205 W Vernon Ave
Fergus Falls, MN, USA

John W. Mason House

The John W. Mason House is a historic building located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, United States. Mason was a native of Lapeer, Michigan and one of the first settlers in town.[2] He arrived in 1871 to establish a law practice. He served in the Minnesota Legislature, he was the first mayor of Fergus Falls, and later served as its city attorney. Mason built a small home on this same lot in 1875, and replaced it with this house in 1881. It is a two-story wood-frame structure that features a limestone foundation, low pitch hip roof, and bracketed eaves. The wrap-around porch was added around the turn of the 20th-century, and the single-story bay window was added on the southeast corner about 1905. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

National Register of Historic Places - John W. Mason House

Statement of Significance:

The John W. Mason House is significant for its association with its namesake, a pioneer settler and distinguished political citizen of the City of Fergus Falls. Born in 1846 in La Peer, Michigan, John Winter mute Mason arrived in the city in 1871 seeking to establish, his law practice. The city was in its infancy, having been platted only the previous year. It was not until the following year that the city was incorporated and, at that time, also became the new county seat. Mason was elected to the legislature in 1874, serving as the youngest member of the 41st district whose area was comprised of Otter Tail, Wilkin and Wadena Counties and all the territory north to the Canadian border. He was elected the city's first mayor in 1881 and was reelected in 1893-94. Mason was responsible for drafting the first and second city charters in 1881 and 1882, respectively, elected President of the Charter Commission in 1902 and served as the city attorney in 1898. Mason became interested in railroad legislation with the advancement of railroads in the latter part of the 1870s. He was so adroit at winning cases against the railroads that, in 1910, he was offered, and accepted, a position as legal representative by the Great Northern Railroad, a position in which he continued to serve for many years. Mason also had many civic interests,' holding various positions of responsibility including serving as the first member and first President of the Board of Education and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Fergus Falls State Hospital. Mason also served as editor of the History of Otter Tail County, published in 1916. Mason built a small. Home on a lot at the corner of Vernon and Court about 1875 for himself and his wife, Fannie Safford Mason. Seven years later, he built the present home on the same site and remained there until his death in 1927.