Lost Mansions of Minneapolis IV
Part IV of lost mansions of Minneapolis.
The residence of Major Christopher B. Heffelfinger 1828 3rd Ave S. A fine and spacious stone mansion on 3rd Ave S and 19th street. The home was a fine Italianate style stone home set back with a large gracious lawn from 3rd Ave. 3rd Ave was lined with many great mansions in the early days and this lot was no exception. With large brackets, curved stone hoods on the windows and a fine railing on the roof line it held a gracious charm over the street for many years. Mr. Heffelfinger did not always live in such luxury and his earlier home, before he made his name and wealth was a much more modest home located at 319 1st Ave N.
By the turn of the century the home was still impressive, but not entirely as fashionable as it once was, so the major decided a renovation was in order. In an article from the Minneapolis paper in 1901 it reads" Major C.B. Heffelfinger is making improvements to his residence on Third ave s and Nineteenth street which will cost several thousand dollars. The first plan was to make minor changes. One improvement led to another. The excavation has just been made for a large stable. The heating plant will be in the basement of this building. A new dining-room addition has been made to the house and over it a chamber was built. The finish of much of the interior has been changed and when the family returns in the fall from Virginia a practically rehabilitated home will be ready for them. The Heffelfinger property is one of the finest old residence sites in the city. Third avenue has many fine homes, but the extremely large lawn around the Heffelfinger home make it an unusually beautiful place." Heffelfinger had a very large shoe company which afforded him a very comfortable lifestyle.
Sadly this along with so many other large homes on this street was doomed. The home was torn down in the early 1920s to make way for an apartment building which still stands on the site and was constructed in 1922.
Heffelfinger Site today.
The H.W. Savage (which may either be a typo or his father) residence on Portland Ave and later referred to as the Marion W. Savage house was another impressive structure on this once grand avenue. This home was located on the corner of 26th and Portland Ave. Mr Savage was president of the International Stock Food Company which was related to horse food, medicine and every other cure all that according to the company's texts could cure both animal and human problems. He is also credited for founding the city of Savage by purchasing a large section of land where he built a 1 mile racetrack and a home overlooking his own little town. He also owned the famous Dan Patch horse that was a national winner in many races.
According to the Hennepin County Library: "The house had 20 rooms with 8 bedrooms, 3 baths and a ballroom and stage. In 1940 the city of Minneapolis launched a campaign to tear it down because it did not meet fire code and housed 10 families. The city lost the campaign but the house finally came down in 1963. The photo in the lower left hand corner appears to be of another house or Savage had a dimensional gateway to a lake and dock behind his house on Portland."
Here is the Savage lot today:
Last up for today is the magnificent home of Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte which was located facing Loring Park. An early article reads " After 1892, Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte removed from Winona, that city wherein so many years of usefulness and accomplishment had been passed by them both; then they became residents of the beautiful western city of Minneapolis, having purchased a handsome mansion in the midst of attractive grounds, in that exclusive and beautiful portion of the city which faces Loring Park. This imposing residence, on west fifteenth street, facing the park, with its exquisite furnishings and elegant appointments, continued the home of Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte until the death of Dr. Tourtellotte and since then Mrs. Tourtellotte has continued her home there."
Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte seen at left of the church.
Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte house also? Appears so but cannot be for sure.
Sadly the grand house did not last and the need for apartments in the area was needed. By 1911 this apartment building had occupied the spot of a once grand mansion on Loring Park. Today only a simple single family house stands on W 15th st facing the park of this bygone era.
If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!
By the turn of the century the home was still impressive, but not entirely as fashionable as it once was, so the major decided a renovation was in order. In an article from the Minneapolis paper in 1901 it reads" Major C.B. Heffelfinger is making improvements to his residence on Third ave s and Nineteenth street which will cost several thousand dollars. The first plan was to make minor changes. One improvement led to another. The excavation has just been made for a large stable. The heating plant will be in the basement of this building. A new dining-room addition has been made to the house and over it a chamber was built. The finish of much of the interior has been changed and when the family returns in the fall from Virginia a practically rehabilitated home will be ready for them. The Heffelfinger property is one of the finest old residence sites in the city. Third avenue has many fine homes, but the extremely large lawn around the Heffelfinger home make it an unusually beautiful place." Heffelfinger had a very large shoe company which afforded him a very comfortable lifestyle.
Sadly this along with so many other large homes on this street was doomed. The home was torn down in the early 1920s to make way for an apartment building which still stands on the site and was constructed in 1922.
The H.W. Savage (which may either be a typo or his father) residence on Portland Ave and later referred to as the Marion W. Savage house was another impressive structure on this once grand avenue. This home was located on the corner of 26th and Portland Ave. Mr Savage was president of the International Stock Food Company which was related to horse food, medicine and every other cure all that according to the company's texts could cure both animal and human problems. He is also credited for founding the city of Savage by purchasing a large section of land where he built a 1 mile racetrack and a home overlooking his own little town. He also owned the famous Dan Patch horse that was a national winner in many races.
Here is the Savage lot today:
Last up for today is the magnificent home of Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte which was located facing Loring Park. An early article reads " After 1892, Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte removed from Winona, that city wherein so many years of usefulness and accomplishment had been passed by them both; then they became residents of the beautiful western city of Minneapolis, having purchased a handsome mansion in the midst of attractive grounds, in that exclusive and beautiful portion of the city which faces Loring Park. This imposing residence, on west fifteenth street, facing the park, with its exquisite furnishings and elegant appointments, continued the home of Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte until the death of Dr. Tourtellotte and since then Mrs. Tourtellotte has continued her home there."
Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte seen at left of the church.
Sadly the grand house did not last and the need for apartments in the area was needed. By 1911 this apartment building had occupied the spot of a once grand mansion on Loring Park. Today only a simple single family house stands on W 15th st facing the park of this bygone era.
If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!
I collect hundreds of interior photographs from the 19th century. I've never seen this once before. Do you have higher resolution photos that you can email me?
ReplyDeleteWhich photo are you looking for? Most of these came from the Art Glimpses book of Minneapolis houses which is on Google Books. Some may be from the Hennepin County Library which can also be found online. Is there a specific one you are looking for?
DeleteHi, my great-great grandmother grew up in the "Heffelfinger" house—her father, George S. King, likely built it and sold it to Heffelfinger, a family friend and business associate, in 1880. I particularly like that first image you show of the house and can't seem to find it anywhere else. Can you point me in the right direction? Would love to have a clearer scan for my family archive. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHello. I found the image in a book called "Art Glimpses if Minneapolis" which can be found online at Google Play Books pages 83-84. Here is a link: https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=f1QRAQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA84
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