10775 27th Avenue Southeast
Becker, MN, USA

Herbert M. Fox House

The Herbert Maximilian Fox House is a historic farmhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States. In 2006 it was relocated to the grounds of the Sherburne History Center in Becker, Minnesota. Prior to that it was located off of County Road 69 in Santiago Township.

The farmhouse, a small subsistence-type rural dwelling of mid-19th century Minnesota, is an example of pioneer architecture utilizing load-bearing vertically arranged 2-inch-thick, 14-inch-wide, oak plank walls.

National Register of Historic Places - Herbert Maximilian Fox House

Statement of Significance:

The Fox House is significant as an early example of pioneer architecture in Minnesota, employing a unique structural building technique and representing a small subsistence-type rural farm house of the mid-nineteenth century.

Structural Building Technique
The house is built without stud walls; even the corners do not have posts. The vertically arranged oak planks are completely load bearing. This is the only known example of this type of home construction in Minnesota.

The alterations done to the house over the last one hundred years did not significantly affect the original structural design, specific features or decorative elements of the house. The additions at the southern and eastern sides of the house can be removed without causing any changes in the original structure. By removing the bathroom on the ground floor, the interior can be restored to the original design. The missing portions of the outside clapboard can also be restored. Minor repairs needed for the doors and windows are possible.

In spite at the si buildings and silo, buildings buildings in the vi house are of the fact that the windmill is the only original outside structure remaining to, the present setting is not out of the character with the house. The newer in the proximity of the house are the storage shed, boxcar» granary, barn in addition there is a small man-made pond nearby (Map 2). Most of these are shaded from the view of the house by fully grown trees. None of the is closer than about 75 feet to the house. The man-made pond is also not ew of the house. It is located at the elevation of 1,000 feet while the at the elevation of 1012 feet.

Historic Context

The house is in the area settled by the North European immigrants. They tended to settle on isolated farmsteads where they could make a living of the local land resources.

later was of primary importance when determining potential sites. The nearby St. Francis River served that purpose well—year around water was available at 18' below grade. The river also served as a transportation route, and it powered saw mills and flour mills. The oak planks of the Fox House were cut by a circular saw in nearby Santiago.

Building materials were another consideration. Along the St. Francis oak was plentiful. Farther to the North, pine was available. Stone necessary for foundations could be found locally. Additionally, wild meadows provided free hay. One of these meadows was located about a mile to the East of the Fox House and was used annually. Corn and potatoes were grown on the surrounding fields.

The land on which the house is located was a part of an 80-acre parcel purchased by 01e Martinsen June 30, 1876. By fall 1876 the land passed through the ownership of Samuel P. Glidden, when Herbert Maximilian Fox and his wife Eleanor bought it. By that time the land increased to 160 acres and the value had risen to $1,000. It is not known who built the house— Ole Martinsen or Samuel Glidden. However, Bill Fox, grandson of Herbert Fox, recalls from the conversations with his grandfather a mention that the house was built prior to Herbert Fox's purchase.

The house is located at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge consists of 30,479 acres. The pressure for residential and agricultural space that has been a contributing factor to the destruction of many similar rural-type historic structures, does not exist here. A unique structural design, representativeness of subsistence type livelihood that the house typifies and the location in a relatively unaltered environment make this structure worthy of preservation.

The potential for the archeological remains of the former outbuildings has not been tested empirically, however the modification of the land within the nominated area has been minimal and therefore the potential still exists.