Dec 22, 1988
National Register of Historic Places - Homer E. Sargent House
Statement of Significance: The Homer Sargent House is significant under the statewide historic context Northern Minnesota Resort Industry because it is the earliest known example of a summer residence in Detroit Lakes and thus directly associated with the initial growth of tourism in the community during the late 19th century. The house is architecturally significant as a good example of Victorian period architecture for its representation of an intact seasonal residence that has been exclusively and continuously used by members of the Sargent family for over one hundred years. In 1871 the Northern Pacific Railroad founded Detroit ("Lakes" was officially added in 1926) by transporting the New England Colony, a group of 1,000 residents from Boston to this northwestern Minnesota location. Despite initial criticism against the natural surroundings, Detroit Lakes was able to capitalize on its ideal location, promoting use of the numerous area lakes for hunting, fishing and recreation. As the village grew in population, so too did its reputation as a center of tourism. Summer activity typically centered around a chain of lakes - among them, Detroit, whose north shore reached the village, Melissa, and Sallie - which were for a time interconnected by steamboat. Between 1889 and 1919 several companies operated passenger boats transporting tourists and residents to resorts and lake shore homes via a system of canals, dams and locks. Expansive hostelries such as the Hotel Minnesota (in 1897 reportedly the largest tourist hotel in Minnesota outside Lake Minnetonka), the Fair Haven Hotel and the Park Hotel accommodated and entertained guests throughout the summer months. The 1879 St. Louis Hotel, situated on a bluff of the east shore of Detroit Lake, was financed by a Detroit Lakes banker and three wealthy St. Louis sportsmen. Demolished in 1934, the property had a hotel, lakeside cottage, tourist cabins, natural spring water, and was accessed by a special Northern Pacific rail spur. In addition to hotels and resorts, summer residences were built by a few vacationers who could afford to own and maintain more than one dwelling. Chicago resident Homer E. Sargent, Sr. erected a Queen Anne cottage for his family in 1885 several blocks north of Detroit Lake and within a short walk of downtown businesses. Sargent was born in Massachusetts in 1813 and had long been associated with eastern railroad companies. In 1858 he began working for the Michigan Central Railroad as a general agent and representative in Chicago. In 1877, at the age of 64, he became general manager of the Northern Pacific Railroad, a position he held for just four years. During his long tenure with various railroads, Sargent formulated the first through freight tariff from Boston to St. Louis and the Great Lakes area, served on the first Board of Directors of the Union Stockyards in Chicago, and he was one of the incorporators and directors of the famed Pullman Palace Car Company. In ca. 1880 Sargent traveled with his family to Detroit Lakes where they spent the summer. Five years later he built a large house where family members vacationed from June through August. Since Sargent was 72 years old when his summer cottage was constructed, it is not likely that he spent extensive periods of time there, although the house has remained in family ownership since it was built. Sargent died at his home in Chicago in 1900. Descendants have continued to rendezvous at the home each season, taking advantage of the recreational opportunities in Detroit Lakes. Due to its outstanding historic architectural integrity, the Sargent House is perhaps the finest example of residential Queen Anne design in Detroit Lakes. While Victorian Picturesque styles were in vogue in Minnesota during the last decades of the 19th century, Detroit Lakes does not have a large representation of these residences. Other Victorian period dwellings in the community are indistinctive because of their reduced size, vernacular design influences, and lack of characteristic ornamentation. By contrast, the virtually unaltered Sargent House illustrates well the Queen Anne style through its asymmetrical composition, projecting bays, wrap, -around veranda and 2^ story height. The icehouse and barn further contribute to the site's significance by depicting the outbuildings essential for maintaining a comfortable seasonal residence.
National Register of Historic Places - Homer E. Sargent House
Statement of Significance: The Homer Sargent House is significant under the statewide historic context Northern Minnesota Resort Industry because it is the earliest known example of a summer residence in Detroit Lakes and thus directly associated with the initial growth of tourism in the community during the late 19th century. The house is architecturally significant as a good example of Victorian period architecture for its representation of an intact seasonal residence that has been exclusively and continuously used by members of the Sargent family for over one hundred years. In 1871 the Northern Pacific Railroad founded Detroit ("Lakes" was officially added in 1926) by transporting the New England Colony, a group of 1,000 residents from Boston to this northwestern Minnesota location. Despite initial criticism against the natural surroundings, Detroit Lakes was able to capitalize on its ideal location, promoting use of the numerous area lakes for hunting, fishing and recreation. As the village grew in population, so too did its reputation as a center of tourism. Summer activity typically centered around a chain of lakes - among them, Detroit, whose north shore reached the village, Melissa, and Sallie - which were for a time interconnected by steamboat. Between 1889 and 1919 several companies operated passenger boats transporting tourists and residents to resorts and lake shore homes via a system of canals, dams and locks. Expansive hostelries such as the Hotel Minnesota (in 1897 reportedly the largest tourist hotel in Minnesota outside Lake Minnetonka), the Fair Haven Hotel and the Park Hotel accommodated and entertained guests throughout the summer months. The 1879 St. Louis Hotel, situated on a bluff of the east shore of Detroit Lake, was financed by a Detroit Lakes banker and three wealthy St. Louis sportsmen. Demolished in 1934, the property had a hotel, lakeside cottage, tourist cabins, natural spring water, and was accessed by a special Northern Pacific rail spur. In addition to hotels and resorts, summer residences were built by a few vacationers who could afford to own and maintain more than one dwelling. Chicago resident Homer E. Sargent, Sr. erected a Queen Anne cottage for his family in 1885 several blocks north of Detroit Lake and within a short walk of downtown businesses. Sargent was born in Massachusetts in 1813 and had long been associated with eastern railroad companies. In 1858 he began working for the Michigan Central Railroad as a general agent and representative in Chicago. In 1877, at the age of 64, he became general manager of the Northern Pacific Railroad, a position he held for just four years. During his long tenure with various railroads, Sargent formulated the first through freight tariff from Boston to St. Louis and the Great Lakes area, served on the first Board of Directors of the Union Stockyards in Chicago, and he was one of the incorporators and directors of the famed Pullman Palace Car Company. In ca. 1880 Sargent traveled with his family to Detroit Lakes where they spent the summer. Five years later he built a large house where family members vacationed from June through August. Since Sargent was 72 years old when his summer cottage was constructed, it is not likely that he spent extensive periods of time there, although the house has remained in family ownership since it was built. Sargent died at his home in Chicago in 1900. Descendants have continued to rendezvous at the home each season, taking advantage of the recreational opportunities in Detroit Lakes. Due to its outstanding historic architectural integrity, the Sargent House is perhaps the finest example of residential Queen Anne design in Detroit Lakes. While Victorian Picturesque styles were in vogue in Minnesota during the last decades of the 19th century, Detroit Lakes does not have a large representation of these residences. Other Victorian period dwellings in the community are indistinctive because of their reduced size, vernacular design influences, and lack of characteristic ornamentation. By contrast, the virtually unaltered Sargent House illustrates well the Queen Anne style through its asymmetrical composition, projecting bays, wrap, -around veranda and 2^ story height. The icehouse and barn further contribute to the site's significance by depicting the outbuildings essential for maintaining a comfortable seasonal residence.
Dec 22, 1988
Posted Date
Jul 25, 2022
Historical Record Date
Dec 22, 1988
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
