City of Minnetonka Historical Society

Let’s spend a little time exploring the history of the entire house before we take a look room by room. The house was built in 1883 on about 70 acres of land that Charles purchased for $1,000. The house design came from the Palliser’s Catalog and costs about $3,260 to build. The Palliser’s Catalog was published in 1878. It is an interesting catalog of home designs along with other intriguing items. Here is a link to the Palliser’s Catalog. Take a look, you can flip through the catalog page by page. I think you will find it interesting. https://archive.org/details/pallisersamerica00pall

From the last post we know that Charles Burwell arrived in Minnetonka in 1874 as a widower. He got married to Mary Dunham in 1876 and moved his two children to Minnetonka in 1877. He had two children with Mary, Louise born in 1882, and Loring born in 1884. At the time they were living in the Minnetonka hotel across the creek from his future home.

Louise lived in the Burwell house until 1958. She sold it to the Smiths who lived there until 1971. The Smiths were selling the property due to the unexpected death of Mr. Smith in 1969. At the time plans were developed to divide the property into eight lots. The City of Minnetonka recognized the historical significance of the property and purchased it in 1971 from Mrs. Smith. Restoration of the property started immediately but it was slow. Around 1990 the City began a quest to complete the project. Consulting with the state Historical Society and an architectural firm specializing in historic restorations. The house has been returned to the period of 1884, to include outbuildings and other features of structural importance that were added to the property after 1883. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The restoration was meticulous in detail and ex*****on. It is a treasure in our back yard.

The Burwell House

I will be doing a series of posts that will be a virtual tour of the Burwell House. It’s always more interesting to do an actual tour. For those that are able I would highly recommend it. We will start with some broad history of the home and the family who built it and lived in it for decades. We will then drill down and do a room-by-room tour. This an amazing home owned and fantastically restored by the City of Minnetonka. We welcome participation. Feel free to ask questions. We will do our best to respond with answers.

Let’s start the tour by taking a look at the original occupants of the house. There was Charles Burwell, his second wife Mary, Anna the daughter from his first marriage and Loring their son, George. Prior to being the Milling Manager in Minnetonka Mills, Burwell was a secretary for Loren Fletcher. It was Loren Fletcher, purchased a share in the mill and he and C. M. Loring were the major stockholders in the Minnetonka Milling Company. After the purchase of the mill, C. Burwell was named Milling Manager and Secretary of the company. He was also a stockholder. He moved to Minnetonka in 1874 and lived in the Minnetonka Hotel on the south side of Minnehaha Creek. C. Burwell was a widower when he moved to Minnetonka. He married Mary Dunham in 1876. Together they lived in the Minnetonka Hotel, along with George and Anna, C. Burwell’s children, until their house was completed in 1883.

Exciting announcement! Head on over and follow us at our new City of Minnetonka Historical Society Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/cityofminnetonkahistory/

Don’t miss out on the upcoming October Spooktacular Event on Friday, Oct. 25 from 5-7:30pm at the Burwell House on the corner of Minnetonka Boulevard and Plymouth Road. This is a chance to get your children in costume, enjoy some games, treats, and tour the inside of this beautiful Victorian treasure while learning more about its history.

For more information about the City of Minnetonka’s Spooktacular event, visit: https://bit.ly/burwell-spooktacular-2024

We hope to see you next Friday for some Fall fun at the Burwell house!

I know I posted this a couple of weeks ago, but we really could use a helping hand. Our Treasurer is retiring after many years of service. The main tasks of the treasurer for us as a nonprofit is to file what limited tax returns we need, do quarterly cash flow statements and balance sheets. We are in good shape both financially and as far as the current state of the books. We are an active organization with numerous activities. Our board is diverse both by gender and age which helps us be a robust group.

If you like history and have some accounting or bookkeeping acumen I hope you would consider joining us. If you should have any questions please feel free to call me at 612-220-2251

Thanks for your consideration,
Rick Kruger

On Monday October 14, please join us in honoring Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ (Bassett Creek). Dakota author Diane Wilson will extend a special welcome to participants. A water blessing will be offered by Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ / Blue Hummingbird Woman (Tara Perron), who is a Dakota and Ojibwe mother, writer, and entrepreneur.

We’ll also celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day through song, land acknowledgment, and updates about the Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ / Bassett Creek Oral History Project. Indigenous participants will share ways to care for the lands and waters of Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota).

Using Dakota place names helps to honor the people who have lived here for thousands of years. Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ is the Dakota name for Bassett Creek.

10:00 – Meet at Bassett Creek Park (5609 32nd Avenue North, Crystal, MN 55422). Rain or shine. Free and family friendly.

Registration is optional.

Thank you to the funders including the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board, City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission, Golden Valley Community Foundation, and Valley Community Presbyterian Church.

Thank you also to community partners including the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, City of Golden Valley DEI Commission, The Loppet Foundation, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, and the Plymouth History Center.

Whóphida thaŋka (thank you!) to cultural advisors Bradley Blackhawk (Ho-Chunk), Darlene St. Clair (Dakota), Jim Rock (Dakota), and Roxanne Gould (Anishinaabe).

Photo by Sean Gosiewski

Come join us to hear Minnesota Historian Paul Maravelas share with us the history of Big Island. This island in Lake Minnetonka has a rich history. From it's importance to the Dakota's, to when it was squated upon by Judge Meeker in the 1850s (think Meeker County) to its days as an amusement park with an amphitheatre that could seat 1,000 guests. There are just so many fascinating stories. Come listen as those stories are shared. One can register by calling 952-939-8393.

The registration fee is only $2.

This should be a fascinating evening for those interested in Minnetonka history.

Paul also has a new book on this history which will be for sale.

See you on the 7th.

All, I thought I would share a great article that was in the Star Tribune Magazine recently. Tons of interesting information about such a great historic structure in our community!

Minnetonka estate showcases Victorian era and Minnesota's milling past The Charles H. Burwell House was the first Minnetonka site to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The historic Burwell house is decorated for the holidays. Come for a tour or to the open house to enjoy the season. The house is open for tours November 19th and 26th from 1 to 4 pm. There is no cost for admission, but donations are gratefully accepted. We are also hosting an open house on December 3rd. Again self guided tours will be available along with some light refreshments. Come and enjoy this special place decorated for the holidays. The address is: 13209 McGinty Road East, Minnetonka, MN.

Just a reminder about the presentation by Paul Maravelas tonight, titled Lake Minnetonka as a Native American Place. If you plan to attend please register at [email protected].

See you there!

This may be stretching it a bit. History is not always hundreds of years old. Here's a piece of relatively recent history concerning the Pillsbury history became part of General Mills, a Minnetonka based company. It came up in a City of Minnetonka Historical long term planning meeting this morning. We all got a laugh out of it. We hope you enjoy it also.

Please come join us to hear Mr. Paul Maravelas speak about the native americans who inhabited the Lake Minnetonka area before Europeans settled here. Please read below for more information. This event is free of charge but you must register to attend. Registration is simple. Simply send an email with your name and the number of people who will be attending to [email protected]. Hope to see you there. It will be an interesting evening

Thanks for all your interesting comments concerning the critter being carried in front of the St. Louis Hotel. Here's a breakdown of our collective thoughts: Stringer of Fish (12 suggestions), Otter (7 suggestions), Beaver (4 suggestions), Alligator (3 suggestions, Bicycle (2 suggestions), and Puma, mink, Oppossim, Skun Snapper, Goose, Fisher, and Fox all having one suggestion. I did a little research and found two suggestions to be most likely. The Fisher and the River Otter have the overall body shape, size, and particularly the tail to be good candidates. They were also endemic to the area in the 1880s when the photo was most likely taken. I have included images of both in this post. Here are some links with information on both.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/riverotter.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_(animal) #:~:text=Fishers%20are%20widespread%20throughout%20the,Columbia%20and%20north%20to%20Alaska

Please take a look at these images and give me your thoughts. When I posted the image of the St. Louis Hotel I was focused on the building and the general surroundings. I routinely go back to these posts to answer questions or take care of other items that need attention. For some reason I looked at this image from a different perspective. Can anyone give me insights concerning the man and woman in the center of the image. I have croped it out and blown it up to make everything more obvious. It looks to me like they are carrying some critter back to the hotel. I can't identify the animal. It appears to have a long tail. Almost as long as its body. What is this animal? Why would they be carrying it back to the hotel? I simply do not know. Your thoughts please.

This is a reminder to join us for Scott McGinnis's presentation on the historic hotel and tourist industry on Lake Minnetonka. The presentation is on the 24th from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at the Minnetonka Community Center. You can register by calling 952-939-8393. There is a $2.00 registration fee. I have included in this post 3 of the old hotels. The St. Louis in Deephaven, The Arlington in Wayzata, and the Lafayette hotel in Minnetonka Beach. See you on the 24th.

Lake Minnetonka must have been a great place to be at the turn of the 20th century. The lake wasn't as developed as it is today, but it was a destination for tourists and had many hotels and transportation options. Come to an interesting hour long presentation on Wednesday May 24th at 7 PM about Minnnetonka's historic hotel and tourist industry at the Minnetonka Community Center (14600 Minnetonka Blvd). Registration is required and there is a $2 fee. Please call 952-939-8393 to register.

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Calling all Snuffy's Corner fans! Especially those of you who worked there on Highway 7 and 101 in the 1960s and 70s at the Drive In restaurant, 7 Hi Drive In movie theatre or Lilliputt golf course. We are giving an updated presentation about it on April 24th at the City of Minnetonka at 1PM. See Minnetonka Senior Script link below.
https://www.minnetonkamn.gov/home/showdocument?id=12430&t=638151591450736320

Let’s continue to explore what was talked about in Minnetonka in the 1850s. When I say that, I am really referring to what was happening in the world that would incite conversation. In the last post on this topic, we explored slavery which was certainly talked about, and a topic that impacted all facets of American life at the time. This time I would like to look at politics. Slavery was a major influencer as far as politics was concerned, but some major shifts happened in the late 1850s. Since 1829 the two major political parties were the Democrats and the Whigs. Democrats were generally supportive of slavery regardless of what part of the country they were from. From 1829 to 1860 a Democrat was in the oval office all but 9 years. Many of these presidents were northerners. Northern Democrats that supported slavery were called Doughfaces. The Whig party was comprised of both northerners and southerners but there was a split in the party concerning the topic of slavery. That split was so severe that the Whig party disappeared in the 1850s and was replaced by the Republican party. The Republican party was antislavery. They weren’t unified on this topic. Some wanted to abolish slavery entirely while others were more concerned about the spread of slavery to US territories. This Republican party shook the South. Southern interests had controlled the White House for quite some time and when they weren’t in control were not faced with unified threat. With the formation of the Republican party things were changing. The first Republican president as we will see when we explore the next decade was Abraham Lincoln. Changes were on the horizon! If you want to explore the demise of the Whigs take a look at this article. https://www.history.com/news/whig-party-collapse

Just a reminder that the Burwell House is hosting an open house for the Holidays tomorrow. Come and see this spectacularly restored historic house all dressed up for the Holidays. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Summary of Minnetonka in the 1850s

Minnetonka was first settled in the 1850 after the signing of the treaty of Travers de Sioux. Calvin Tuttle and Simon Stevens built a sawmill in 1853 on Minnehaha creek. James and Sarah Chowen Shaver along with his brother-in-law, Amos Grey settled in the area to build this mill. Wood was harvested along the banks of the creek and Lake Minnetonka and floated down to the mill. The mill expanded in this decade to also be a furniture shop, and for a period of time was the largest employed in Hennepin County. The population in the area was growing. The majority of them were farmers. In these early days the farming was to feel the family. There wasn’t an easy way to transport your goods for sale elsewhere. You grew what you needed and supplemented that by bartering what you had with your neighbors.

Summary of other events in the 1850s

For this post we are going to focus on slavery. We will cover other happenings in later posts, but the topic of slavery was dominating all aspects of life in this decade preceding the civil war.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 would have certainly been a hot topic. It was part of Henry Clay's Compromise of 1850 which was all about slavery. In summary this law dictated that runaway slaves living in free states were still slaves and need to be returned to their owner. There were fines for those who aided in any way “freed” slaves. Northern states were up in arms about this, and states like Wisconsin passes state laws that attempted to neutralize the federal legislation.

The 1850s saw the underground railroad at its peak.

In 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin. An anti-slavery book which had profound effects on the attitudes towards African Americans and slavery in the US. The book is said to have laid the groundwork for the American Civil War. It is a runaway best seller, selling 1.5 million copies in one year despite being banned in some Southern States. The population of the entire US at this time was 24 million.

The Supreme Court's Dread Scott Decision in 1857. This decision rules that Scott, a slave moved to a free state, never ceased to be a slave despite residing in a free state, denied him citizenship, and denied him the right to sue.

The 1858 senatorial contest between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A Douglas. Douglas won this time.

Abolitionist John Brown in 1859 leads a small group on a raid against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an attempt to start an armed revolt of enslaved people and destroy the institution of slavery.
Certainly, slavery was on common topic of conversation in the 1850’s. We explore other happenings in this time frame in the next post.

The last couple of years we have spent alot of time posting the history of Minnetonka. I would like to do something different this year providing there is some interest. I would like to put that history in context. I am proposing that we summarize Minnetonka's history by decade, then summarize what was going on in the state, country and even to some extent the world for the same time period. I want to get a feeling what was being talked about in Frear's or Kramer's stores, or around the dinner table. I don't want to get too deep into things, but I would like to include newspaper articles, impactful books of the time etc. I certainly don't know all of this. It will take some time to do the research for the posts. I am hoping for everyone's participation. It will lead to a much more inciteful. Let me know if there is an interest. I'll start by doing some research during the 1850s.

Take a look at this youtube video. It was on the Lake Minnetonka Fan Club site. It's a great video of the Burwell House.

Visiting the Charles H. Burwell House in Minnetonka Recently, I took a tour of the historic Charles H. Burwell House in Minnetonka. Through gentle care, the Minnetonka Historical Society has kept this vibrant ...