Historic Homes of Winona Street

Territorial Treasures

Sitting on three stage coach routes within what has been described as the "Minnesota Triangle" (the Mississippi River to the north and east, the Minnesota to the west and the Upper Iowa to the south), Chatfield was a natural location for immigrants during Minnesota's territorial period. In 1856, the Federal Land office was moved to Chatfield, firmly establishing it as a hub of territorial activity and commerce. From 1850-1860 the population of the area jumped from ~5,000 to 170,000 people. It was during this and the following four decades of growth that the speculators, merchants, brokers (and their descendants) built the stately homes you see today.