2530 3rd Ave W
Hibbing, MN, USA

Emmett Butler House

The Emmett Butler House is a historic house in Hibbing, Minnesota, United States. It was built in a simplified Colonial Revival mode in 1916 for Emmett Butler, a local leader and an executive in Minnesota's influential Butler Brothers Construction Company. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 for its local significance in the themes of architecture and industry. It was nominated as an example of the Colonial Revival houses built in Minnesota in the early 20th century and for its associations with Butler.

Butler Brothers Construction Company was responsible for many innovative mine structures on the Iron Range, and served as the contractor on numerous buildings including the Minnesota State Capitol. Emmett Butler was the youngest male in a family of nine children. In his career with the company founded by his older brothers, he served as manager of their Mesabi Range mining operations, then general manager from 1927 to 1936, and ultimately president. When the city of Hibbing relocated to allow the Hull–Rust–Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine to expand, Butler Brothers was closely involved not only in the frenzy of new construction but also in the politics of the deal, much of which was conducted in this house.

National Register of Historic Places - Emmett Butler House

Statement of Significance:

The Emmett Butler House is significant both for its architecture and for its association with Emmett Butler, its original owner and builder. Butler was a dominant figure in the Butler Brothers Construction Company, a firm which constructed numerous well-known buildings in Minnesota, including the State Capital, and many mining structures on the Iron Range. Butler Brothers were deeply involved in the move of North Hibbing to Hibbing, particularly as contractors but also politically. This latter activity frequently took place in this house.

The Butler Brothers began their careers in the construction trades, each being accomplished in engineering, masonry, and mechanics. Their work ranged in scale and distinction from ore docks, railway buildings, bridges and roads to tall office buildings and the Minnesota State Capitol. Emmett Butler was the youngest of the six Butler brothers; of these five were directly involved in the development of 'the iron mining industry on the Mesaba Range. By 1913, the Butler Brothers had eighteen mines under contract and began to take out leases on others. The Butlers are credited with the development of innovations in stripmining, the giant steam shovel, the underground conveyor, and the heavy media process (for increased recovery of iron ore). Of the six Butler brothers, Emmett was most involved in managing and promoting iron range properties, continuing to supervise Butler Brothers' operations through the 1930's and 1940's. The Butler Brothers 1 properties were sold to the Hanna Mining Company in 1948. The Emmett Butler House in Ribbing was later sold to LeRoy Salsich, a former president of the Oliver Mining Company. Salsich was extremely influential in the North Ribbing Purchase Committee responsible for the move of North Ribbing to South Ribbing which encouraged mining development.