42,052 were here. Besides being a lawyer, an investor, Chester also served two terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives. It's enough for Dan Hartmanwho just ended his role as Glensheen director to geek out. In an 2014 mprnews article, Glensheen Interim Director Dan Hartman shared that the old ways werent working, as limiting access curtailed the experiences that people wanted. He made the best of it, and found a path to travel by going forward in positive steps to help support his family and his own future as well, both working and studying to finish school. A Lake Superior Lawyer: A Biography of Chester Adgate Congdon. Reading about this famous site before visiting will enhance your experience., Support Glensheen by becoming a member today. In 1903, they purchased a total of twenty-one acres of land in east Duluth, along the shore of Lake Superior. It's one of Duluth's largest tourist attractions. French found furnishings from around the world, as well as having hand-crafted woodwork, gold leaf and silk wallpaper throughout the mansion. Tom and I went to visit Glensheen Mansion and its estate, located on a prime piece of Duluth real estate, beside Lake Superior. This series contains photographs of the Congdon family, the Glensheen estate, and various employees and friends of the Congdons. Marjorie showed no support for him as she didnt come to the trials. The Minnesota History Theatre in St. Paul debuts Glensheen, a musical about the CongdonPietila murders. The family moved to Duluth in 1892 when Chester saw opportunity in the booming city and the newly industrializing Mesabi Iron Range. Duluth: Superior Partners, 1997. Elisabeth Congdon adopts two daughters, Marjorie and Jennifer. Glensheen sits on 12 acres of waterfront property on Lake Superior, has 39 rooms and is built in the Jacobean architectural tradition, inspired by the Beaux-Arts styles of the era. When Chester died in 1915, she continued on with her life despite her loss. We dare not mess with an iconat least, not too much. If that's the case, the Full Mansion Tour has your answers! While Chester and Clara met during their first year at Syracuse, and graduated together in 1875, Chester continued to have financial difficulties and the couple did not marry for several years. Glensheen Mansion, MN (Eighty-eight year-old Elizabeth had diabetes, and because of a stroke, she couldnt speak and was confined to a wheelchair. At fifteen, Chester became the man of the house, and took his responsibilities very seriously. To design the house and grounds they selected Clarence H. Johnston (18591936), Charles Wellford Leavitt (18711928), and William A. French (18631942.). Find more information on Glensheen Obscura here. It's one of Duluth's largest tourist attractions. Congdon Family papers, U6192, Archives and Special Collections, Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth. She is way too upset to leave, and has claimed the third floor. Description: Materials for 19041922 cover Hartleys association with Chester A. Congdon in mining ventures on the Mesabi Iron Range. The breakfast room, designed by John Bradstreet of Minneapolis, is considered a highlight for its green tiled walls and floors, as well as for its lake views. In 1968, she made a deal with nearby Duluth University to be the new owners and open it and the estate up for the public to enjoy. The property was bequeathed to the University of Minnesota in 1968, and a handful of students from UMN Duluth make up Ford's crew. Uh Oh! After taking several teaching jobs while looking for employment in law, in 1879 he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, passed the Minnesota bar exam, and began his Midwest career at the law firm of Pierce, Stephenson, and Mainzer. Glensheen. This collection is located at the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives. Velmas presence is also felt in her quarters. When he was killed in action, his spirit returned to college anyway, becoming a perpetual spectral student in his afterlife, as he hasnt given up on his dream to finish college). In the intervening years, Marjorie Congdon Caldwell Hagen was twice convicted of arson, for which she served 12 years in prison, and was once wanted for bigamy in North Dakota.[5]. He commits suicide five years later. The spirit of Elizabeth and her faithful companion, Velma are restless but take comfort in spending their afterlives together, enjoying the estate and the activities of the living. "Knowledge will get you far, but passion will get you a hair further," she says wryly. He was on his way to becoming extremely wealthy. Both spirits have been seen standing in the window of Elizabeths bedroom. Glen, a Scots word for a narrow valley, refers to the ravines of Tischer Creek and Bent Brook, which frame the estate; sheen either comes from Sheen, the Congdons ancestral village in England, or from the reflection of light off the lake. When Elizabeth first had her stroke, Marjorie came to visit and fed Elizabeth some home-made, sugar-free marmalade that had sedatives in it, trying to kill her so she could get the four million dollar cash inheritance that she was to receive. It was as if the family has just gone out for a picnic and would return soon! [6], The movie Girl Missing, starring Francesca Eastwood, was partially filmed at Glensheen, featuring the grounds, the shore of Lake Superior, and the exterior of the house. Minneapolis: Jackay Publishing, 1991. (While these boxes are sold in the U.S. today, you may find more made of plastic.) Seen the Milky Way? Lights go on and off by themselves, like someone is inside the room, despite the house being empty. On a warm late-summer day, she points through deer fencing at a patch spotted with ripening pumpkins, noting their individual quirks like a shepherd tending a familiar flock. So far so good, according to family tradition. FIX YOUR FOCUS In the darkest months of Minnesota winters, ordering seeds is a treat. In 1895, the family moved to 1509 E. Superior Street, to a house designed by Oliver Traphagen. The common thread? As well as continuing to pursue mining interests on the Mesabi Range, he invested in copper mining in Ajo and Bisbee, Arizona. (Emily Ford and her crew sometimes take a dip on hot days.). Every morning I take a really slow walk around the entire property and just look and take notes.". Correspondence related to the construction and maintenance of Glensheen can be found in Series 2: House, Grounds, and Staff, and business and political correspondence can be found in Series 3: Business, Financial, and Political Records. Materials in this series date from 1856 - 1982.Diaries: We had a most excellent guide, Wes., We did the basic tour and will be back to see more! (Clara Hesperia Bannister), 1854-1950, d'Autremont, Helen Congdon (Helen Clara Congdon), 1889-1966, https://lib.d.umn.edu/research-collections/archives. Sensitives can feel an unseen presence or two, probably reading in the comfortable chairs. Deborah Morse-Kahn, Lake Superior's Historic North Shore, Minnesota Historical Society, 2008, Secrets of the Congdon Mansion - Joe Kimball, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, "Jeffrey Hatcher, Chan Poling turn Congdon murders into musical 'Glensheen', "Francesca Eastwood movie filmed at Glensheen airs Sunday", Glensheen Historic Estate, University of Minnesota Duluth, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glensheen_Historic_Estate&oldid=1146247056, This page was last edited on 23 March 2023, at 17:42. By this time, Chester was working as an Assistant United States District Attorney in St. Paul, and the couple returned to Minneota to live. When Rodger was still in prison, Marjorie married again for the third time to a man who supported her during her trial, after his wife mysteriously died. Breaking away from the Congdon family values, Elizabeth would give gifts to Marjorie to get her to stop her temper tantrums. The canvas tent even has the original Duluth Pack logo on the front. These include catalogs, maps, travel ephemera, magazines and journals, City of Duluth charters and ordinances, and other materials. He was a loose end that may have been taken care of. While Clara accepted a teaching position at Alexandra College in Belleville, Ontario, and later taught at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pennsylvania, Chester took the New York bar examination and was licensed to practice law in New York. Sources:Backerud, Thomas K. Congdon, Chester A. alcohol addiction to find more fulfillment in life and success in long-term recovery. It truly was not only a showcase of Chester Congdons success, but a beautiful place for Chester, Clara and his family of six children to live and enjoy all the advantages that Chester could provide for them. The building was designed by Minnesota architect Clarence H. Johnston Sr., with interiors designed by William A. French Co. and the formal terraced garden and English style landscape designed by the Charles Wellford Leavitt firm out of New York. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. The original furniture brought into the house in 1908 and '09 remains in virtually the same place it has been for 110 years. Caldwell later admits to the murders in return for a sentence of time served. Ford and her crew get first pick of the produce. Workers reconstructed the approach road and a 25-foot brick retaining wall. Marjorie had long ago spent her trust money, and she and Rodger were living in a trailer in Arizona. However, I can see how they may have been captivated by the intricate design: a skull pierced by an ivory snake that goes through the eye socket. Reading about this famous site before visiting will enhance your experience." Tracy E ~ Trip Advisor "This is a must see for anyone visiting Duluth." Arthur M ~ Trip Advisor Though someone else shot her, either as an act of murder or at her request, she has let go and enjoys the beauty of the Hotel Del Coronado, and its beautiful view of the sea). Ive been working here for eight years; Im going to do an exhibit I wanna do, he says. Perfect tour for families and first-time visitors Full Mansion See all five floors of the mansion "This is a beautiful structure that inspires thoughts of past luxuries. Meanwhile, Marjorie was in for a world of hurt because she brought her issues in to her marriage. Glensheen - TOUR OPTIONS: Self-Guided, CLASSIC Tour | Tickets available onsite or Purchase Here OPEN DAILY | Entry 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Self-Guided, FULL MANSION Tour | Tickets available onsite while supplies last OPEN DAILY | Entry 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM VIRTUAL Guided Tour In-Depth Tour with Milissa HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS: 'DESIREE' A red-skin, late-season variety potato that delivers high yields. The movie You'll Like My Mother was filmed at the Glensheen mansion. Congdon moves to St. Paul, where he joins the law firm of Pierce, Stephenson, and Mainzer. She was formally diagnosed as a sociopath when she was ten. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. The house also contains a silk embroidery done by Japanese artist Watunabe. Though Marjorie inherited part of the Congdon fortune, her life remained troubled. In one awful month in 1868, three of Chesters siblings died of scarlet fever, and his father died of pneumonia. The collection includes works by American artists Charles Warren Eaton, Henry Farrer, Childe Hassam, Albert Lorey Groll, Hamilton King, Lawrence Mazzanovich, Henry Ward Ranger, Peter Alfred Gross, David Ericson, C. F. Daubigny, Henri Harpignies, and many more. Glensheens design star is French, a St. Paul interior decorator and designer. Historical Architecture Architecture Plan Architecture Drawing Mansion Floor Plan House Floor Plans Minecraft House Plans Minecraft Houses The goal was to be self-sufficient, growing most of their own food. Other times, they may listen to the lectures, discussions and concerts from afar. People wanted to experience a house as a house. The Minnesota Supreme Court reversed Caldwells conviction in 1983. Made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. Glensheen is a 39-room mansion in Duluth, MN. A monarch alights on a zinnia near the fountain pool. https://medium.com/the-glensheen-collection/north-shore-drive-and-chester-a-romance-forgotten-8af7c81b131b, https://archives.lib.umn.edu/repositories/22/resources/9334, https://medium.com/the-glensheen-collection. Marjorie was arrested as the main planner of this awful event. Have you ever slept in a treehouse? Marjorie had lived a troubled life and, before the murder, demanded money from Elisabeth. Suspicion fell on Marjorie and her husband, Roger Caldwell. Contains correspondence to and from members of the Congdon family and the Wyness family. Incidents happened that proved that he had married her for her money, to finance his gambling problem. This magnificent 39-room mansion and estate offers a rare and intact view of the early 20th-century life of one of Minnesota's most wealthy and influential families. 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