The Kurtz Family are the newest owners of this passionately preserves Aberdeen historic treasure.
Melissa Kurtz recently purchased a 110-year-old house on North Main Street with her partner Danny Kurtz.
Melissa and Danny Kurtz are new to the 110-year-old house at 1215 N. Main. The young couple purchased the house just over a year ago, mainly because of Melissa’s passion for old houses. Danny was particularly attracted to this old house because it was immaculate, and move-in ready. There are a handful of Aberdeen’s historic houses that are in this good of shape. They are rare, and they are spectacular.
Like three others on this part of Main Street, 1215 is situated on a quarter city block. It shares a driveway with the house to the south. The driveways diverge and lead to respective carriage houses toward the back of both lots. The Highlands Development of 1907 promised clean air (from coal burning), quietness (from the trains), and eventual access to the street trolley that ran north on First Street to Wylie.
The house has seen many transformations over the years. Melissa credits the previous owners with preserving and restoring much of the detail throughout. Tage Born and her husband Anthony Hanson owned the house for 20 years. In that time, they did something to nearly every aspect of the house. The most dramatic to the passerby would be the exterior work. New windows were installed, the swimming pool was removed, the entire house was stripped of paint, cedar siding was replaced, and it was painted in a historically sensitive color pallet. They also rebuilt the front porch that was so important to period homes, and missing since they had bought it, and added an attached garage that fits right in. Tage comments that the work was never for the investment, but rather because they wanted to make a comfortable, attractive home for the family of five. She says that they thought they’d live in it forever. However, they recently experienced the empty nest syndrome, and decided to downsize. They passed their passion on to yet one more family in the home’s history.
Melissa says, “We have photographs that have stayed with the house featuring the first owners. We enjoy knowing there have always been lots of kids growing and creating memories in the house. We actually hosted our wedding reception at our home so we love knowing that we are continuing with that tradition and creating memories of our own in a home where so much love, laughter and life has been experienced.”
The most striking aspect of Melissa’s decorating is the punch of blue in the living room and dining room. It contrasts with the white trim and hardwood floors beautifully. She says her decorating style is, “pretty traditional with some contemporary touches. I love the details in vintage pieces so I have filled the house with several pieces, dating back to even a century old. Most of the newer pieces are repurposed with paint.” She says they only added a few personal touches once they moved in. Fortunately for them, Tage and Tony removed wallpaper from nearly every wall in the house and many of the ceilings.
There is no doubt that there is a certain type of person who can love an old house. One can love it to the extent that they spend 20 years restoring it, while others can love it as a restored Aberdeen landmark for a young growing family. // — Troy McQuillen
The main entrance hall leads people tp the living room (left), the kitchen straight ahead, and the den (right).
The main entrance hall leads people tp the living room (left), the kitchen straight ahead, and the den (right).
A 1998 real estate brochure featuring this house without a porch on the cover.
A 1998 real estate brochure featuring this house without a porch on the cover.
Antique and repurposed furniture provide interesting texture that support new and vintage accent pieces.
Antique and repurposed furniture provide interesting texture that support new and vintage accent pieces.
The kitchen is spacious and adorned with new Arts and Crafts cabinetry and granite countertops. Despite everything Tage Born's family restored in the house, they never got around to refinishing the floor in the kitchen.
The kitchen is spacious and adorned with new Arts and Crafts cabinetry and granite countertops. Despite everything Tage Born's family restored in the house, they never got around to refinishing the floor in the kitchen.
A writing nook was added to the kitchen.
A writing nook was added to the kitchen.
The doorknob is an example of the details and craftsmanship featured throughout the house.
The doorknob is an example of the details and craftsmanship featured throughout the house.
Stained glass windows flank the doors to the den.
Stained glass windows flank the doors to the den.
Tage Born says they replaced all the windows in the house and remodeled/updated nearly everything when they owned it. Melissa says this second floor den (below) and one on the main floor, are her favorite places to hang out.
Tage Born says they replaced all the windows in the house and remodeled/updated nearly everything when they owned it. Melissa says this second floor den (below) and one on the main floor, are her favorite places to hang out.
The master bedroom (above left and below) is flooded with light from a large leaded glass window facing east. Melissa says, “The greatest part about living in an older home is by far the character. This is largely in part to the previous owners preserving all of the beautiful parts of this home. My children would probably say a disadvantage is there is no sneaking around on original wood floors, but hide seek makes up for that."
The master bedroom (above left and below) is flooded with light from a large leaded glass window facing east. Melissa says, “The greatest part about living in an older home is by far the character. This is largely in part to the previous owners preserving all of the beautiful parts of this home. My children would probably say a disadvantage is there is no sneaking around on original wood floors, but hide seek makes up for that."
Blue is definitely the accent color of the first floor.
Blue is definitely the accent color of the first floor.
Painted furniture, a modern dining room table set and light, and a historic built-in buffet provide an attractive backdrop for a dinner party Melissa was hosting.
Painted furniture, a modern dining room table set and light, and a historic built-in buffet provide an attractive backdrop for a dinner party Melissa was hosting.
At some point in the home’s history, the porch was removed. After Tage Born and husband Tony Hanson bought the house in 1994, they rebuilt it similar to what was there originally as part of a major exterior renovation.
At some point in the home’s history, the porch was removed. After Tage Born and husband Tony Hanson bought the house in 1994, they rebuilt it similar to what was there originally as part of a major exterior renovation.
Melissa’s use of blue creates a striking contrast in the living room and dining room. She describes her design style as traditional with some contemporary touches. The historic home’s trim has been updated by previous owners with white paint which contributes to a modern feel, despite the home's 110 year old history.
Melissa’s use of blue creates a striking contrast in the living room and dining room. She describes her design style as traditional with some contemporary touches. The historic home’s trim has been updated by previous owners with white paint which contributes to a modern feel, despite the home's 110 year old history.
It is presumed this house on north Main – within the Highlands Historic District – was built by George N. Williamson. It was built in 1909 for George’s growing family. He and his wife May raised four children in the house. George was a prominent attorney and together with May, very active in the community, their church, and a variety of business concerns. George loved gardening and many flowers from his garden adorned the interior of the house for his oldest daughter’s wedding in July 1923. Three months later, George would unexpectedly die in Rochester, MN, where he was originally from. He was 57. The Williamsons have a family burial plot at Riverside Cemetery.
It is presumed this house on north Main – within the Highlands Historic District – was built by George N. Williamson. It was built in 1909 for George’s growing family. He and his wife May raised four children in the house. George was a prominent attorney and together with May, very active in the community, their church, and a variety of business concerns. George loved gardening and many flowers from his garden adorned the interior of the house for his oldest daughter’s wedding in July 1923. Three months later, George would unexpectedly die in Rochester, MN, where he was originally from. He was 57. The Williamsons have a family burial plot at Riverside Cemetery.
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