The Captain John Oliver House, nicknamed Cedarlawn, is a historic house in
Lakeland, Minnesota
Lakeland is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,796 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census.
History
Lakeland was platted in 1849. The 1849 Captain John Oliver House, 18 ...
, United States, built in 1849. It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1977 for having local significance in the themes of architecture and exploration/settlement.
It was nominated for its association with the settlement and organization of the Lakeland area and as a rare surviving example of mid-19th-century
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but ...
in Minnesota.
Description
The Captain John Oliver House is a two-story building with
clapboard siding. Greek Revival elements include corner
pilaster
In classical architecture
Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the ...
s with simple
entablature
An entablature (; nativization of Italian , from "in" and "table") is the superstructure of moldings and bands which lies horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and ...
s topped by
gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...
-end
pediment
Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape.
Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds.
A pedimen ...
s, dog-eared window moulding, and a front door flanked with small pilasters, a
transom
Transom may refer to:
* Transom (architecture), a bar of wood or stone across the top of a door or window, or the window above such a bar
* Transom (nautical), that part of the stern of a vessel where the two sides of its hull meet
* Operation Tran ...
window, and sidelights. There is also an arched
Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...
window in the center of the front gable.
The house has been expanded with a front porch and additions to the side and rear, but retains its original architectural features.
History
John Oliver was an Englishman who attained the rank of captain in the British
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
before emigrating to
in 1820. He worked as a
maritime pilot
A maritime pilot, marine pilot, harbor pilot, port pilot, ship pilot, or simply pilot, is a mariner who maneuvers ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbors or river mouths. Maritime pilots are regarded as skilled professionals ...
on
Boston Harbor for over two decades, then relocated to Minnesota. He and his family were among the first settlers of Lakeland Township in 1848. Oliver operated a ferry on the
St. Croix River between Lakeland and
Hudson, Wisconsin, from 1850 until his death in 1869. His sons George and Charles were instrumental in organizing the town government of Lakeland while another son, John Oliver, Jr., founded the local school.
See also
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, John, House
1849 establishments in Minnesota Territory
British-American culture in Minnesota
Greek Revival houses in Minnesota
Houses completed in 1849
Houses in Washington County, Minnesota
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota
National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, Minnesota