Center City Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Center City Historic District
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Summit Ave., Center City, Minnesota |
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| Area | 9.4 acres (3.8 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | Carlson, William |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Romanesque |
| MPS | Chisago County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001996 |
| Added to NRHP | July 21, 1980 |
The Center City Historic District is a special collection of 19 old homes and one church. They are all found along Summit Avenue in Center City, Minnesota. These buildings sit on a hill and look out over North Center Lake. This area was officially named a historic district in 1980. This means it's an important place that helps us remember the past.
Center City became the main town, or county seat, for Chisago County in the 1870s. This was a time when many people from Sweden were moving to and settling in the area. The buildings in this historic district include the Chisago Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church. This church was a very important place for the Swedish Lutheran community. The homes in the district were built between 1888 and 1910. They show off the popular building styles of that time.
Why is the Center City Historic District Important?
The Center City Historic District is important for a few reasons. It connects us to the Swedish Lutheran people who lived in the Chisago Lakes area. This was a key time when the region was growing and developing. The district also has some of the best examples of homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
When the railroad came to the Chisago Lakes area in 1881, the region started to grow a lot. The homes in the Center City Historic District belonged to many different kinds of people. These included shop owners, skilled workers, doctors, lawyers, and even politicians. Some retired farmers also lived there. These homes show how the area was becoming more successful and wealthy.
The Chisago Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Chisago Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the oldest Lutheran churches in Minnesota. It was started in 1854 by a person named Eric Norelius. He also helped start several other Lutheran churches in Minnesota. Norelius was studying to become a pastor and served the church for three months.
A full-time pastor arrived in 1855. A church building made of wood was built in 1856. Later, a new church made of brick was built between 1881 and 1883. Sadly, this brick church was hit by lightning and burned down in 1888. But the church community quickly rebuilt it, using the same builders. A bell was put in the church tower in 1890, and a clock was added in 1907.
