370 Selby Avenue Suite 206 St Paul MN 55102 651-290-0977 1015 E Main Street 2nd Floor Richmond VA 23219 804-288-0037 June 9, 2014 Gary Neumann, Assistant City Administrator John Harford, Senior Planner City of Rochester Re: The Kerry Conley House, 810 W. Center Street Dear Gary and John: 1875 I Street NW Suite 500 Washington DC 20006 202-429-2036 106group.com A preliminary evaluation of the Kerry Conley House, 810 W. Center Street, was completed based on City Ordinance 19B.04 and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria. Research on the property was conducted at the Olmsted County History Center, the Rochester Public Library, and the City of Rochester Departments of Planning and Public Works. Photographs of the house and adjacent residential area were also taken. The following includes a brief description of the property, a brief preliminary evaluation of the Kerry Conley House based on each of the City Ordinance criteria, and the resulting recommendation. Description: The Kerry Conley House is an attractive American Foursquare style house that was constructed circa 1909. The two-story house rests on a concrete block foundation, is clad in vinyl siding, and has a pyramidal hipped roof that is covered with asphalt shingles. The house features a one-story, open porch on the facade. The porch is covered by a low-pitched, hipped roof that is supported by rectangular, concrete columns. A hipped roof dormer is located on the east, west, and north slopes of the roof. A second hipped dormer is also located on the north slope of the roof. Two interior brick chimneys are located near the roof ridgeline. Fenestration on the house consists of one-over-one, double-hung, vinyl windows; vinyl fixed windows with transoms; a vinyl siding window; and a single-leaf replacement door. A one-story, one-stall garage is located off the southwest corner of the house. The garage appears to be faced in stucco, has a pyramidal hipped roof that is covered with asphalt shingles, and has a replacement overhead door. The integrity of the materials has been moderately compromised by the replacement windows and siding, and possible alterations to the porch.
19B.04. Criteria for Recommended Designation of Heritage Preservation Sites. Subdivision 1. The Commission shall make its recommendations reflecting the following criteria: Its character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the City, the State or the United States; The Kerry Conley House does not appear to have contributed to, or been affiliated with, any significant events in the history of Rochester. Also, the house is not associated with any cultural patterns significant to the City of Rochester. Furthermore, the property does not appear to have had significant contributions to the development of Rochester or broad patterns of history. The Conley Camera Company, whose owner Kerry Conley lived at this property, does appear to be a major business in Rochester during the early twentieth century. The Conley Company received several patents for their cameras, was a major distributor for the Sears Roebuck Company, and employed many Rochester citizens. The Conley Camera Company moved from Spring Valley, Minnesota to Rochester in 1904 to the factory located at 12-14 4 th Street SW. The company then moved to a larger factory at 501 First Avenue NW in 1909. The second Conley Camera Company factory is no longer extant. Any early events or contributions to the history of Rochester made by the company during its time in Rochester would have been made at the 12-14 4 th Street SW factory. Therefore, any significance related to the Conley Camera Company would be better associated with that building. Its location as a site of a significant historic event; Research has not yielded any information regarding any events significant to the history of Rochester at this property. Any significance related to the Conley Camera Company would be better associated with the factory than the house Its location within and contribution as an element of an historic district; The Kerry Conley House is not located within an existing historic district. A cursory review of the surrounding streets did not indicate a potential historic district in the area. Nearby houses do not appear to exhibit high artistic or architectural value.
Its identification with a person who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City; Mr. Kerry Conley appears to be a prominent Rochester business man. Preliminary research indicates that he was associated with the Conley Camera Company, Rochester Cut Class Company, Rochester Artificial Ice Company, and the Arthur Hotel. Preliminary research indicates that amongst his several business endeavors his most significant business venture appears to be the Conley Camera Company. The company was a major camera supplier to Sears, Roebuck and Company and employed 175 people at its peak. Any significance of Kerry Conley as the owner of Conley Camera Company, however, appears to be better associated with the first Conley Camera Company's factory in Rochester, located at 12-14 4 th Street SW. Any significant contributions made by Mr. Conley would likely have taken place at the factory, not at his residence. His other business ventures, while successful, do not appear to be significant in the history of Rochester, nor do they make Mr. Conley significant above and beyond other business leaders of his time. Mr. Conley was the President of the Rochester City Council between 1906 and 1908 and a Representative of Olmsted County in the Minnesota State Legislature in 1909, 1911, and 1913. While Mr. Conley was an active political leader, his contributions as a politician do not appear to be significant in the history of Rochester or Minnesota, above and beyond other political leaders of his time. Research does not indicate that Mr. Conley played a role in any significant legislation or political movement of the time. Later owners of this property include sisters Nellie Baldwin and Julia Ferris, Joseph St. George, John H. McNeil, and William Adamson. These owners do not appear to have made significant contributions to the development of Rochester. Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style period, form, or treatment; While the Kerry Conley House represents a good example of the American Foursquare style in Rochester, it does not appear to possess high artistic or architectural value. The house exhibits several characteristics of the style such as its cubic two story form,
a low-pitched hipped roof, and front porch. However, the design is not distinct and the house does not exhibit any outstanding architectural characteristics or detailing that makes it an exemplary example of an American Foursquare style house. The style is also found numerous times on W. Center Street, and throughout the adjacent neighborhood and City of Rochester. The Kerry Conley House also has a notable loss of historical integrity. Its identification as the work of an architect or master builder whose individual efforts have influenced the development of the City or have contributed to the development of a nationally or internationally-recognized style or movement; Building permits and other research did not yield any information about an architect. Its embodiment of elements of architectural design, detail, material, or craftsmanship that represent a significant architectural innovation; The Kerry Conley House does not embody any significant architectural innovations. The architectural design of the house follows the common characteristics of the American Foursquare style. Plans for American Foursquare style houses were available through pattern books and builders' catalogs. The style is commonly found throughout the United States. Its location, scale, or other physical characteristics representing an established and familiar visual feature or a neighborhood, a district, the community, or the City. The design of the Kerry Conley House is commonly seen throughout the surrounding neighborhood and City of Rochester. The design, however, does not exhibit any artistic value nor does it appear to be significant in the building heritage of Rochester. A cursory review of the surrounding streets did not indicate a potential historic district in the area. Nearby houses do not appear to exhibit high artistic or architectural value. Recommendation: The preliminary evaluation of the property concludes that in order to complete the evaluation of the Kerry Conley House a full evaluation of the Conley Camera Company factory, located at 12-14 4 th Street SW, is recommended in order to evaluate the potential significance of properties associated with the Conley Camera
Company and Kerry Conley at that location and to compare the two properties. The significance related to Kerry Conley and the Conley Camera Company appears to be better associated with the first Conley Camera Company factory. The Kerry Conley house also has a significant loss of historical integrity. A comparison of the two properties would better determine which property retains better integrity to convey any historical significance. If you have any further questions regarding this document please contact Nathan Moe or Anne Ketz. Sincerely, THE 106 GROUP LTD. Kathryn Ohland Architectural Historian/ Principal Investigator
FIGURE 1. THE KERRY CONLEY HOUSE, FACING SOUTHWEST FIGURE 2. THE KERRY CONLEY HOUSE, FACING SOUTH
FIGURE 3. NEARBY HOUSES ON W. CENTER STREET, FACING NORTHWEST FIGURE 4. CONLEY CAMERA COMPANY FACTORY, 12-14 4 STREET. SW