Lewis & Gwendolyn Erickson House

3328 East Superior Street

This mid-century modern home is built on top of a steel bridge spanning Bent Brook Creek that flows through Glensheen to Lake Superior. Built of steel and concrete in 1959, the open concept great room and primary bedroom look into the trees, suspended in nature. A former neighbor described the feeling of entering a tree house. Another example of modern design principles is in the wall of windows oriented for the view and privacy, even though the house is quite close to a busy street.

This home is a capsule from the ‘50’s! The home boasts pecky cypress paneling, slate floors, an indoor pool and shower room under the garage. It is not surprising that this feat was built by and for Duluth engineer Lewis Erickson and his wife Gwendolyn. He was chief engineer, and later president, of National Iron Company, a Duluth manufacturer, and it is likely the house’s steel piers were made by NIC.