801 N. 20th is a craftsman home built in 1902. It is 4554 sq. feet with 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The land was first homesteaded to Mr. Ellis by President Grant in 1869. Since then it has been owned by many famous Boiseans, including Mr. Resegue which is where the street Resegue gets its name. It was put on the National Registry in 1908. When the current owners first walked into the house they immediately fell in love with this classic charmer. Its glittering chandeliers and original woodwork as well as the original leaded glass windows were just a few of the major attractions.
Since owning the home, the owners have done extensive remodeling. They have entirely redone the basement. When they first moved in it looked like a coal mine because the house was once heated with coal. They did leave the original coal fireplace, but don’t use it because there have been 3 chimney fires in the house over time. The original kitchen was in the basement as well, which they think may have been the servants quarters when the house was first built. There was originally a dumbwaiter from the basement kitchen to the upstairs dining room serving area. A previous owner had cemented in the dumbwaiter but the current owners found it when they were remolding on the main floor. They have since moved the kitchen to the upstairs. They have also done replications of some of the original leaded glass windows as well as the air circulators above the bedroom doors. This has included done replications of the wood paneling above the doors, and touched up other wood paneling all throughout the house. It has become this couple’s goal to bring the home back to its former glory. They call it a “work in progress” and have plans to soon remodel the front porch. Former owners had covered the original wood with paint and outdoor carpet, so they’re trying to uncover and refinish the wood so the porch is beautiful once again.
Many old homes carry their previous owner’s spirits with them, according to some people anyway. The current owners believe that their lovely home is inhabited by a ghost, a friendly ghost though so it’s okay with them. They once had some candle sticks on her piano in the parlor and everyday after work she’d come home and she’d find one of them on the ground. Everyday she’d put it back and everyday it’d be back on the ground. Finally she asked the ghost “please stop!”, and it did. Also, she takes a bath everyday and places her towel on the side of the claw foot tub. When she returns to the master bath later in the day the towel is always on the floor. Spooky! Their friendly little friend is also responsible for these happenings. She and her husband have even felt the Casper-like creature in their home in the form of a cool breeze.
From the day they fell in love with this model home, apparently once found in Sears Roebuck catalogs, the owners have given their heart and soul into fixing it up. The warm and classic feel of the home clearly shows their success. Several other factors make this home truly unique. In a sea of old fixer-uppers, this craftsman home stands out in part because of the owners’ work, and in part just because of the original architecture.
Unlike homes of its day, and even in today’s modern world, this home features extremely spacious and entertaining rooms throughout the entire house. Also unique to most north end homes is the view out front. Most homes in the area look into another’s backyard, or front porch. This house is positioned just perfectly so as to look down the length of an entire street, bordered by homes and a canopy of green trees. 801 N. 20th street is a great example of turn of the century craftsman architecture, and the importance of loving owners to keep this type of architecture available for many future generations of people to appreciate.