Historic Home Turned into a B&B and Keeps the Former Owners Legacy Alive

DULUTH - Driving through Duluth it's hard to miss a home built 100 years ago, but one mansion on the east end has a special story that's still shared with new visitors on a daily basis.

In this week's Northland Uncovered we take a look at a home turned Bed and Breakfast once owned by a popular business man.

What was once a home to well-known Duluth families, is now home to couples on romantic getaways.

"My wife's always wanted to own and operate a bed and breakfast so here we are. It was just seven years ago yesterday since we bought the house," said A.G. Thompson House Owner Tim Allen.

The A.G. Thompson house, also known as the Ryerson house, was built in 1909.

"Cost $17,000 to build it, which back then was a bit of money," said Allen.

The manor is named for the second owner, Adam Thompson, who owned a wholesale hardware company in Canal Park.

"They shipped hardware through that building. It was like a distribution center is today and they shipped all over the country out of that building," said Allen.

Now, guests can find Kelley-How-Thompson antique tools while lounging in the living room of the company owners house.

"I will find guests sitting out here thumbing through those. Especially some of the older guests who like the history cause we have catalog going to 1910 and going all the way into the 50s," said Allen.

The Dutch Colonial Revival was built by one of the most noteable architects in Minnesota, Edwin Hewitt.

He's mostly known for his work in the Twin Cities, but added this home to his list.

"He designed the Charles Pillsbury house, the Minneapolis club, Blake school, the Episcopal Cathedral. There's a laundry list of prominent that Edwin Hewitt destined," said Allen.

The mansion is one of many in the east end neighborhood.

"A lot of people in Duluth don't even know about this neighborhood, but it's just filled with historic mansions," explained Allen.

It has matching Dutch Colonial carriage house and tool house.

"It's made from cedar shakes all three floors are cedar shakes," said Allen.

Some things in the house did need to be changed as times changed.

"So accommodate our guests and their needs and desires we've upgraded things like the bathrooms and obviously the kitchen had to be made bigger. I mean to make it a bed and real fast there's something's that just couldn't say the way they were," said Allen.

The history of the home is still brought to life in the exterior wood work, design and reminder of the Kelley-How-Thompson "Hickory" brand.