James W. Foley House

811 S. Third St.

In 1902, James W. Foley hired local contractor Eugene Schmidt to build this late example of the Queen Anne style. The estimated cost of construction was $1,500. The house replaced a circa 1873 structure that had originally stood on this lot. Mr. Foley was a prominent Stillwater resident; he was the mayor of Stillwater from 1910 to 1911, and according to the 1912-1913 city directory, he was the secretary and treasurer of the Mulvey Corporation. The two-and-a-half-story, frame building, with its concrete block and limestone foundation, clapboard siding and one-over-one double-hung windows is covered by a front gable with lower cross hips over projected bys. The steeply pitched roof, dominant front gable with a pent eave and patterned shingles in the gable, and wraparound porch are characteristics of the Queen Anne style. The hipped roof projecting bay on the south elevation features six-over-one double-hung windows and a 16-light fixed window. A second story addition supported by wood posts on the rear elevation was built between sometime 1910 and 1924 according to historical maps. A circa 1950 garage is located behind the house. Despite a number of changes over time - the attic window is not original, the porch columns and railing have been replaced, the southern portion of the wraparound porch was enclosed to create an entry vestibule, and a picture window replaced the original windows on the first story of the front elevation - the house still retains most of its historic character.

— Research by The 106 Group for the City of Stillwater's Heirlooms Home and Landmark Sites Program