108 2nd Avenue Northwest
Kasson, MN, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Jacob Leuthold Jr. House ( Gentling,Gregory & Barbara,Residence )

Statement of Significance: The Leuthold House is significant for the important commercial activities undertaken by its original builder and owner, Jacob Leuthold Jr., and for its architectural design by the noted Minneapolis firm of Frederick G. Kees and Serenus Milo Colburn (associated 1899-1927). Between 1878 and the 1890s, Leuthold established a chain store system in southern Minnesota and Iowa which is an extremely early example of such a system in Minnesota and, perhaps, one of the earliest clothing chains in the United States. Using Chicago suppliers, he opened his first store in Kasson in 1878. Subsequent stores were opened in 1883 (Spring Valley, MN), 1885 (Kenyon, MN), 1888 (Waseca, MN), 1891 (Osage, Iowa), and 1892 (Owatonna, MN). By the time he built his house in 1905, Leuthold had formed the "Leuthold 'Ten Store System' Clothiers," and eventually operated stores in 42 cities in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Arizona. ’Descendants of Jacob Leuthold remain in the retail clothing business today. He also was active in finance, becoming president of several banks in Minnesota and North Dakota.