Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District

The significance of the Cathedral Area Historic District is twofold: first, it served as the area of residence for many of the most prominent and influential figures of early Twentieth Century Bismarck, several of whose fame extended far beyond North Dakota's! boundaries. Secondly, the variety of architectural style and overall remaining integrity of the buildings within the district provide the City of Bismarck with its most architecturally diverse concentration of residential structures.

The district is located on portions of two early Bismarck subdivisions - the Northern Pacific Addition, platted in 1879, and Mckenzie's Addition of 1882. Little residential development occurred during the nineteenth century and the real genesis of the district can be dated from 1906 when Clarence Belden Little moved into his newly constructed cut-stone and shingle-style mansion at 304 Avenue A West (#53). Little (1857-1941) arrived in Bismarck, Dakota Territory in 1882 as a young New England-educated attorney. He practiced law some years in Bismarck, but directed his energies primarily toward finance and politics. During 1885 he became a director of the Capital National Bank of Bismarck and two years later its president. He bought control of the First National Bank of Bismarck in 1895 and merged the two institutions into the First National Bank and Trust Company of Bismarck, making it one of the state's strongest financial institutions - a position maintained to this day.

Little was a staunch Republican and for many years held membership on the party's state central committee. In 1898 he was chairman of the Republican state convention. He served for twenty years in the North Dakota State Senate, 1889-1909, chairing the judiciary committee throughout his tenure. He was for many years president of the State Historical Society, Bismarck Public Library Board and a trustee of his alma mater, Dartmouth College.

C. B. Little had several good reasons for building on "The Hill," as the area was known locally. The location offered an unobstructed view of the picturesque Missouri River valley to the south; situated just a few blocks north of the western end of the business district it was within easy walking distance of the downtown area. Little acquired a substantial amount of property on "The Hill" which he was willing to sell to other prominent citizens who, following his lead, were willing to build new residences there also. During the years from 1909 until his death in 1941, Little owned from 25 to 40 per cent of that portion of the district which is residential today.