310 Washington Avenue N, Albert Lea
We purchased our Victorian home as a place to make memories for our large and fabulous family. The home and yard with shoreline access allows us to spread out and enjoy each other as we make memories. The home was not habitable when we purchased it in 2013 so it has been a labor of love for us .Our house has an extensive history. It has been fun to have people stop and tell us about their connection to the home and property. Originally the home was lived in by John and Delia Bessesen and their four sons. John Bessesen constructed a jewelry store at 208 S Broadway in 1885. One of their sons, William A. Bessesen, had his doctor’s office at the same address, likely on the second floor above the jewelry store. William Bessesen married Beatrice Gjertsen of Minneapolis, an operatic soprano who received status as a prima donna in the royal opera at Weimar, Germany.In the late 1970s, Kathy and Dick Paul turned it into a bed and breakfast. There is a room that was called “the Marion Ross room” that Happy Days actress Marion Ross stayed in during the time it was a bed and breakfast .This last spring we moved closer to one of our children in Wisconsin but have decided to keep this house for our large family to enjoy. When we are unable to be here, we have been able to use AirBnb to rent our home to other families and friends as they come to Albert Lea for family gatherings, weddings or just to stay a night when passing through town. In August, it was also used for a Michigan church group on their way home, stay overnight with many teens and adult chaperones. I messaged one of the chaperones to make sure it all went well, and she said, “It was amazing, the kids really enjoyed the lake and kept referring to your home as a mansion.”
216 Fountain Street, Albert Lea
Living in the house that my great-great grandparents built over 130 years ago ( I guess you could put 150 years ago given the original foundation) is one of the amazing things I love about living in this house. When you think that our children are the sixth generation to sit in the main floor dining room and have a family meal is really something. Fortunately hundreds of pictures and documents from the family survived and some are now on display in the house.
424 Park Avenue, Albert Lea
I have always loved 424 Park Avenue and remember riding my bike by it as a kid and always thinking it would be amazing to own a house like that someday… I’ve loved the original color scheme my whole life. So much so, that the first house my wife and I owned got a green roof just like this house had when I was a kid. Built by C.F. Towne, a Pharmacist, in 1903 and the beloved home of Howard and Fran Ashcraft until 2008, I am restoring this home to its original grandeur and making it shine again as I am a true preservationist instilled in me by my Grandmother Cora. Definitely a labor of love for me, it’s been a wonderful project that brings happiness to not only me but to my neighbors, friends and family and folks around town. The exterior colors are original. The interior is in process of being accurately restored to the 1903 time period and includes many original features such at patterned door knobs, pocket and paneled doors, original woodwork, butler’s pantry, stain glass windows, period lighting and furnishings. The most unique feature is the Batchelder tile fireplace in the Parlor. C.F. Towne must have loved the color green and it was very fashionable at the time as well as every room in the home was originally of a green nature.
612 Park Avenue E, Albert Lea
The Hanson house was built in 1898 by John Hartz.Alice’s parents, Dr. and Mrs Robert Demo, purchased the house in 1957 when Alice was 10 years old. She remembers “It was wonderful growing up on Fountain Lake, swimming and water skiing in the summer and sledding and ice skating in the winter.”Kim and Alice bought the house from Alice’s parents in 1982.They have remodeled the kitchen, added a three season room and also added an addition, bringing the master bedroom and bath downstairs and the laundry room up from the basement. The addition makes it perfect to age in place.
620 Park Avenue W, Albert Lea
The home was built in 1893 by Mr. Hanson. He also built several other homes in the neighborhood, one of which was a wedding present for his granddaughter. The home has several original stained glass windows, a leaded glass window and a newly restored original fireplace. The kitchen has a tin ceiling and all of the original hardwood floors have been refinished. A collection of masks and my family’s antique pump organ—that my grandmother played in her home church—add to the charm of the home.
531 Park Avenue, Albert Lea
Leota and I had always wanted to restore an old Victorian. When we discovered the D.R. P. Hibbs home in need of rescue we decided to “Go for it!” We are amazed at the craftsmanship and attention to detail that the original builders had. With all the technology with tools today, I can’t imagine how the work on the main construction and all of the solid wood trim, some even curved the floors—and the many original stained glass windows—was done in the mid to late 1800’s with no power tools at all! As most empty nesters down size, we did the opposite, we love each and every one of the 15 rooms in this house. We enjoy our kitchen which we designed to be large enough for everyone to congregate as they always do! My personal favorite room is the music room with the parquet floors. Leota’s favorite is definitely the kitchen and breakfast area with fireplace.
525 Park Avenue, Albert Lea
The house at 525 Park Avenue in Albert Lea, MN, boasts a rich history that dates back to its construction in 1912, although the details found in the Freeborn County abstract suggest it may have been built closer to 1905. This beautiful residence, now a single-family home with a generous 4,035 square feet of living space, has seen several intriguing uses over the years. According to local lore and the abstract, it may have once served as the meeting place for the Sons of Norway, adding a layer of community significance to its story. In the 1990s, the second floor was converted into a cozy one-bedroom apartment, a fact passed down through stories from previous owners, neighbors, and even cyclists who regularly pass by.Situated on a 0.4-acre lot, the home officially includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms, although it’s worth mentioning that the basement bathroom might not be the most desirable option. Architecturally, the house is a beautiful example of early 20th-century Craftsman design, known for its attention to craftsmanship and natural materials. Over the years, it has been lovingly updated to maintain its historical integrity while incorporating modern conveniences. The Levisen family, who purchased the home in 2018, are only the third owners, as confirmed by the abstract, making this home a cherished part of local history.The house is located in the charming and historic Park Avenue neighborhood, just a stone’s throw from Fountain Lake. This neighborhood, with its tree-lined streets and well-preserved homes, adds even more allure to the property. It's a place where history and community intertwine, and residents, including the Levisens, speak highly of the neighborhood’s dreamlike quality. The home at 525 Park Avenue stands as a testament to the area's rich heritage, making it more than just a house—it's a piece of Albert Lea’s living history.
617 Fountain Street, Albert Lea
I love how my house changes from season to season, but it still maintains its character. I change the decor for winter to spring and summer to fall, and the underlying character of the house is still there. With each season, I make changes in décor and my own personal style evolves. It seems that this old house embraces my changes but always keeps its own unique character. Living in an old house is not just about me and my lifetime. It goes back so much further. An old house changes, not only from season to season but also from generation to generation. I love that my house has had people living here for over 100 years! Consider this rather boring example: I’ve been re-doing the windows. After I scrape off three generations of paint, underneath I find perfectly preserved wood. I think of that old wood, unspoiled and sturdy—still solid and strong a century later—just underneath the new paint I selected in the here and now. That’s what an old house is, isn’t it? Changing what I want, preserving what deserves to be preserved, and underneath it all, a dynamic but fundamentally unchanging place.
301 Lakeview Blvd, Albert Lea
My home was built in 1914. I purchased my home in the fall of 2019. I fell in love with it the minute I walked through the door! It's woodwork and craftsmanship caught my eye. The fireplace makes it so cozy during the cold months. I grew up in a home that was built in 1903, so I've always loved old homes.
1411 Sunset Street, Albert Lea
Located in the historic Sunnyside Addition of Albert Lea, the 1896 farmhouse at 1411 Sunset Street has been meticulously renovated by Melissa Barr and her family since 2001. Originally a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, it now boasts five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. Significant updates include a redesigned main floor, a new kitchen with Cambria Quartz countertops, expanded green space with a new three-stall garage, and various exterior improvements. Despite setbacks like a hot tub fire and storm damage, the family has preserved the home’s historic charm while modernizing it.Melissa fell in love with the home’s potential and its stunning views of Fountain Lake, which can be enjoyed from nearly every room. Over the past 23 years, she has worked to enhance the home’s historic character while adding modern amenities. Today, the once modest farmhouse is a cherished family home that beautifully blends the past with the present
2129 Itasca Road, Albert Lea, MN
261 N Broadway Avenue, Alden
Our historic house was built in 1900 as part of a dairy farm. The barn and cows are long gone and the City of Alden has grown all around, but it was the appeal of a traditional farm house that helped us make the decision to purchase this beautiful property in 2022.Many renovations and updates have been done to the structure, but several features have been preserved. The original wooden columns with built in cabinets between rooms still remain and compliment the open staircase. The double doors into the sitting room with textured windows are a highlight of the main floor. The original porch has been incorporated into living space off of the recently upgraded kitchen area and is accented with decor of livestock, and the “old west” to stay with the farm theme. The upstairs has a more modern feel after the rooms were reconfigured, but the claw foot tub is reminiscent of a one hundred year old home.There are several outdoor areas to enjoy including the front porch, backyard deck and pergola with rustic farm items amongst a variety of plants and flowers. The oversized garage has a bonus room above it with the feel of a cabin up north along with one of numerous collections that can be found everywhere.
410 1st Avenue SE, Glenville
My personal Historical research leads to the conclusion that Christopher Tapager, a local builder/construction company, (and future builders of the Albert Lea Bank Building) was commissioned to build this magnificent family home around the turn of the 20th century. The home was built for the family of Fred Morrison. The photo provided can be found in “Images of America Freeborn County Minnesota” commissioned by the Freeborn County Historical Society. The home, which took roughly three years to build, from 1897-1900, is a classic example of a Folk Victorian Farmhouse. Built to overlook the Shell River in Freeborn County, Minnesota, the house is a beautiful tribute to the Sun, with her hand-carved sunburst gables, and matching sunburst corbels integrated into the porch spandrels, as well as an almost too perfectly placed, South facing view of the glorious fiery Star himself! The Victorians (even the rural ones) were not shy of symbolism or opulence!
