This beautiful corner residence began with the delivery of lumber and materials by Swedback Brothers to George W. Stone and the Bemidji Townsite & Improvement Company. These materials were sold, furnished and delivered on Nov 10, 1899 for the erection and construction of a dwelling house on lots 13 and 14, of Block Ten of Bemidji’s First Addition.
E. L. Naylor purchased lots 13 & 14, Block 2, First Addition on Feb 1, 1902 for $175. Naylor sold this property to M. H. Sullivan on March 31, 1903 for $1200. Sullivan then transferred this same property to James Cahill on the same day.
James Cahill and wife Ida sold these same two lots to O. J. Laqua for $800 in 1904.
Mrs. Emma Stewart, widow, her daughter Capitola Stewart and son Scott Stewart moved into the home by 1910. The Stewart family members lived there for at least fifty years until 1963.
Scott T. Stewart first came to Bemidji on Feb 6,1904 and went into the restaurant business in the old Nangle building. Mrs. Emma Stewart, Capitola and Scott lived at the store property at 302 Third Street until sold in 1906. Scott Stewart purchased the Roe & Markusen Grocery at 207 4th Street in 1914. Then for many years he owned and operated the store known as the Campus Food Market at 1101 Birchmont Drive. He retired from business in 1943.
Capitola B. Stewar was born in 1875. Her mother, Emma, was born in Canada. Miss Capitola worked as a clerk at several shops including Berman Emporium, the Bazaar, and finally for Wilson’s on Third Street. Her talent was as a milliner.
The Stewarts were mentioned in the society pages as part of many neighborhood activities.
Mr. and Mrs. N. E. Given of Dewey Avenue entertained at a toboggan party last evening. The guests were Misses Capitola Stewart, Elizabeth Erickson, Ida Virginia Brown, Carrie Armstrong, and Messrs. Scott Stewart, Harry Stark, William Raymond and Thomas Quayle of Virginia, Minn. Lunch was served at the Given home at a late hour. (Feb 13, 1917)
A new club, to be known as the “My America Club,” was organized Tuesday evening at the home of Misses Mabel and Lucy Brooks on Lake Boulevard. These clubs are being organized throughout the United States. The members will take up different lines of work, such making bandages and knitting, various articles for the soldiers. The members of the club are Misses Fail Edwards, Real Edwards, Agnes Edwards, Alma Olson, Thelma Johnson, Clara Sather, Carrie Armstrong, Ida Virginia Brown, Elizabeth Erickson, Emma Gornes, Capitola Stewart, Florence Bell, Mary Bell, Lucy Brooks and Mabel Brooks. The officers are: President Miss Mabel Brooks. Vice president-Alma Olson. Treasurer – Ida Virginia Brown. Secretary – Capitola Stewart. (May 24, 1917)
O. J. Laqua and wife sold the property to Capitola Stewart on March 3, 1924 and indenture was paid and recorded Feb. 13, 1929 for the sum of $2300.00.
Mrs. Emma Stewart appears to have lived there until about 1939. Joe Hartness, the Secretary of Civic & Commerce Association came to Bemidji in 1939 and rented the property for several years. Meanwhile Capitola lived with her brother Scott and his wife Hallie.
Capitola B. Stewart, unmarried, sold the property to Scott T. Stewart and Hallie A. Stewart on Aug 15, 1947, and continued to live with her brother and sister-in-law. Scott T. Stewart died in 1954. For more on Scott Stewart, please see an account of his life and businesses in Bemidji in the Pioneer category on this website.
Capitola Stewart died in 1956. Hattie Stewart moved away and the residence was occupied by Theodore and Delores Elmore. They purchased the property and then sold it to Robert and Gloria Tibbetts in 1963. Mrs. Tibbetts was still a resident in 1982.
View of the residence with entrance fronting Dewey Avenue NE. 