Renewing Estelle - The John Nelson House

It may be a pioneer manor, a mansion in its time. Truly Estelle, the thick brick home built by John Nelson in the 1870s in downtown Logan, Utah is a testament to the pioneer spirit - and to the comforts afforded only by few in a time long past.

This 2800+ sq ft home sat originally on 275 acres - encompassing a large portion of the Southwest Logan community. The home's strong, yet subtle, features represent attention to detail. While the lot size is much smaller now, after subdividing the property multiple times over the past century and almost a half, Estelle's .20 acre lot is ample - as she is the only 2-story house in the near neighborhood. Her widow's walk view extends from the temple to the Wellsvilles.

"This must have been a fantastic place to grow up," commented renovator Scott Baird, who along with Ed Quinlan, has taken up the project. "The house originally had electricity (an electrical systems expert dated the system to the 1870s) and had five bedrooms. That's a big house for that era."

Every doorway sports transoms, now covered with wood paneling or boards. Lowered ceilings hide heating ducts.

"All that's got to go," Baird said. "Estelle deserves to be back in her true Logan glory."

And glory is only one of the words you might use to describe the unique history behind Estelle.