Johannes Erickson House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Johannes Erickson House
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The Johannes Erickson House from the northeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 14020 195th Street, Scandia, Minnesota |
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| Area | Approximately 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1868 |
| Architect | Johannes Erickson |
| Architectural style | Log-gambrel |
| MPS | Washington County MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001078 |
| Designated | June 17, 1976 |
The Johannes Erickson House is a very old log cabin located in Scandia, Minnesota. It was built way back in 1868. This house is special because it has a unique roof style called a gambrel roof. This style comes from southern Sweden.
In 1974, the house was moved next to the Hay Lake School. Now, it's part of a small museum. The Washington County Historical Society takes care of it. The Erickson House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It's important because it shows us about old buildings and how people settled in Minnesota. It's a rare example of a house style brought by Swedish immigrants.
What the House Looks Like
The Johannes Erickson House is a small, two-story building. It measures about 28 by 20 feet (8.5 by 6.1 m). The walls are made from strong oak logs. These logs were smoothed out and then covered with wooden planks.
Inside, there are two rooms on each floor. The special gambrel roof helps make the upstairs feel roomy. It's not a small, cramped loft like in many other log cabins.
When the house was first built, you had to go outside to reach the upstairs. There was an outdoor staircase. Also, the house used to have a small lean-to building attached to the back. This was used as a summer kitchen.
History of the House
Johannes Erickson and his 13-year-old son, Alfred, built this house in 1868. It was their family home for many years.
In 1904, Alfred Erickson, now an adult, built a new house for his family. The original log cabin then had many different uses. It was used to store grain, as a garage for cars, and even as a fun playhouse for children.
By 1974, the owner, Vernon Jellum, no longer needed the old cabin. He thought about tearing it down or moving it. Luckily, the Washington County Historical Society bought the building. They moved it about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to its current spot.
Now, the house is part of a museum complex. It's located near a monument from 1900. This monument honors the very first Swedish settlers in Minnesota.
See also
