On this page you'll be introduced to historic sites in the
Lakeville area. Some of them are simply interesting points of local
interest, but many have a unique place in the history of Minnesota
or have even been deemed of National significance. Each is well
worth the trip to see in person and, hopefully, this page will help
you understand these sites and the role they played in our rich
history.
 |
Indicates a site that is of National historic significance and
has a marker in place from the National Register of Historic
Sites. |
The summer home of the first conductor of
the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Emil Oberhoffer, stands
overlooking Orchard Lake on Judicial Road in Lakeville. The house,
built from 1914 to 1918, has a number of well-known names
associated with it. First is Oberhoffer, musician and founder of
the Minneapolis Symphony, who directed the symphony's first concert
on November 5, 1903, and remained director for the next nineteen
years. Oberhoffer spent at least six months of the year in the
house (known as "The Towers") from the time of its completion in
1918 until his death in 1933. While there, story has it, he loved
to don old clothes, build cement walks, and work in his garden,
which covered almost half an acre. He did his own plumbing, and
built an electric plant to light the house, the batteries salvaged
from an American Navy destroyer.
Architect Paul Haugen designed the house. Haugen worked for the
nationally famous firm of Purcell and Elmslie, which to this day is
considered Minnesota's leading interpreter of the Prairie
Style.
In the late 1940s the house was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Herman
Berg, parents of world-renowned golfing star Patty Berg. Patty's
mother was also a golfer; in 1948 she held the state women's
amateur title. During the Bergs' residency, the tower, previously
used by Oberhoffer as his study, became the trophy room.
Lakeville's Antlers Park opened on the Fourth of July 1910 at
Lake Marion. The Park offered amusements, bathing, boating, and a
dance pavilion.
The "Dan Patch" gas electric rail line (named for a famous local
race horse) scheduled twelve runs a day to and from Minneapolis and
Saint Paul to handle the number of passengers drawn to the
park.
The property became a city park in 1974.
If you know of a local site in this area that you feel should be
acknowledged for its historic significance we'd love to hear about
it or help you to investigate and document the site. Please contact
the us at:
Dakota County Historical Society
130 Third Avenue North
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
| Telephone: 651/552-7548 |
Fax:
651/552-7265
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