Owen Masonry Nominated for Rethos Preservation Award

Owen Masonry is honored to announce that our restoration of the historic F. Scott Fitzgerald House at 599 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul has been nominated for a 2025 Preservation Award by Rethos.

The Rethos Preservation Awards highlight the importance of protecting the places that tell our shared stories. We are truly honored to be nominated alongside others who share the same dedication to preservation, and we are deeply grateful to our clients for their trust in partnering with us and for their commitment to stewardship.

The Fitzgerald House, part of the distinguished Summit Terrace row, is a National Historic Landmark recognized for both its architectural significance and its literary history. Once home to the Fitzgerald family, the residence retains its third-floor attic studio—complete with the writing desk where a young F. Scott Fitzgerald penned his debut novel, This Side of Paradise, published in 1920.

Our team approached the project with a focus on sensitive, detail-oriented preservation. Skilled masons matched the original mortar color and joint profiles with precision, using a traditional freehand tuckpointing method to protect the surrounding brownstone and maintain the building’s monolithic appearance. Careful cleaning methods were also used to preserve the integrity and appearance of the façade.

This nomination is especially meaningful as the Fitzgerald House is the third Summit Terrace residence restored by Owen Masonry, underscoring our long-term commitment to preserving the historic fabric of Saint Paul.

Winners of the 2025 Rethos Preservation Awards will be announced at The Wrecking Ball: Demolishing Barriers in Historic Preservation on October 8, 2025, in Saint Paul.