Ramsey County History – Fall 1991: “What’s Historic About This Site? Highland Park’s Reminder of Its Past: The Davern and Colvin Homes”

What’s Historic About This Site? Highland Park’s Reminder of Its Past: The Davern and Colvin Homes

Author: Robert J. Couser

A profile of neighboring houses in Highland Park built by distinguished St. Paul families. William Davern came to St. Paul from Ireland in 1849. He farmed, became a citizen, served in the legislature, owned Pike Island for a while, and generally prospered. Son William and grandson Joseph became prominent citizens also. The article traces the ownership of and alterations to their 1862 farmhouse. Alexander Colvin came to St. Paul from Canada in 1897. He was chief of surgery at Ancker Hospital from 1919 until his death in 1948. Sarah Tarleton Colvin was a nurse, suffragist, political activist, and member of the state board of education. The Colvins built two houses at 1175 Davern in 1909. “Today the homes of these early citizens serve as distinctive reminders of Highland Park’s past.”

PDF of Historic Site