Lost Mansions of Minneapolis

Hello dear readers! I've missed you.  I have returned from a very long and needed trip to Italy.  Perhaps I will share some photos in a later post, however I will tell you all I had a wonderful time studying what Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre and Genoa has to offer.  So many amazing buildings and items of architecture that simple photos and words could never describe.  I am hoping to begin work soon on the front gable of the house as mentioned in the previous post, but I thought I would share some great mansions which have been lost to time in Minneapolis.  Hope you enjoy.

Vincent Whitney Bayless House at 308 Ridgewood Ave was built in 1887 and was still standing until at least 1983.  Sadly it was replaced by a modern building around 1999.

Here is what replaced it:

Luckily most of the other homes in this block are still retained.

Samuel Gale Mansions.  Mr. Gale first resided at this modest house at Marquette and Fourth street.  The home was located in a growing downtown and by 1889 was demolished to allow commercial development.

The house shortly before being torn down.

Mr. Gale built a fine, newer and larger home at 1600 Harmon Place near Loring Park.  A fine residence almost a fortress appearance in the amount of stone used in it.

The interior shows the finest finishes and finely carved woodwork.  Sadly the mansion did not last and here is what the site looks like now:

J.H. Thomson Residence at 1516 Hawthorne Ave.  Built in 1883.

This entire block is gone, cut away by the freeway and modern buildings.  Here it is now:

The George Brackett residence at 625 south 5th street in downtown was built in 1856.  Mr Brackett was president of the Minneapolis stockyards and packing company and was for a time mayor of Minneapolis.  He was a strong advocate in regulating liquor laws. The home while simple on the exterior had a large, gracious lot with a beautiful wrap around porch and nearly floor to ceiling windows on the first floor.

Sadly with a home in the growing downtown it was only a matter of time before it was demolished.  One can hardly recognize the site now:

Robert B Langdon had a very fine house on 29 South 10th street which was built in 1879.  A Fine stone palace with beautiful details.  Mr. Langdon was a railroad builder and dabbled in politics.

The lot was too close to downtown and soon became too valuable.  Today the site is part of the University of St. Thomas.

Henry T Welles had a very fine mansion built in 1888 at 1731 Hennepin Avenue.  He was another railroad baron and his wealth afforded him to live well.

Another great mansion lost to "progress".  One cannot even find the lot where this great mansion once stood.

Lastly for today is the residence of Honorable  Charles E. Vanderburg.  His simple yet elegant home was another downtown property at 923 7th Street South.  Built in 1871 it featured hoods over the front entry and windows and heavy brackets typical of Italianate style.  Mr. Vanderburg was not only a judge for Minneapolis but was later appointed to the supreme court.

His home now only a memory and a fine parking lot fills the space of this once great man's abode.

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!