque
house just west of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota
. It was designed in 1887 by noted local architect William Channing Whitney
. Its owner was a wealthy businessman, a partner in Smith and Wyman Sash and Door Company. It was once part of a group of other mansions on Harmon Place, but the area is now primarily home to apartments, warehouses, and Metropolitan State University
. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
H. Alden Smith lived in the home until 1906, when he died of a heart attack. His wife sold the home to a mortuary, and Davies Mortuary resided in the building until the 1970s. It was then used as a restaurant for about two years, then as an office building, a counseling clinic, and a location for filming of the movie Drop Dead Fred
. In 1993, the Minneapolis Community College Foundation bought the building for $350,000 and raised funds to renovate the structure. It is now the Wells Family College Center within the Minneapolis Community and Technical College
.
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
house just west of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. It was designed in 1887 by noted local architect William Channing Whitney
William Channing Whitney
William Ellery Channing Whitney was an American architect who practised in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Born in Harvard, Massachusetts, the son of Benjamin F. Whitney, he was educated at Lawrence Academy at Groton, Connecticut, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received his B.S. from the...
. Its owner was a wealthy businessman, a partner in Smith and Wyman Sash and Door Company. It was once part of a group of other mansions on Harmon Place, but the area is now primarily home to apartments, warehouses, and Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University is a four-year public university located in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, United States. It is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.-History:...
. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
H. Alden Smith lived in the home until 1906, when he died of a heart attack. His wife sold the home to a mortuary, and Davies Mortuary resided in the building until the 1970s. It was then used as a restaurant for about two years, then as an office building, a counseling clinic, and a location for filming of the movie Drop Dead Fred
Drop Dead Fred
Drop Dead Fred is a 1991 American fantasy dramedy film directed by Ate de Jong, produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films and released and distributed by New Line Cinema...
. In 1993, the Minneapolis Community College Foundation bought the building for $350,000 and raised funds to renovate the structure. It is now the Wells Family College Center within the Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a community and technical college located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The college is located near Loring Park and serves over 14,000 students annually...
.