Resident Timeline
Explore the people who lived at this address over the years.
Before the Frederick C. Pillsbury house was built, the lot at 301 South 10th Street contained merely a boarding house.
The home of Fred C. Pillsbury was the subject of anticipation in this news clipping. It reported that the standard architectural features of the day would be thrown out for, “a modern city residence of enterely[sic] new design erected. It will be one of the handsomest in the city.”
Photo is of the left side door, and you'll notice the architect info on the upper left hand corner of the photo as well Source info: Contributing Organization: University of Minnesota Libraries, Northwest Architectural Archives Title: Fred C. Pillsbury residence in Minneapolis, Minnesota Creator: Ellis,...
Fred C Pillsbury House, 1888 303 South 10th Street Minneapolis, MINNESOTA Architect: LS Buffington TORN DOWN Photo: Northwestern Architect Vol 8 No 3
Fred C Pillsbury House, 1888 303 South 10th Street Minneapolis, MINNESOTA Architect: LS Buffington Cost: $18,000 TORN DOWN Pen & Ink Drawing: signed by EE Joralemon del (lower right) LS Buffington Collection (NW Arch Archives)
Highlighting the estate as a work of art
In a letter to the editor of the Minneapolis Journal, the writer lamented the lack of quality in the craftsmanship of stonework that was shipped in pre-cut from the eastern side of the country. "To the most casual observer, the stone cutting is far inferior to the stone cut in this city, especially the carving," he w...
In the Realty and Building column of the October 6, 1889 Sunday paper, the new Fred C. Pillsbury residence was described as “one of the handsomest houses in the city.” The column enthusiastically details its construction, noting the use of Lake Superior brownstone and stained glass from Tiffany’s of New York.
In a report on the happenings of Halloween night 1889, the Star Tribune made note of some of the chaos: "A large number of special policemen were sworn in to guard against accidents. An attempt to carry off the steel arch bridge happily was frustrated, but at a late hour it was learned that one of the 25 ton blocks in...
This section from the Minneapolis Daily Times lists F.C. Pillsbury as one of the directors of the First National Bank of Minneapolis.
In the 1892 edition of their atlas, the C. M. Foote company included the Pillsbury house, completed in 1888. The property is outlined in red on the image.
Back in the day, fashionable ladies had a specific day on which they requested well-wishers and visitors to come to their home. This snippet from the Star Tribune stated that Mrs. F.C. Pillsbury wished her visitors to come on Mondays.
Frederick Carleton Pillsbury Birth: August 27, 1852 — Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA Death: May 15, 1892 (aged 39) — Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA Burial: Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA Plot: Section 2, Lot 287, Grave 3 Memorial ID: 49471063 · View S...
Fred Carleton Pillsbury probate write-up in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
After a severe bout of diphtheria, F.C. Pillsbury, died in 1892 at around 38 years old (this newspaper incorrectly puts him at around 42 years old at the time of his death). He left behind his wife and four children, three girls and one boy. This lengthy article details his illness as well as his contributions to the c...
More insight into why Fred became ill and how his family was notified.
Kind words spoken at Fred C. Pillbury's funeral, sharing more about him and his personal life
Insert that included photos of Fred C. Pillsbury and context about him and his involvement in building Ferndale, another location where his Lake House was states: "Ferndale was next - built by Fred C. Pillsbury, (son of Mayor George Pillsbury, nephew of Governor John Pillsbury, and brother of Charles Pillsbury - fou...
While written about his passing, this write up provides additional context about when he moved to Minnesota, who he was related to, and what business dealings he was involved with
This article from The Minneapolis Journal, written after F.C. Pillsbury's death, provides details about his estate and the value of his assets, which, apparently, was worth less than the public thought.
Interior, Residence of the late F.C. Pillsbury Sitting room, Mrs. Fred C. Pillsbury residence, 303 South Tenth Street, Minneapolis Content: Approximately 1893
A famous person known for being a leading New York Financier visits the mansion
By 1898 the Pillsbury residence had been established for ten years. Not much had changed in the neighborhood.
In 1900, F.C. Pillsbury's wife, Alice (age 42), still lived at 303 South 10th St with her four children, Harriet (age 20), Carlton (age 18), Helen (age 13), and Alice (age 11). With them lived a boarder, Celia Rand (age 45), and three servants, Mary McGrath (age 43), Clara Lundburd (age 30), and Sopha Johnson (age 48)....
Harriet Pillsbury was married to Harold O. Ayer from Savannah, Georgia, in April 1902. The wedding and its numerous trappings are described in detail by this article from the Minneapolis Daily Times.
In 1903, the Minneapolis Real Estate Board published their own atlas of the Minneapolis area. The Curtis Hotel, which would eventually cover the entire block, has been sketched into the map with pencil. The first of the Curtis buildings, Curtis Court, was built in 1903. The Fred C. Pillsbury house property is outlined...
In 1903, Alice Pillsbury remarried to Eugene W. Paige, another businessman in the milling business. The article noted that it was most likely that Alice would keep the house at 303 South 10th St. as a winter home, since Paige lived in New York.
Alice Pillsbury sells to Alexander H. Boyd in 1904
Mrs. Eugene Paige, formerly Alice Pillsbury, sold the house in 1904 and moved to Connecticut with her daughters. Her only son, Carlton, stayed in the Minneapolis area and did not go East with the rest of his family.
When the Pillsburys moved into their new home in 1888, they used the address 303 South 10th Street. When the Boyds moved in in 1904, however, the address was changed to 301 South 10th Street. Why the shift? One theory is that it was because a 301 South 10th Street already existed on one of the three lots originally pur...
1908 marriage Record of Helen Pillsbury, daughter of Fred C. Pillsbury
In 1910, Madame Boyd, a renowned dressmaker, moved her business from a shop on Nicollet Avenue into her home at 301 South Tenth Street, where she had lived since 1904. Her establishment had long been considered the “Mecca of those who would be gowned à la mode,” and wearing one of her creations marked a woman as belong...
There are no census records past the 1900 census because it was highly likely that by the mid-1910s, the house was demolished to make way for commercial buildings.
The Boyds were home for the 1910 census. Captured in the count were eighteen others, mostly seamstresses for the dressmaking business. Their relationships to the Boyds is listed as "lodger". Providing living quarters for so many people explains the need of a big house!
Fred C. Pillsbury's only son passes away
In 1912, the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the Frederick C. Pillsbury house. By this time the house was owned by Madame Boyd, a renowned dress maker in the Twin Cities. Part of the house has been taken over for her dress making enterprise. No other single family homes exist on the block by this time.
In 1914 the Minneapolis Real Estate Board updated their map. Since their 1903 version, it's shown how the Curtis properties are taking over the block. The Summers Hotel, two lots of apartment buildings, and the Pillsbury house are all that remain that aren't connected to the Curtis Court. The Fred C. Pillsbury house pr...
Tribute to Mrs. Alexander H. Boyde after her passing (she was the new owner after Fred Pillsbury passed)
New owner following Fred C. Pillsbury passing, Mrs. Alexander H. Boyde (also known as Madame Boyd) passes away.
On December 1, 1917, it was announced that Madame Boyd’s estate had been filed in probate court. Valued at $80,000, well over $1,000,000 today, the bulk of it went to her husband Alexander. She left her jewels to relatives in Minneapolis and Michigan. In a final gesture of generosity, she also left monetary gifts to se...
In 1919, T. F. Curtis and the Melony Brothers purchased the land at 301 South 10th Street from Alexander Boyd with plans to expand their Curtis Court lodging business. The acquisition gave them control of the entire block of 10th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. They announced a new building that would add 300 hotel...
After Fred C Pillsbury passed and the home was sold to Madame Boyd, the Curtis Court Hotel buys the property to demolish the home and build a twelve-story hotel in its place.
Pictures of the hotel that was built where the Pillsbury home used to be and the article notes: "In the center of the block between Tenth and Eleventh Streets South and Third and Fourth Avenues South, Theodore bought a lot and constructed the first building of Curtis Court in 1903. Each suite featured a parlor room,...
Alice T. Pillsbury (widow of Fred C. Pillsbury) Passport Documents
All images graciously provided by Bailey at Hennepin County Library Special Collections. In her email, she stated "We have a vertical file with a number of additional images, most of which come from Northwestern Architect, a periodical. Images attached."
Edit Item Description https://hennepinco.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5vC8z9bbQSyJsuW Title Fred C. Pillsbury Home Subject Houses Houses Houses -- Design and construction Address 303 10th St. S Date 1922-09-02 Year 1922 Decade 1920s Format Black & White Photoprint Type Photographs Neighbor...
In 1930 the Sanborn Map Company updated their 1912 map to include the latest information. The Curtis Hotel and Curtis Court properties cover the entire block. The area where the Pillsbury house once stood is marked in a red box in the upper left corner.
Full page feature about Beatrice, granddaughter of Alice T. Pillsbury, and her engagement
Curtis Hotel once the full block was purchased and developed.
She passes away 40 years after her husband, Fred C. Pillsbury, in California near family at the age of 81.
Title: Curtis Hotel car card, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota Description: "Streetcar interior advertisement for The Curtis Hotel, located at 10th Street at 3rd and 4th Avenue in Minneapolis. "Largest in the Midwest, Delightful Accomodations Always, Rooms $3.50 to $7.00, All Outside rooms with Bath, Garage. Din...
Demolished in 1984 to make room for the Sleep Number headquarters.
In 1988 an office building was erected on the block of the demolished Curtis Hotel, for which the Fred C. Pillsbury residence had been demolished. As of 2017 it has been the headquarters of the Sleep Number company.
100% of our data is sourced from historical records. Original records may contain spelling variations or transcription errors.
