Historic Lecture Series: Frank Blair Buildings

Historic Summit Avenue Lecture Series

Frank Blair Buildings

Thursday, November 20

Social Hour: 6:30-7:00 

Lecture: 7:00

Virginia Street Church

170 Virginia Street

St. Paul

The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association (SARPA) and the Ramsey Hill Association (RHA) will be hosting an interesting and informative talk on Frank Blair Buildings presented by Dr. Kristin Anderson.

Over nearly 140 years, the massive Blair Flats complex has dominated the Selby-Western intersection. With a handful of names and multiple owners (especially in the past few decades), the buildings have seen many ups and downs, from the early years as the stylish home to many of the area's elite to a less-desirable role as "a bleak monument to urban decay" in the 1960s and 1970s. Efforts to restore the complex and welcome back residents and businesses have returned the Frank Blair buildings to much of their former glory. We'll look into the architect, origins, owners, and famous residents as we trace the story of the complex to its beginnings in the 1880s.

WHO: Dr.  Anderson is a recently retired Professor of Art History at Augsburg University. She has taught courses on the history of Summit Avenue. She is the past chair of the Minnesota State Review Board for National Register of Historic Places designations and has served as the president of the state chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH). She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Parking: Parking is available on the street.

Although FREE to attend, pre-registration is required and space is limited to the first 120 people that register!

If you are not current members of Ramsey Hill Association or SARPA but are interested in joining, click the respective links below to learn more:

Click here for Ramey Hill Association Membership

Click here for SARPA Membership