S. A. Thompson House

S. A. Thompson, born Sven Amandus Torbjornsen, changed his name after arriving in the United States in 1880.  He married Jennie Berg in Minnesota and they came to Stanwood in 1887.  In Stanwood he secured a position as clerk at the Irvine General Store. By faithful and conscientious attention to his duties, twelve years later he was able to buy out Mrs. Irvine's interests. Next door, on Main Street, he built a home for his wife and children, now known as The Stanwood House. In 1903, he ran to become the first mayor of Stanwood, losing to D.O. Pearson by two votes.  The home is a two-story hipped roof Colonial Revival with crown moulding.  The residence went through various iterations over the years including an antique store and a bed and breakfast.  In 1957, Richard and Frances Trusdell bought the home, built an addition on the west side and offered painting classes and sold art supplies.  The house was  purchased in 2003 by Chaim Bezalel and Yonnah Ben Levy who today continue to use the home as an art gallery and teaching center as well as making it their home.