Our Story
When we bought this house in 1991, we knew it would be our forever home. It had a welcoming appearance, like a cozy gingerbread house just waiting for a family. When our only daughter was born, we brought her home to this house. She grew up in these rooms—crawling, toddling, running—she walked to school less than two blocks away, and played safely in the fenced backyard with a long line of much-loved pets.
Our favorite spot has always been the upstairs bedroom. From that window, you can see the steeple of St. Joseph’s Church. When our daughter was a baby, we’d hold her up to the glass and say the old rhyme:
“Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the doors and see all the people.”
Leaving that view behind will leave a vacancy in our hearts.
The house was built by hand, crafted from true dimensional lumber, and it still shows. The cedar siding and one-of-a-kind cutouts were made by the artist we bought it from; he ran a pottery studio in the garage with his kilns in the shop.
Inside the house, we just finished a top-to-bottom professional remodel: new sinks, faucets, new countertops, subway tile, and modern finishes throughout, while keeping the original character outside.
The detached garage and shop are heated and cooled, with room for two cars plus a full workshop. It’s ready for a woodworker, a hobbyist, or a small business.
Downstairs, the private suite has its own kitchen, laundry, and entrance. It’s been one of the most-reviewed stays in Bismarck-Mandan on Furnished Finder for traveling nurses, and we’ve made lasting friendships with our guests. It works just as well for family or visitors.
The neighbors are wonderful, and the streets, water, and sewer lines are all newly rebuilt. From here, it’s just a short walk from downtown Mandan’s Fourth of July celebration, Art in the Park, and the holiday lights in Dykshoorn Park.
Holidays have always felt especially right in this house. It loves us, and we’ve loved it back. We hope the next owners make it their home for just as long.
— Paul and Patty
