426 Ferndale Rd S
Wayzata, MN, USA

426 Ferndale Rd S, Wayzata, MN, USA

Exterior photos of the house in 2011 before it was sold. Photos also pulled from realtor.com:

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/426-Ferndale-Rd-S_Wayzata_MN_55391_M74346-29942

Interior Images

Property Overview-

Crown jewel estate set on famed Ferndale Road on Wayzata Bay! Three acres of fabulous formal gardens, beach house, caretakers/guest house, pool house, and spa! A short walk to downtown shops and dining!

Property Features-

Bedrooms: 5
Bedroom 1: 15x21.8
Bedroom 2: 16.6x14
Bedroom 3: 20x14.7
Bedroom 4: 15x13
Bathrooms
Bath Description: Main Floor 1/2 Bath, ULBTH, Private Master, Full Master, 3/4 Basement, Separate Tub & Shower, Whirlpool, Two Master Baths
Full Bathrooms: 4
Half Bathrooms: 1
3/4 Bathrooms: 2
Kitchen and Dining
Dining Room Description: Separate/Formal Dining Room
Dining Room: 15.7x21
Dining Room Level: Main
Kitchen Level: Main

Other Rooms-
Basement: Walkout, Full, Finished (Livable), Day/Lookout Windows, Egress Windows, Stone
Family Room: 39x20
Family Room Characteristic: Main Level, Lower Level, 2 or More, Family Room
Family Room Level: Lower
Room 1 Description: Office
Room 1 Dimensions: 19x14
Room 2 Description: Study
Room 2 Dimensions: 12x15.7
Room 3 Description: Foyer
Room 3 Dimensions: 13.5x41
Room 4 Description: Game Room
Room 4 Dimensions: 37x20
Room 5 Description: Fifth (5th) Bedroom
Room 5 Dimensions: 17x13
Room 6 Description: Sitting Room
Room 6 Dimensions: 19 x 14

Building and Construction-
Roof: Slate
Living Room Level: Main
House Style: (SF) More Than 2 Stories
Foundation Size: 3718
Square Feet Above Ground: 6964
Square Feet Below Ground: 3718
Exterior and Lot Features
Stucco
Pool: Below Ground, Outdoor, Heated
Tree Coverage - Medium
Lot Dimensions: Nw302x752x178 Lx643
Waterfront and Water Access
Lake/Waterfront: Lake Front
Waterfront Description: Lake Front
Water Front Name: Lake Minnetonka
Waterfront Num: 27013300
Garage and Parking
Garage Stalls: 7
Attached Garage
Detached Garage
Tandem
Insulated Garage
Heated Garage
Concrete Driveway
Garage Door Opener
Heating and Cooling
Air Conditioning: Central
Number Of Fireplaces: 8
Utilities
Fuel: Natural Gas
Sewer: City Sewer/Connected
Water: City Water/Connected, Well
Appliances
Range
Microwave
Exhaust Fan/Hood
Dishwasher
Trash Compactor
Refrigerator
Washer
Dryer
Disposal
Furnace Humidifier
Amenities and Community Features
Patio
Dock
Natural Woodwork
Hot Tub
Sauna
Balcony
Kitchen Window
School Information
School District: Wayzata

Other Property Info-
County: Hennepin
Property Type: Single Family
Zoning: Single
Directions: Wayzata Blvd West to Ferndale; go south on Ferndale, proceed approximately 1/2 mile to home on left
APN Number: 0111723440002

Listing Information-
Lake Depth: 113
Farm Info
Lake Acres: 14652.00000

Home Addition

Home goes through its first addition. Side by side comparison of the home from 1888 and 1957.

Wayzata Lake Street

Businesses on Lake Street included the Wayzata Theater, which opened in 1932 and closed in 1985

Lakeside view

View of house from Lake Minnetonka

Wayzata Depot

Lake Minnetonka Wayzata Depot in 1907 with shore view.

This home's story

Information about this home has been taken directly from the article:

"[The BonSyde mansion] is the Dayton-Burnet Home’s next-door neighbor to the southwest. There, hidden by an alee of trees on one side and a large McMansion on the other, lies an impressive Greek revival that has looked over the waters of Lake Minnetonka for more than a century. The Northrup-Jorgenson Home, also known as the BonSyde Estate, has been kept relatively quiet from the public eye as it, too, faces the same fate of its well-covered neighbor. But that is about to change.

BonSyde’s history begins in the 1890s, a time when Lake Minnetonka was emerging as a place to actually live, rather than vacation. Some of the Lake’s finest and grandest homes were built during this era, the largest and most prestigious of which along the Ferndale Shore. It was here in 1894 that William G. Northrup, an entrepreneur, purchased a section of land to build his home upon.

Northrup commissioned famous Twin Cities architect William Channing Whitney to design for him a true testament of classical architecture that would dominate all others in its vicinity. BonSyde, as Northrup came to name it, was designed to impress, and these intentions remain clearly evident today: Corinthian columns, both structural and aesthetic, are prominently used throughout the house at the front entrance and on many of the interior archways. Hardwood floors and fine fixtures are used throughout as well, topped off with a total of seven fireplaces. But perhaps the most impressive feature of the home is the bank of Doric columns lakeside. Together, the columns support the roof over a large outdoor balcony. Ivy has crept up the height of the columns over the years, and today the balcony appears to be a scene worthy of Lake Como. Between the home and the Lake lie formal gardens, French in style, fountain pool and all. The gardens, along with a boathouse and pool house, both continuing in Greek revival style, are all dominated by the manor house and its Doric columns on the hillside – a truly authentic rendition of an estate. Its overall dominant impression has even prompted many to call it “the White House of Minnesota.”

BonSyde has had a number of owners since the Northrups, each filling its walls with new life and memories of their own. Eventually though, like any aging structure, the home fell into disrepair. It could have easily been torn down then, but Clyde Jorgenson, who purchased the property in that less-than-desirable condition, had the entire estate completely and thoroughly restored “down to the studs” in the late 1990s, a task which took four years to complete. Ever since then, it has remained in absolutely pristine condition as an icon of Wayzata and Lake Minnetonka as a whole – a valid time capsule from the Gilded Age.

But now [in 2011], the Jorgensons have sold BonSyde to its current owner, Michael Reger. And Mr. Reger has won approval from the City of Wayzata to have it demolished, erased for eternity.

This is a scheme which is all too familiar for the Lake Minnetonka area. Estates of all ages and grandeur have continuously fallen victim to the wrecking ball, their sites replaced with newer, “better” homes, with little or no attention from the media or public; aside from a small paragraph in a larger article concerning the Dayton-Burnet Home, BonSyde’s situation has received none. This home is one of the best examples of Greek revival architecture ever built in Minnesota and is one of the best-preserved examples of William Channing Whitney’s work still in existence today. As one of the last original estates of Lake Minnetonka, the demolition of BonSyde would surely be a terrible civic atrocity, perhaps the worst Lake Minnetonka has ever seen – and Lake Minnetonka has seen plenty. It is a needless waste of a perfectly sound, beautiful, and cherished home that has been loved and cared for by many a family (and the community) for nearly 120 years, and now it must face the same fate that has become all too common for so many other historic homes in the area: death.

Aaron J. Person grew up in the Lake Minnetonka area and has always had a strong interest in history. To satisfy that interest, he is currently studying History at Minneapolis Community & Technical College and plans on continuing his education at the University of Minnesota, specializing in Historic Preservation."

Panorama of Ferndale

Panorama of Ferndale circa 1890s; many prominent Twin Cities families built country estates in this area between 1890 and 1910.

Bonsyde House

Known as the Bonysde Mansion, it was built in 1895 and went through a series of beautiful renovations and landscaping changes. In 2011, it was sold and torn down in 2013.

Wayzata Lakefront

Wayzata lakefront circa 1880s.

Wayzata Lakefront

Wayzata lakefront circa 1869. The “Governor Ramsey” steamboat is located at the right.

Wayzata Bay

View over Wayzata Bay circa 1860s. Spirit Knob and Spirit Island are in the background.