132 Winona Street Southeast
Chatfield, MN, USA

George H. Haven House

The George Haven House, also known as The Oaks, is a historic building located in Chatfield, Minnesota, United States. The Italianate house was built in 1874, and the Greek Revival cottage, also known as the Lucian Johnson House, was completed in 1892. It is next door to Oakenwald Terrace. At one time what is now three properties were on the same estate of Jason C. Easton. They are representative of the commercial and financial prosperity of Chatfield.[2] The Hanson and Johnson houses were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

National Register of Historic Places - George H. Haven House

Statement of Significance:

The pivotal houses of George H. Haven and Ellen M. Lovell are significant for their architecture and as representatives of the commercial and financial prosperity of Chatfield. The Lucian Johnson House is included in the nomination as a contributing structure and is related to the other houses by its location between them, as well as through its historic connection with the various property owners. All three houses are located on the property which once constituted the estate of Jason C. Easton, important real estate speculator, financier, and reportedly Minnesota's first millionaire. The Haven House is a virtually unaltered and locally distinctive example of residential Italianate style and was designed and built for George H. Haven by the Winona architectural firm of Mayberry and Company. George H. was the son of Augustus Haven, one of Chatfield's first settlers and a highly successful merchant. In 1874 George H. married the sister of Jason Easton. That same year, Easton sold Haven part of his estate and the house was built. In 1888, Easton also sold Haven the Root River Bank, of which Haven was president until his death in 1923 when he was succeeded by his son, George A. The Greek Revival "Annex" was added in 1892 by George for his mother. Today The Oaks is owned by the widow of George A. Haven. The present location of the Lovell House was originally the site of Jason Easton T s own house and barn. Easton left Chatfield in 1884, selling the property (minus the portion which went in 1874 to Haven) to Lucian Johnson, who, along with Haven, also happened to be Easton 1 s brother-in-law. In 1893, Johnson built the house known as The Cottage next door to Haven's house, The Oaks. The Cottage later served for fifteen years as the family home of George A. Haven, prior to his move into The Oaks. Johnson died two years after building his house and his heirs sold the Easton buildings to Ellen M. Lovell. Ellen was the widow of Charles M. Lovell, prominent Chatfield merchant, financier, and real estate dealer. Ellen Lovell demolished the Easton buildings and built Oakenwald Terrace, which survives today as an unaltered example of the Shingle Style. It is reported that the house was designed by "a Boston architect," and although it is known that Ellen Lovell made trips to Boston during these years, this has not been confirmed nor has research yet revealed the name of the architect. Nevertheless, Oakenwald Terrace is one of Minnesota's best examples of the Shingle Style.