Building Description James C. Burbank House (Livingston-Griggs House), St. Paul Minnesota

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General setting and orientation: The house sits on a hill overlooking Summit Avenue, the "grand avenue" at the turn of the century. Today, many of the homes are subdivided into apartments, owned by the Catholic Church, or various institutions such as the University Club.

Outbuildings: There were various outbuildings, today only the carriage house (now a garage) remains.

Basement: A ballroom, and elevator, the door to the tunnel to the heating plant (in the carriage house), the marble stairway to first floor, and the original kitchen.

First floor: Central hallway, stair and inglenook, carved oak stairway leading to second floor, marble stair leading down to the ballroom. The east side of the house contains the living or "Mirror Room," the west side contains the stone room, another sitting room is located to the south of the entrance hall, and the dining room is located to the west. Behind the dining room is the rear ell addition, with pantry, kitchen, service entrance and service stairs.

Second floor: The northeast front contains a doll house room, bedroom, and sitting room-bath. The Master bedroom and bath which are south of the original wing, contain a sitting room, guest bath, and wardrobe room. The back ell contains the servants stairway. Mother's bedroom, bathroom, and dressing room, which opens to the wardrobe room.

Third floor: Originally a servant's floor with bedrooms and sewing room: now remodeled and used as headquarters for the St. Paul Junior League,

Stairways: The main stairway has elaborately carved oak paneling which was added to the walls and stairs around 1884-1887. Arcaded alternating spiral and octagonal collonettes on plinths support arcades below the rails; the newel post is richly carved with foliation and billet carving. The stair leading to the ballroom is marble. There is a simple back service stair.

Flooring: The front hallway contains original oak flooring; the dining room floor is marble; the east of the house has imported parquet imported from Venice in the 30's. The French parquet floor of the living room was installed by Livingston about 1887.

Decorative features and trim: The ballroom is described by the architect, Edwin Lundie, as "Reverse Venetian Baroque" because of the Baroque motifs without the deep relief of the Baroque style. Mirrored wall panels with Roccoo painting line the walls and ceiling. The stairway leading to the main floor has marble niches with carved rocaille motifs.

The wall panels in the "Mirror Room" were imported from a Venetian room dating from 1785 to 1805. The stone room contains a plaster ceiling typical of English strap and scroll work, a carved limestone mantle piece, and cavetto cornice.