28743 Garrard Ave
Frontenac, MN 55026, USA

Greek Revival Minnesota Historic Homes

It was in 1859 that Lewis Garrard moved to Frontenac (thus named the same year) and built a small one and a half story house with a few one-story wings coming off the main house. The main entrance faced the lake, had a small porch and balcony, and the property was surrounded by a white fence. He had been here before eight years earlier with his brother Israel, both men looking for land and investment opportunities. While his older brother stayed and became part owner of the town (called Westervelt at the time) with Evert Westervelt , Lewis traveled back home to Cincinnati and then on to Europe. After his return, Mr. Garrard married in 1862 and decided to expand the home for his new family. The original house was turned into the larger, two-story home we see today, with hipped roof, covered front porch with sleeping porch above, larger double-hung windows, decorative lentils, and shutters. Later, a one story, northern wing that housed his medical office was removed and moved a block south. In 1869, scarlet fever was sweeping through the small river towns. Lewis Garrards two young sons were stricken with the illness and later died. Devastated by their loss, the Garrard family moved to Lake City. Amazingly, they did not sell the house, but maintained it for the next 56 years, finally selling the home in 1926. It was purchased by Ted Hall, son of Osee Hall, a long time friend of the Garrard family. How long they owned it, I am not sure, but the home has been with the Hodgson family since 1960.