Erastus Bolles House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Erastus Bolles House
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The Erastus Bolles House viewed from the southwest
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1741 Stagecoach Trail, Afton, Minnesota |
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| Area | Less than four acres |
| Built | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Valley Creek Residences TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003072 |
| Designated | April 20, 1982 |
The Erastus Bolles House is a very old and important house in Afton, Minnesota. It was built way back in 1856. At that time, it was part of a separate small town called Valley Creek.
This house is special because it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's recognized as an important part of history. It shows us what homes looked like when people first settled in the area. It also shows the popular Greek Revival style of architecture from that time. Valley Creek later became part of Afton.
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What Does the Erastus Bolles House Look Like?
The Erastus Bolles House is a one-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has an L-shape. The house has a very simple design.
It shows the Greek Revival style, which was popular a long time ago. You can see this style in its overall shape. It also has special windows with six panes of glass. The outside walls are covered with narrow wooden boards called clapboard siding. The main door is on the right side of the front of the house. It has narrow windows on the sides of the door.
The Story of Erastus Bolles and His Home
Erastus Bolles Arrives in Minnesota
Erastus Bolles was born in New York in 1821. In 1855, he visited his uncle, Lemuel Bolles, in Minnesota. His uncle had moved to Washington County in 1842. Lemuel had built the first gristmill in the area. A gristmill is a place where grain is ground into flour.
Erastus liked Minnesota very much. The next year, in 1856, he moved there permanently. He came with his wife, Sophronia, and their children. They chose a spot near his uncle's mill, along a road called the Point Douglas to Superior Military Road. Here, they built their new house and a blacksmith shop. A blacksmith is someone who makes and repairs things out of metal.
Life and Business in Valley Creek
Once a year, in the fall, the Bolles family would travel to Saint Paul. This trip was to buy supplies for the winter. They would start their journey very early in the morning, around 3:00 AM, with a team of oxen pulling their wagon.
Erastus Bolles was trained as a blacksmith, just like his father. In 1858, he used water from Valley Creek to power his tools. This included a trip hammer, which is a large hammer used for shaping metal. This allowed him to make farm tools and other equipment.
A Community Grows
A small community started to grow around Bolles's business. It was named Valley Creek, after the nearby waterway. In 1863, the Valley Creek School was started. At first, classes were held in the Bolles family home. Later, Erastus sold some land for just one dollar so a schoolhouse could be moved there.
In the early 1870s, Erastus opened a store. He also became the postmaster for Valley Creek. A postmaster is in charge of the local post office.
Family and Legacy
In 1873, Erastus and Sophronia's daughter, Emma, married Silas Geer. As a wedding gift, Erastus and Sophronia gave them land across the road. Emma and Silas then built their own house there.
In 1875, Erastus gave the blacksmith business to his son, Charles. Charles moved the shop a short distance away. He also added machines to grind corn and feed. The Bolles store burned down in 1880. But Erastus had it rebuilt and gave it to Charles and his other son, Fred. Erastus Bolles passed away the next year.
The Bolles House was recognized as an important historical site in 1981. It was one of three early Valley Creek houses studied for the National Register of Historic Places.
