William G. LeDuc House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
William G. LeDuc House
|
|
The William G. LeDuc House from the west
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Hastings, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Built | 1865 |
| Architect | based on plans by Andrew Jackson Downing |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000292 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1970 |
The William G. LeDuc House, also known as the LeDuc Historic Estate, is a special old home in Hastings, Minnesota. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site in the United States. The house was finished in 1865 by William Gates LeDuc, who was a lawyer and a very interesting person.
William LeDuc moved to Minnesota in 1850 from Ohio. He was an attorney who helped with a legal case about Vermillion Falls, which is about 1,500 feet (457 meters) from where the house stands. Instead of money, LeDuc received the land as payment for his work. He was also a veteran of the United States Civil War and later served as the U.S. Commissioner of Agriculture under President Rutherford B. Hayes from 1877 to 1881.
Contents
A Special Home Style
The LeDuc House is a great example of the Carpenter Gothic style. This style was made popular by Andrew Jackson Downing, who was a pioneer in designing landscapes and homes in America. William LeDuc and his wife, Mary, found inspiration for their home in Downing's book, Cottage Residences. Even though Downing had passed away in 1852, his ideas lived on through his books.
Building the Dream Home
Construction on the LeDuc House began in 1862 and was completed in 1866. William LeDuc served as a Quartermaster during the Civil War, helping to manage supplies. In August 1865, while the house was still being finished, his family moved in. Just a few months before, in March 1865, he was honored as a brigadier general for his excellent work during the war.
LeDuc's Journey to Hastings
William G. LeDuc first arrived in St. Paul, Minnesota Territory, in 1850. He came from Ohio to open a bookstore and a law office. In 1854, he bought a share in the town of Hastings. By 1856, he and his wife, Mary Bronson LeDuc, along with their two daughters, moved to Hastings. They also owned two wheat farms and 160 acres of land that included a small mill near the Vermillion River falls. This was the perfect spot for William and Mary to build their dream home.
They chose a Gothic Revival home design from a later edition of Andrew Jackson Downing's Cottage Residences. Downing was famous for his ideas about landscape design and gardening. He encouraged Americans to make their homes beautiful by surrounding them with nature. He also believed in good design for farm buildings. William and Mary picked three of Downing's designs for their property: their main house, a Carriage Barn, and an Ice House. This makes the estate a very complete example of Downing's Gothic Revival style.
Preserving the LeDuc Estate
For many years, the future of the LeDuc House was uncertain.
A Friend's Vision
Carroll Simmons, who was a friend of the LeDuc grandchildren, bought the home in 1940. He used it for his antique business. In 1958, he generously donated the house, its other buildings, and 4 acres of land to the Minnesota Historical Society. His agreement allowed him to continue using it for his business until he retired in 1986.
Between 1986 and 2003, the property stood empty. Even though it was the first property the Minnesota Historical Society acquired, they had opened other house museums by the time they fully took over the LeDuc House. Some necessary repairs were made to the house and the carriage barn, but the property remained unused.
Bringing the House Back to Life
Local groups of citizens worked hard to make Carroll Simmons' dream come true: they wanted the LeDuc House to be open for everyone to visit. In 2002, the Minnesota Legislature provided $1.2 million to the Minnesota Historical Society. This money was used to preserve the house and update it to modern building safety rules.
Agreements were made between the Minnesota Historical Society, the City of Hastings, and the Dakota County Historical Society. These agreements led to the City of Hastings owning the property and the Dakota County Historical Society managing it.
The LeDuc House officially opened for tours on May 22, 2005. On June 24, 2005, the Minnesota Historical Society officially transferred the LeDuc House to the City of Hastings. As part of this agreement, the Society also transferred $604,000 that Carroll Simmons had provided. This money was set aside for the ongoing care, repairs, and maintenance of the LeDuc House.
