Preservationists, HGTV star rescue historic Stillwater farmhouse
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Five acres and a dilapidated 19th century clapboard-sided farmhouse once owned by missionary William Boutwell, an influential pioneer, will be spared a bulldozer.
The Washington County Historical Society purchased the property Thursday morning for $600,000
In January, HGTV star Nicole Curtis showed up at the house to stop backhoes that had already ripped a chunk out of its side. After the backhoes retreated snow blew through the exposed home and dilapidation continued.
"It kinda stalemated right there. It didn't go anywhere," Washington County Historical Society Executive Director Brent Peterson told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.
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The house was declared a public nuisance in April.
"There was kind of a confusion about what was going to happen with the house. The owners just wanted to sell, Nicole just wanted to renovate, but not to buy," Peterson said.
The property is surrounded by a series of typical suburban Stillwater homes. Its listing touted the "potential of being subdivided into 12-13 lots." But the historical society got organized and is now raising funds to do the long overdue repairs.
In addition to guiding the restoration, Peterson said he will attempt to get the home listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The lack of that type of designation is one of the key factors that allowed the home's demolition to begin.
Historic significance
Boutwell aided in the settlement of Stillwater in the 1840s
In 1832, he traveled up the Mississippi River with Henry Schoolcraft and named Lake Itasca
Missionary to the Ojibwa, 1832-1837