Ed and Susan Hitchcock had searched for a historic home on White Bear Lake for over five years, but they found that properties sold fast, often without being listed. Finally, they were able to purchase a home in Dellwood at the north end of the lake. Built in 1885, the home had most likely been a year-round farm. It included a 2,800 sq. ft. farmhouse, a three-story barn, and White bear Lake frontage. Mature trees dotted the 2.8 acre property and most rooms overlooked the lake. Ed and Susan could see its potential and dreamed of restoring the home, while preserving as much of the original design as possible. "We wanted a home that would be child-friendly, capable of being formal as well as casual. We also wanted a home with a flowing floor plan that would be conducive to entertaining," Susan says, "but the challenge was to keep it historically authentic, matching the old with the new." Their vision helped them to see beyond the worn façade, the twice-remodeled kitchen, and the crumbling limestone foundation, to the stately home that once was.

Making It Happen

Paul Husnik was the catalyst that helped them make their vision a reality. Husnik, owner of Husnik Homes, had been the contractor for many White Bear Lake area renovations. He knew the area and what it would take to make it all happen. "These historic lake properties increase so much in value when they are restored. Not only was the location right, but the potential of this home was right. We could see that it would be well worth the work to make it happen," Husnick says. (Before shots, below)

The renovation took seven months. Some sections of the home had to be demolished in order to make way for a livable floor plan. The remaining areas had to be built or restored with as much historical authenticity as possible. A new addition included a kitchen, master bedroom and bath, hearth room and double garage. Two previous remodeling jobs had resulted in a cramped kitchen with mismatched styles and colors. Tearing out the previous remodeling and building the addition more than doubled the size of the kitchen, allowing for a 4' x 10' island, a built-in writing desk, side-by- side refrigerator and white porcelain farm sink. "Black rose Brazil" granite countertops unify the look as do beadboard accents and custom mouldings throughout the home. Old flooring was pulled up to reveal salvageable hardwood floors which were refinished in a soft nutmeg brown. The new master bedroom suite retains the historical flavor of the home with matching windows, nickel faucets, beadboard accents and custom mouldings. Three upstairs bedrooms were combined to make way for two larger bedrooms for sons Eddie and Bobby. The new rooms are nicely sized to accommodate the boys' friends, books, games, computers, sports equipment, and musical instruments. Just beyond the boys' bathroom the expansive original screened porch overlooks the lake. (After shot, below)

Working through design Challenges

Opening a stairway that blocked traffic flow and lakeviews.

"Accommodating the stairway to the second floor was one of the biggest aesthetic challenges in the renovation," Susan says. The original stairway blocked access from the front door to the rest of the home, isolating the living room and obscuring the view of the lake. There didn't seem to be an easy solution; moving the stairway would cause drastic design changes.

Then Susan and the designer devised a plan to open the area under the stairs and use it as an open walkway to the rest of the home. To enhance aesthetic appeal and accessibility to the stairway a five-step flight was built off of each side of the landing. This solution opens up traffic flow through the home and provides a wider view of White Bear lake.

Entryway and porch moved to the front side of the home.

Originally the entryway and porch were on the lake side of the home. There had previously been a road leading down to the lake, so the home's main entrance opened to that road. In 1915 the road was removed, so there was no longer a need to have the entrance there. In designing a new main entrance on the front side of the home, it was important to stay true to the design of the original home. The first sketch of the new entrance and porch left the Hitchcock's with a porch that seemed closed in. Extending the porch and wrapping it around the side of the home gave them more space and another view of White Bear lake.

Original windows and millwork restored or matched and replaced

Ed and Susan wanted to preserve as many of the distinctive original windows as possible. They wanted to keep the tall narrow shape, ripple glass and tilt-in panes operated by handsome brass handles. Some windows were beyond repair and had to be replaced. Some were lost during demolition. But many of the charming original windows were saved or replaced with matching new windows. The distinctive woodwork was also preserved wherever possible. Paul Husnik's team was able to save much of the moulding and the rest was replaced with matching custom millwork from Custom Millwork, Inc.

Turning the dumbwaiter shaft into butler's pantry

The 5' x 8' shaft was a challenge because it blocked the kitchen from the living room. susan had a brainstorm-why not use this section as a walk-through butler's pantry for food and wine service? Both sides of the walk-through now display built-in buffets that serve as bar and serving areas for guests.

Smoothing out the elevations

One of the biggest challenges was the fact that floor heights, rooflines, hallway transitions and entrances had been on slightly different elevations.

Though somewhat workable in the original structure, these discrepancies caused problems when adding new sections to the home. Careful design and creativity allowed Husnik's team to accommodate new sections and keep the original sightlines of the home.

Unexpected discoveries

When asked about some of their unexpected discoveries during the project, Susan noted many. She said that she and Ed had discovered a 100-year-old wagon wheel in the lower level of the barn. s\She says it is a favorite reminder of the rich history of their home. This spring they found old perennials pushing up from the crumbling stone terraces in the side yard. The original 2nd floor screened porch, Susan says, was too beautiful to demolish so it remains a favorite place to sit and relax overlooking the lake. She says that Eddie and Bobby have their own favorite places on the property, too. Across from the barn, in a stand of huge oak trees is their own building project-a hand-built tree house that they work on in their after-school hours. Susan says, "that's Eddie and Bobby's favorite thing about the house right now. They love living out here."

QUICK CLICKS
City of White Bear Lake-
www.whitebearlake.org

White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce-
www.whitebearchamber.com

White Bear Lake Historical Society-
www.wblareahistoricalsociety.org

Minnesota historical society-
www.mnhs.org

RESOURCES

Builder:  Husnik Homes, White bear Lake,
Paul Husnik, owner,
651-248-1185
www.husnikhomes.com

Millwork:
Custom Millwork, Inc.,
North st. Paul

WHITE BEAR LAKE IN 1885

1885 was the height of the resort era in White Bear Lake so people spent time enjoying sailing, fishing, and excursion cruises. It was a popular destination for picnics, "hops," as dances were called then, and concerts at the large resorts. There was even an early amusement park called Wildwood Park in adjacent Mahtomedi, according to the White Bear Lake Historical Society. Most of the homes around the lake then were prestigious seasonal cottages, but a few were year-round working farms-with homes big enough to house extended families, servants, and lodgers. By 1890 the population was 1,356.

WHITE BEAR LAKE

City population: 26,000
Founded: 1881
Location: Washington County
Lake size: 2,416 acres
Maximum depth: 83 feet
Fish: Walleye, muskie, crappie, bluegill, large mouth bass, northern pike, and others
Local private golf courses: White Bear Lake Golf Club, Dellwood Hills Golf Course
Local public golf courses: Gem Lake Hills Golf Course, Manitou Ridge Golf Course, Oneka Ridge Golf Course 

By Joni Danzl