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Frank T. White (1866-1947) built one of Elk River's most <br />impressive houses at 1135 Main Street. An attorney, politician, <br />and real estate developer, White chose a desig-n from the <br />Radford Plan Company of Chicago. The Colonial Revival <br />design was built in 190g on a large lot overlooking the Elk <br />River. It is one of several notable houses in the Houlton <br />Addition to Elk River. <br /> <br />In the early twentieth century there were many unbuilt lots <br />remaining from the original townsite plans of Orono and Elk <br />River. Among popular styles for new infill houses were the <br />simple foursquare cube, and the Arts and Crafts bungalow. <br />The development of Manor Place on the Mississippi riverbank <br />in the early 1920s included several stylish Period Revival <br />houses, including one for banker Charles Bade. <br /> <br />After World War II, a variety of one-story ramblers were <br />constructed on empty lots in central Elk River. The rambler <br />was often the house type chosen to replace older farmhouses in <br />the township. With the beginnings of non-farm construction <br />along newly laid-out cul-de-sacs off Highway 77 and 13, the <br />rambler and its variations were built in greater number. At the <br />same time, many older houses were remodeled with aluminum <br />and vinyl siding and stucco or brick facades, with a loss of <br />historic character. In recent years, some Elk River property <br />owners have restored such houses to their historic appearance <br />with good results. <br /> <br />Preservation Planning Summary: <br />Residential Architecture <br />Inventoried Resources <br /> <br />Only nine non-farm residential properties are currently <br />included in the State Historic Preservation Office database. <br /> <br />Recommendation(s) <br /> <br />Conduct a complete inventory of residential properties <br />throughout the city. The survival of early Orono and <br />Elk River townsite houses should be carefully <br />documented. <br /> <br />Encourage the conservation of all of Elk River's historic <br />buildings and particularly the original houses of the <br />Orono and Elk River townsites. The Heritage <br />Preservation Commission should identify residential <br />properties eligible for local designation. <br /> <br />Elk River Historic Contexts and Phase II Downtown Conllnercial Area Study <br /> 39 <br /> <br /> <br />