Charles A. and Matilda Roberts House

The Gothic styling of this house results from vertical proportions, sharply pointed gables, steep roofs, decorative brickwork, and use of spindles, brackets, and sharply pointed ornament, all of which are combined here to produce an exuberant composition. According to the Fargo Forum newspaper sixtieth anniversary edition, April 12, 1935, “While her husband, Charles, was away on railroad business in 1883, Matilda Roberts decided to build a home that would demonstrate her family’s position on Fargo’s social ladder.” Although not academically trained, she designed the house and supervised its construction. She and her sons installed lathing to all twenty rooms. The brick for the house was taken from the Roberts family brickyard. On the main floor, Matilda created four large rooms that could be opened into one meeting area. A number of the larger residences like this one have converted their carriage houses to garages and other contemporary uses.