Martin Fowler was an accomplished artist who lived in the “Wagon Wheel House” on Excelsior Blvd.
Martin G. Fowler was born in Schenectady, NY on July 3, 1912. In 1931 he won a scholarship to the Pratt Institute in New York City, and graduated in 1934 with a degree in commercial art. He worked in Cleveland for awhile, and then came to Minneapolis to work for the Minneapolis Tribune. He worked for advertising giant Brown and Bigelow for awhile, then formed Fowler, Allard, and Brown (FAB Artists, Inc.). He specialized in oil and water color. In 1971 an article showed Fowler at an exhibit of his work at City Hall, and stated that he was devoting most of his time to portraiture, painting friends, neighbors, and strangers. In 1978 his work was showcased in an exhibit at Park Medical Center. There is an article about Martin Fowler in the February 3, 1978 edition of the St. Louis Park Sun.
In 1949 Fowler and his wife Alice bought land on Excelsior Blvd. from Dr. Buck that was across the street from the Hanke barn. He had a builder create the distinctive log cabin home that sat at 4035 Excelsior Blvd. (legal address 3601 Huntington). There they raised three children: Martin, Jr., William, and Mary Alice.
Martin died on January 1, 1998.
