Alonzo Linton Mansion

Alonzo Herbery Linton was born in 1836 in Pennesylvania.  His first job is listed as "clerk in the supply store, but soon afterwards was placed in charge of a gang of men enaged in grading a sexction of the Pennsylvania railroad..." This is where his career in railways began.  He contuined to work his way up doing various positions including paymaster and principal manager.  He was sent to Cuba in 1860 to facilitate a railway line, however when the civil war broke out, he returned to the states and joined the militia.  He was sent to Minneapolis in 1863 to take charge of the office.  During this time he began to strike out on business for himself.  He contracted the railroad line of the Minnesota Central road from Owatonna to Austin.  In 1870 he started a partnership with R.B. Langdon and their success contuined to grow and after 20 years they are listed as having "No less than 5,000 miles of railroad have been built by this firm in the Northwest..."   With their growing wealth the family needed a fine place to call home.  They are listed as having "a pleasant home on Sixth street south until the past year, when business demanded the site for its bust purpose.  A beautiful home has been built on Park avenue in the colonial style with tall colums spanning the entire height of the house- a unique and very pleasing feature.  Mr Linton attributes to his wife whatever may be attractive in its plans."

Built in 1891 by George M Goodwin who also had designed numerous impressive structures including the Windom block as well as Fredrick Pillsbury's summer house, a queen Anne cottage on Lake Minnetonka.  The house was located at 2505 Park Avenue and was designed in American colonial revival style, an emerging style in the 1880s.  The home was built of a light butterscotch colored brick contrasted by ordimental white colored trim.  The semi circular portico was supported by 5 massive ionic coloums.  The roof of the portico was complimented by a balistrade which matched the design encompassing the front terrace.  The front door, 2 massive paneled doors flanked by two arched windows.  The home was topped off by a simple dentil style  entabature.  While the exterior was restrained from excessive decoration the interior was still a gilded palace.  An enormous entry hall welcomed visitors with a plethra of refined wood work .  Wainscotting covered the walls, stunning beamed ceiling with crown molding drew the visitior’s eye to the end of the hall which presented the grand staircase.   The staircase was flanked by two small wood pedistals leading up to a landing which was also flanked by two ionic coloums.  The landing held a plush bench and was flooded by light from a row of windows above the bench.  The entry was decorated  with furniture which was heavy and “antique” in style, oriental rugs, plants and even a bust of Abraham Lincolin.  Not much else is known about the residence.  The Lintons only resided in the house for a fairly short time before the home went the fate of many others, being subdived and then torn down in the 1930s. At present a simple 1980s medical building now sits on its site. 

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