123 West 3rd Street
Chaska, MN, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Simons Building and Livery Barn (Courthouse Saloon)

Statement of Significance:

The Simons Block and Livery Barn are two of Chaska's best preserved commercial/residential buildings to survive from the decade of the 1880s. These buildings are the only historic buildings remaining on an intersection that once formed a significant corner in Chaska. The Italianate styled courthouse, since demolished, occupied the "Courthouse Square" directly across from the Simons Block.

Anton Simons built the east portion of this building and the livery barn in 1888. He operated a saloon, the "Courthouse Saloon," and a hotel in the second story for a number of years. The livery barn was used to quarter the livestock of saloon and hotel patrons. The west section, or residence, was built in the 1890s for the Simons family.

A number of significant architectural features remain on the exterior facade of the block. The well preserved brick work, the brick corbelled cornice, the segmentally arched window hoods, and the semi-circular roof comb represent some of the best preserved commercial architecture in Chaska.