Robert J. and Agnes S. Whiteside Residence

This American Four Square house with a strong Craftsman influence was built in 1913 for Robert J. (1877-1933) and Agnes S. Whiteside for $4,000.  Robert was born in Severn Bridge, Ontario and worked in a lumber camp on the Vermilion Range. He then turned to mining and the lumber business. After a brief time with the oil industry in Wyoming, he came to Duluth and organized the Spice Auto Company which later became Northern Motor Company.  The Whitesides  lived in the house until 1935 when it was sold to Paul L. and Elizabeth Sturm, a partner in Sanitary Service and Supply Company.  Duane and Sandy purchased the home in 1981 and began restoration.  This included replacing the roof, stripping old paint and repainting the entire house, rewiring the entire house, remodeling the kitchen and second floor bathroom, all without changing the original floor plan, replacing all outside windows with wood storm windows, replacing the furnace, and rebuilding the front and back porches. They felt lucky that the house retained most of its original character when they purchased it including two fireplaces, leaded glass window, a kitchen pantry, built in buffet with leaded glass and oak woodwork.