I created this digital collage last summer after a photo shoot at the Griggs house. The image is comprised of two photos: the staircase inside the Griggs house and a studio shot of model EdithJ. It was an idea floating around in my head at the time.
The Lady in White Copyright 2013 Alice Gebura All Rights Reserved
The Griggs house is the second oldest house on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. Summit Avenue is a stretch of Victorian era homes that begins at the St. Paul Cathedral and ends four and a half miles away at the Mississippi River.
The house was originally built for the Burbank family in 1862 and ended up in the Livingston/Griggs family from 1888 to 1968. In the early 1900s Mary Livingston Griggs went architecture shopping in Europe. Entire rooms were brought over and installed in the house. When Mrs. Griggs died in 1967 she bequeathed the house to the Minnesota Historical Society who rented it to the Minnesota Arts Board until they sold it in 1998 to John Rupp. He converted it into three apartments while preserving the architecture.
Two weeks ago my neighbor told me the following story about the Griggs house. I couldn’t find any archival corroboration on the internet, but I think it’s a great story in any case. And, I swear I didn’t know about it until after I made the ghost collage.
Mrs. Griggs standing in front of the library fireplace.
The story occurs during the time the house was rented by the Minnesota Arts Board. One night a couple of thieves broke into the house. This set off motion detectors which alerted the police. When the police arrived they apprehended the frightened thieves just as they were exiting the house as fast as they could. They told the police a “lady in white” had appeared on the staircase, but when the police went in they didn’t find anyone. Was it Mrs. Griggs defending her beloved home, or some other spirit from the past?
Here are some more photos of the house:
The front of the Italianate-style house. Photo: Alice Gebura
The cupola. You can see the Mississippi River in the distance while standing in the cupola. Photo: Alice Gebura
Architectural detailing on the cupola. Photo: Alice Gebura
Looking into the cupola. Photo: Alice Gebura
Standing in the foyer, looking at the grand staircase designed by Clarence Johnson. The music room is in the background. Photo: Alice Gebura
Standing in the foyer, looking into the dining room that was imported from Italy. Photo: Alice Gebura
Standing in the foyer, looking into the library. Photo: Alice Gebura
The lion in the library fireplace mantel. Photo: Alice Gebura
The music room was imported from Venice. Photo: Alice Gebura
Architectural detail, the music room. Photo: Alice Gebura
Door panel, the music room. Photo: Alice Gebura
EdithJ on the staircase of the Griggs house, not a ghost
All images (except Mrs. Griggs) Copyright 2013 Alice Gebura All Rights Reserved.