Overview

Master architect Edwin Hawley Hewitt designed the Hewitt House as his private home. 

• Location: 126 Franklin Avenue East 
• Neighborhood: Steven’s Square

Architecture

• Architectural Style: Tudor Revival
• Architect: Edwin H. Hewitt 

Use

• Historic use: Residential
• Current use: Commercial

Construction

• Construction date: 1906
• Contractor: John Wunder Co. 

Significance

• Area of significance: Undefined
• Period of significance: Undefined
• Date of local designation: 1986
• Designation: Exterior
• Date of National Register designation: 1978

Historic profile

Master architect Edwin Hawley Hewitt designed the Hewitt House as his private home. It is located on a large lot at the corner of Franklin and Stevens Avenues. In the 1930s, Hewitt sold the house to Hodroff and Sons for use as a funeral chapel. It retains this use today. 

Hewitt was born in Red Wing, Minnesota, in 1874. As a college student, he worked for well-known architect Cass Gilbert. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1896. He also studied and worked in Boston. In 1900, he moved to France to attend L'Ecole des Beaux Arts (the National School of Architecture). He returned to Minneapolis in 1904 and opened his own firm. 

Two years later, he designed his house in the Tudor Revival style. It has two front gables on the front elevation with projecting wood brackets. The first story is clad in brick. The top two stories are clad in stucco. The main entrance has a portico with a low Tudor arch. On the east side, there is a porte-cochere. The house's windows are leaded, which is typical of this style. 

In 1911, Hewitt formed an architectural firm with Edwin H. Brown. They designed several prominent buildings in the city. Notable examples include St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral and Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church. They also worked on many private homes. Hewitt was also an avid supporter of the Society of Fine Arts. 

Photo credit

• 1974 photo: Charles W. Nelson, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society 
• 2006 photo: Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development

Work cited

• Charles W. Nelson, "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: Edwin H. Hewitt House," January 1977