318 Sanborn; 1890
The first recognized owner of this Old Home was A.O. Slade who advertised the home for rent in 1889, and the attorney, W. D. Abbott, and family were living at this address in 1894. By 1898, two families were in the house, Peter Christensen and Mrs. Helen Ellis and his Daughter, Merle. Within two years the home had again changed hands and was occupied by the E.G Thompson family. Mr. Thompson was a teamster for H.J. Willis. However, by 1904, the Carl Gerlicher family was living in the house. Carl was one of the founders of the Dr. Koch Vegetable Tea Company. The next tenant in the home was the Howard Wentworth family. The elderly couple purchased the home around 1906 and lived there until 1925. The next owner of the house, Earle Chadwick a Winona City engineer, moved in around 1927. He and his family remained in the home until 1948 when the house was purchased by Henry McConnon, Vice President of the McConnon company, a manufacturer of food products, spices, etc. After purchasing the home, McConnon extensively remodeled the interior. Mr McConnon had previously owned a home at the site of the New Cathedral Church which was razed in its construction. Mr. McConnon's family lived in the home for about five years and sold it to the family of John Fitzgibbon. Mr Fitzgibbon was the president of First National Bank of Winona. Around 1960 the home again changed hands and became a parsonage for Central Lutheran Church and was occupied by Rev Lawrence E Byrnstad family and later by Rev Gerhard Huggenvik family until 1969 when Edward Schams moved in with his family. Edwards was a chemist at Fiberite. In 1974, schams sold the home to David Sollenberger, the City Manager. The Johnsons bought the home in 1977 sight unseen from Japan and have lived in the home until 2023. This lovely home has been featured in Christmas Candlelight House Tours.
This front Gable Greek Revival was constructed in approximately 1890. About 20% of Greek Revivals have a small entry porch, which does not extend the full height of the facade. About 40% of Greek Revivals have the square doric columns that are found in this particular home at 318 Sanborn. This home has been well preserved.
