Historic Sites Otter Tail County Historical Society (2024)

Barnard Mortuary, 119 N. Union Ave., Fergus Falls, 1986

Mission Revival funeral home designed by Walter R. Dennis, built in 1930 for business owner and civic leader Edward T. Barnard and his father A. N. Barnard.

Craigie Flour Mill Historical Marker, Otter Tail Township

Craigie Flour Mill when in operation, ca. 1880

Historical Marker, ca. 1940s

The Craigie Flour Mill Historical Marker, built in 1940, is a highway wayside rest located on MN Hwy 78. The site was designed by A. R. Nichols and built by the National Youth Administration and the MN Dept. of Hwys. It is located at the site of the Craigie Mill, which had been established by Scottish immigrant James Craigie and his wife in 1869-1870. The creek had been named by the Craigies after a castle in Scotland. The mill was Otter Tail County's first mill and served farmers in a 40-mile radius. It formed the nucleus of the small settlement of Balmoral, which at various times included the Craigie farmstead and mill, a hotel, a store, resort cottages, and a dance hall. The mill, which was located near the western edge of the nominated property, has been razed by the mid-1930s.

District No. 182 School, Barnard School, off Co. Hwy. 35, Sverdrup Township, 1991

Moderne-style split-stone school designed by E. O. Broaten and built 1939-40 by WPA workers.

Dunn's Resort, Dunvila

Removed from the Register when torn down.

Elizabeth Village Hall and Jail, Broadway Ave., Elizabeth, 1984

Multipurpose municipal building with ornamental brickwork (1898) that housed village government and fire hall; attached brick jail.

Fergus Falls City Hall, 112 W. Washington Ave., Fergus Falls, 1984

Independence Hall-inspired, Geogian Revival municipal building (1928) designed by William M. Ingemann to house city offices, fire department, and city garage.

Fergus Falls State Hospital Complex, MN Hwy. 297, Fergus Falls, 1986

Minnesota's only state institution retaining complete Kirkbride-plan hospital design, created by architect Warren B. Dunnell, built 1888-1907.

Hotel Kaddatz, 111-113 W. Lincoln Ave, Fergus Falls, 1983

City's first major hotel, a Renaissance Revival building by George Hanco*ck, built 1914-15 by merchant Charles Kaddatz to house U. S. District Court officials.

Otter Tail County Courthouse, 121 W. Junius Ave., Fergus Falls

The tornado of 1919 swept away the top two floors of the previous county courthouse, and the county operated in makeshift quarters until a new courthouse was completed here three-and-a-half years later. Architects Buechner and Orth of St. Paul were selected to design a building, and the construction contract was awarded to L. P. Jorgenson, builder of the Grand Forks courthouse and foreman of the Fergus Falls Post Office construction in 1905. The building was bid at $322,000. Plans called for a dome, but it was omitted in favor of using metal doors and frames and making the building as fireproof as possible. The illusion of a dome was achieved by installing a skylight to illuminate the curved ceiling above the second floor lobby. Ground was broken May 4, 1921 for the cream brick and Bedford stone structure. The first tier of granite was started by mid-July. Despite a delay due to the late arrival of fixtures, the building was opened in December.

Park Region Luther College, Hillcrest Academy, 715 W. Vernon Ave., Fergus Falls, 1984

Romanesque brick-and-sandstone main building of Norwegian Lutheran Synod college, designed by Omeyer and Thori, built in 1901. Omeyer and Thori were Twin Cities architects. Their work includes educational buidlings at St. Olaf College, courthouses in Windom and Ada, and, in Fergus Falls, the E. J. Webber house and Ole Hagen's Autograph Block. John Lauritzen was the contractor for the four-story Park Region building. With dormitory rooms for 200 students, it operated until 1932 when the synod decided to concentrate its academic efforts on Concordia College in Moorhead. Three years later, the campus was sold to the Church of the Lutheran Brethren who continue to operate it today under the name Hillcrest Academy. Arched windows, gabled dormers and a pencil-point belfry accentuate the building's height. As the topography levels off west of the city, the college's hilltop location contributes a commanding appearance in Classicized Revival.

People's Union Church, Scambler Township, 48566 205th Ave., Pelican Rapids, 2004

People's Union Church in Scambler Township was nominated based on its social history. Constructed in 1915, it was welcomved by area residents who previously worshiped in local farmhouses and schoolhouses or were forced to travel several miles to a formal church. It was unusual because it was a non-denominational religious gathering place founded and administered by women.

Perham Village Hall and Fire Station, 153 E. Main, Perham, 1986

Brick municipal building with corner tower designed by Fremont D. Orff, built in 1906 to house village council, fire station, jail, and social hall.

Phelps Mill, The Maine Roller Mill, Co. Hwy. 45, Maine Township (also in Phelps Mill Historic District), 1975

Four-story frame, waterpowered flour mill built in 1889 (expanded in 1895) to produce commercial-grade flour and grind feed, buckwheat, and rye.

Prospect House, 403 Lake Ave. N., Battle Lake, 2013

Originally constructed in 1887 as a large wing for a hotel, it was renovated as a Georgian Revival style single-family home in 1929. The first house built on this site was constructed by James Allison "Cap" Colehour (1842-1938) and his wife Catherine (Kate) Augusta Catlin Colehour (c. 1951-1940) in 1882. Cap Colehour fought in the Civil War. His experience in the war, and the many letters, artifacts and mementoes are the basis for a museum now located in the house.

River Inn, 133 Mill St. S., Fergus Falls, 1988

Georgian/Gothic Revival hotel designed by Vernon A. Wright and built in 1929 at behest of local commercial club to improve accommodations for U.S. District Court.

Archaeological Sites

Fort Juelson, Underwood

Located two miles east of Underwood north of Hwy. 210. This earthen fort was built in July of 1876 in response to rumors that Indians were on the warpath and had killed settlers in the Foxhome, French, and Fergus Falls areas. Fear resulted in a number of settlers leaving the area to go to Alexandria, Herman, and elsewhere. They built this defensive fortification under leadership of the Civil War veterans, Hans Juelson and Berge O. Lee. The remains of the sod barricade are still visible on this site.

Maplewood Site, The Maplewood Archaeological District, Pelican Rapids, 1978

Address Restricted

Precontact habitation site with two periods of occupation (A.D. 650-900 and 1450-1650) in forest/prairie transitional zone.

Morrison Mounds, Evers Township, 1973

Address Restricted

Mound group dating to middle Precontact Period (ca. 500-200 B.C.)

Orwell Site, Orwell Township, 1974

Address Restricted

Mound group within earthen enclosure dating to late Precontact Period.

Homes on the National Register

O. A. E. Blyberg House, 22 5th Ave. S. W., Pelican Rapids, 1984

Italianate brick residence built in 1884 for land speculator Blyberg, town's first merchant and postmaster.

John W. Mason House, 205 W. Vernon Ave., Fergus Falls, 1986

Italianate frame house built ca. 1881 for city's first mayor.

Henry G. Page House, Fergus Falls

Removed from the National Register when the house was moved from Fergus Falls to rural Battle Lake in 1977. The house was moved back to a new site in Fergus Falls in 1999 and located near the Concord Street Bridge. The house was built in 1874 and faced east on Whitford Street at Summit Avenue. Page was a miller, banker and a state senator who came to Fergus Falls from New Hampshire.

C. J. Wright House, 831 Mount Faith Ave. E., Fergus Falls, 1978

Large frame house designed in Stick Style variant of Gothic Revival by LeRoy S. Buffington and built in 1881-82 for developer Wright.

Sites Locally Registered by the Fergus Falls Heritage Preservation Association

European Larch Tree, 506 S. Union Ave.

Lars Dahlgren House, 806 Sunset Drive

An interesting example of Lake Carpenter Gothic. The house was built by Lars Dahlgren himself. The Swedish immigrant did all the work on the house except for plastering the interior walls. Before the house was completed, Dahlgren and his new bride moved in. An upstairs bedroom served as Dahlgren's workshop where, on a foot-operated jigsaw and lathe, he turned out the gingerbread trim that now adorns the exterior of the house. The steeply gabled roof forms are characteristic of Gothic styling. Because it is a small, cottage style house with intricate carved scrollwork, it is considered Carpenter Gothic.

Charles W. Kaddatz House, 226 W. Summit Ave.

The Kaddatz House, Prairie Craftsman in styling, was designed by a Grand Forks architect named DeRemir. The exterior is of cut stone, clapboard and stucco with exposed rafters and a full front porch. The Kaddatz House has been designated as a local historic site by the Fergus Falls Heritage Preservation Commission.

Dr. W. A. Lee House, 210 W. Hazel Street

The Lee House, locally designated as historic by the Fergus Falls Heritage Preservation Commission, is a classic example of Streamline Moderne. Designed by Foss and Company, it was built by contractor William Schueller with a box floor plan. Dr. Lee was the city's first health officer. His wife, Lucy, was a significant musical influence in the community as a music teacher, choir director and soloist. Mrs. Lee's main floor music room was designed with a half-circle bay window overlooking Lake Alice. Schueller, the builder, also was the contractor for Fergus Falls' City Hall.

E. E. Corliss House, 530 W. Lincoln Ave.

Although the date of this house is unsubstantiated, it clearly dates back to the 1870s. The house has long been known as the E. E. Corliss house, but it may have been built by Jacob Austin, one of the city's earliest pioneers and community leaders.

Otto the Otter Statue, Adams (Grotto) Park

Built by Fergus Falls High School Students under the direction of Steve Jaenisch in 1972. The welded frame was moved to the shore of Grotto Lake in Adams Park in June 1972 where the final plastering, cemeting and painting took place. The moving and placement was a project of the Fergus Falls Jaycees. The statue was built to commemorate the centennial founding of Fergus Falls. It is an icon that represents the Otter Tail River and Fergus Falls High School sports teams. A backdrop for picnics, reunions and even a few weddings over the years. Otto is one of the first things one sees when entering Fergus Falls from the south. A local historic properties survey labeled the statue "a wonderful example of colossal outdoor sculpture from the early 1970s."

The Eagle's Ship, 120 Peck Street

This building was built in 1946-1947. It can best be described as idiosyncratic in structure, mocking the Streamline Moderne style. It has the shape and likeness of a sea-going liner. The dream of George Heinrich, owner and operator of a brewery adjoining this address, the Ship was erected under the direction of an architecture student named Jay Wright. The Ship is built of concrete block and stucco. The upper part contained a bar, dancing area, dining room and swimming pool. It was used for lavish entertaining and was the delight of customers who came from great distances. The lower level was used as a storeroom for Heinrich's brewery. Beer brewed by Heinrich was distributed widely - even overseas World War II. But within four years after completion of the Ship, the brewery began having financial difficulties that evenually led to its closing. The Ship was used mostly for storage until 1961 when the Eagles Club brought and revived it. It has served as the club's permanent home since then.

Points of Interest which have been Lost

Schroeder's Brewery, Perham

Schroeder's Brewery opened in 1876. In 1884 a large fire at the site reduced the first buidling to ashes. In 1909 a new bottling factory was added to the Peter Schroeder Brewing Company. In 1911 the Schroeder Brewing Company was reorganized as the Peter Schoeder Brewing Company. In 1917 the brewery was dismantled. Peter Schroeder had been mayor of Perham and principal owner of the Brewery and the Globe Flour Mill. He died in 1912 and was the father of ten children that survived him.

Otter Tail County Tuberculosis Sanatorium

In 1912, the Otter Tail County Commissioners voted to purchase land and erect a building for the care of tuberculosis patients. The buidling was located on the Northwest side of Otter Tail Lake. A frame building was erected in 1913, and dedicated in October of the same year. There was room for 37 beds in the original building. An addition was added a few years later. By 1954, with the knowledge of new drugs and methos of treatments, only a few patients were left in the big building. The building was next used as a nursing home for a year or two and then it was torn down.

Otter Tail County Poor Farm

The Otter Tail County Poor Farm operated from 1881-1938. County Commissioners decided to purchase a farm to be used as a home for the poor. Two hundred acres of land was purchased from Charles and August Wessberg for the sum of $1,610 on January 7, 1881. Another 40 acres were added in 1886. Those acres were purchased for $240 paid to Robert Spickermann. The poor farm was located in sections 22 and 23 of Fergus Falls Township. A fire destroyed the 17-room house on the night of December 16, 1959. The landmark burned to the ground.