James J. Hill House

 

James J. Hill was a Canadian born man was asked by a reporter late in his life how he found such great success in his life and his career as a chief executive officer of the Great Northern Railway. His reply fit the bluntness that surrounds him, "Work, hard work, intelligent work, and then more work."

James was not only a wealthy man but a hard working man. In 1893 when the economy fell into depression many businesses at the time began to collapse. Because of James and the drastic cost-saving measures he took he kept the Great Northern Railway running.

When the economy got back on it's feet with more prosperity, trust-building, and consolidation James no longer had to  restrict himself to his cost saving measures. 

Though James is a very interesting man with a great history behind him, we did not go to Summit Ave to just learn the history of him. We went to learn and explore the wonderful houses and mansions that grace this street in St. Paul, Minnesota. On this street, at the end in fact, is a dark mansion that sits across the street from the Catholic Church. This was the famous James J. Hill House. He built a house that not only suited his family but was also a symbol of his success. 

James hired a Boston firm, Peabody, Stearns, and Furber to handle the project of constructing his home under his observation. The firm was known for their impressive mansions. Mr. Hill made sure to be envolved with the whole process from the planning, to the construction, then to the furnishing.

Hill was so picky about what he wanted in his home that he replaced the architects after they ignored his requests. He then had his interior design team, Irving and Casson to finish up the home.

The home was finished in 1891 and is the most expensive mansion in the state of Minnesota. This extreme home is 36,500 square feet across all five floors. The mansion has 13 bathrooms, 22 fireplaces, 16 glass chandeliers, a two-story art gallery with a skylight, an 88-foot reception hall. All of this and still has the treat of having elaborately carved oak and mahogany woodwork. There is so much more to the house added up to $931,275.01 final total.

The James J Hill House is such an iconic mansion on Summit Ave. It starts you off with a great story behind the home that will prepare you for what else lies on that road that seems to be frozen in time.