Charles H. Burwell House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Charles H. Burwell House
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The Charles H. Burwell house from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 13209 E. McGinty Road, Minnetonka, Minnesota |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1883 |
| Architectural style | Stick style/Eastlake |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001025 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1974 |
The Charles H. Burwell House is a special old house in Minnetonka, Minnesota, built in 1883. Today, it's a historic house museum, which means you can visit it to learn about the past. The house is named after Charles H. Burwell, who was an important person in the area. He was the secretary and manager of the Minnetonka Mills Company. This company owned the very first mill west of Minneapolis. A mill is a place where grain is ground into flour. The area around this mill became the first permanent settlement for European-American people in Hennepin County, west of Minneapolis.
The Burwell House, along with two other buildings on the property, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States that are worth preserving. The house is special because of its unique "Carpenter Gothic" and "Stick style" architecture. It also tells the story of Minnetonka's early milling history.
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History of the Burwell House
Who Was Charles H. Burwell?
Charles H. Burwell was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1838. He moved to Minnesota in 1874 after his first wife passed away. In 1876, he married Mary Carey Durham. The family lived in the Minnetonka Hotel until their new house was finished in 1883. Charles Burwell was very proud of his home. He took many photos of it, and the outside of the house changed very little over the years.
The Minnetonka Mills Company
The Minnetonka Mills Company was important, even though it didn't operate for a very long time. In 1881, the mill was very busy, producing 300 barrels of flour every day. However, bigger milling companies in Minneapolis grew stronger. The Minnetonka Mills Company could not keep up with them. Because of this, the mill closed down in 1886.
After the mill closed, Charles Burwell traveled to Minneapolis for work. He became a secretary for a businessman and lawmaker named Loren Fletcher. When Charles Burwell passed away in 1917, he was known as a very influential person in the community.
Visiting the Burwell House Today
The Charles H. Burwell House is now managed by the Minnetonka Historical Society. You can take guided tours of the house during the summer months. Special tours are also offered around Christmas time. It's a great way to see what life was like in the late 1800s.
See also
