Cathedral Historic District | |
 Historic houses in the Cathedral Historic District, 2010 | |
 | |
| Location | Bounded by West 4th and 10th Streets, Spring, Prairie, and Summit Avenues (14 blocks and east 1/2 of 6 blocks) Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
|---|---|
| Area | 79 acres (32 ha) (1974 listing) |
| Built | 1872 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th century revivals, Queen Anne, Mediterranean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001896 [1] (original) 100009066 (increase) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1974 |
| Boundary increase | June 29, 2023 |
Cathedral Historic District, originally the Sioux Falls Historic District, is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Named for its centerpiece and key contributing property, the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, the district covers the neighbourhood historically known as Nob Hill, where multiple prominent pioneers, politicians, and businessmen settled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These homes primarily reflect Queen Anne and Mediterranean Revival architectural styles. In 1974, the neighborhood was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP); at the time of this listing, there were 223 buildings, not all contributing, within the district's boundaries. [2] The district was enlarged in 2023. [3]
Contents
Fatal house fires: Several devastating fires have occurred at the historic Avery house in Sioux Falls SD (103 S. Prairie avenue). The Avery House was built by Wallace L. Dow in 1889. He has been referred to as the "Builder on the Prairie" and was "considered the premier architect of South Dakota in the late 19th century. His style of architecture is called the Richardsonian Romanesque the residents is registered on the National Register of Historic Places in Sioux Falls Historic District. Wallace also known as WL Dow sold the property at 103 S. Prairie after a devastating fire that started in the servants quarters claimed the life of his wife Lois M Whipple, sons Mason H. Harry G., and daughters Daisy I. and Anna H.
The remnants of property was purchased by Henry and Lucinta Avery, who were prominent figures in the city's real estate and insurance sector, Henry Avery a long-time fireman and fire chief redesigned Rebuilt the homes interior keeping Dow's original architecture base and exterior structure. Following the completion of the now know Avery House there is no mention of the Dow home being destroyed by a fire. WL Dow requested this as part of the finalized contract in the sale. Whether this was out of grief in the loss his family or preservation of his reputation it is not truly known. It is known that following the death of his wife and children WL returned to Yanked where he consulted on the design of the new Minnehaha and Lincoln county courthouses then lived most of the rest of his life in quite solitude.
Unlike the unfortunate Dow residents the Avery has never been destroyed by fire; however it has undergo changes over time in part because of multiple localized fire's at the house and the surrounding neighborhoods of the Cathedral Historic District. Throughout the years the Avery House has experienced many outbreaks including the loss of the original porch, kitchen, new servants quarters, and bedroom living spaces resulting in other loss of life. A December 2012 fire killed three children, Michael Hensely, Savannah Coon, and Olivia Coon. Their bodies were found together in one of the burnt out bedrooms.Following the fire in 2012 the property has undergone much needed upgrades and restoration.
The current owner of the Avery House in Sioux Falls is not explicitly stated in any search results. However, Kevin Tupy, founding partner of Cresten Capital, is associated with the property. He is not mentioned as the owner, but his firm, Cresten Capital, is based in Sioux Falls. The Avery House is not mentioned on Cresten Capital's website itself, nor is it listed as a property they own, but his connection to Sioux Falls and his firm's presence hear is notable.
