Charles Harrington Mansion

Built of buff cream brick this exquisite Italian Renaissance mansion was designed by Minneapolis architects Kees and Colburn and was constructed in 1902 by Charles Harrington, who was president of the Van Dusen- Harrington Company.  The 30,000 square foot home was an impressive statement, no doubt to keep up with his neighbor and business partner, Swan Turnblad and his impressive mini chateaux next door.  The simple, symmetrical exterior features a low hipped red tile room, quoins on the corners, large duel chimneys, deeply set windows with 3 pediment hoods overlooking the front entry porch topped off by a dental molding type entablature with elaborate cornice details.  The carriage house behind the mansion was no less impressive.  Apparently Mr. Harrington believed his horses should not be housed in a simple utilitarian structure, but in their own 2 story structure mimicking the designs of the main house with playful accents of horse head plaques.

Charles M. Harrington arrived to Minnesota in 1871 as a humble telegraph operator and just a few short years later was working for George Van Dusen.  10 years later Harrington and Van Dusen formed their company in 1883.  Mr Harrington chaired the company until his death in 1928. During his time as president he was also involved in numerous community contributions including assisting in the creation of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and was its president for a decade, warden of St Mark’s Episcopal Church for some 35 years and was a trustee for the Minneapolis YMCA. In 1929 the Zuhrah Shrine Center purchased the home for $25,000 and occupied the property until 2011. Due to the fact that the Zuhrah owned the property for such an extended time, it allowed the property to remain in exceptional condition and remain true to its original design and style.  Decorated by renowned interior designer John Scott Bradstreet, the home is filled with hand carved woodwork, stunning light fixtures, original hand painted murals and even some original furniture remains. Mr. Harrington brought in skilled artisans from Norway and Sweden to complete the magnificent interiors that remain.   As one enters the structure you are immediately greeted by an Italian mosaic.  The ground floor contains the library, drawing room, dining room, den, kitchen, foyer, servants’ hall and a large bank vault for holding silver and other precious items.  The second floor contained all the bedrooms which were connected by doors allowing the household staff to service each room, without having to enter the halls. The third floor contains the ballroom.  The basement held the billiards room and card room.  Clearly this home was designed to hold all the luxuries one would need at the turn of the century.  In fact it was also featured in a 1904 article in the national journal, Western Architect. The article applauded the carriage house and main house for its technologically advanced sanitation system noting that it was the “most perfect building for its purpose that has yet been constructed either in this country or in Europe”. In the basement of the stables were boilers, which provided heat for the home via a tunnel. The article also discussed the interior of the home as “exceedingly elaborate” yet abstaining from “hysterical bric-a-brac or extensive garnishment”. After owning the property since 1929 the Zuhrah Shrine Center put the property up for sale. In June 2011 St. Mary’s University of Minnesota purchased the property for $2.75 million.  This home is a rare gem still left to shine over Park Avenue as long as its future owners continue to preserve and maintain the structure in a similar fashion as to what has been done exceptionally well by the Zuhrah for the past 80 years.    

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