William G. LeDuc House
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2020) |
William G. LeDuc House | |
Gothic Revival | |
NRHP reference No. | 70000292[1] |
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Added to NRHP | June 22, 1970[2] |
The William G. LeDuc House, also known as the LeDuc Historic Estate, located at 1629 Vermillion Street in
The estate is an unusually complete example of the Carpenter Gothic style of Andrew Jackson Downing, a pioneer in American landscape architecture. William, and his wife Mary, used Downing's book, Cottage Residences, as inspiration for their home (Downing himself had died in 1852). The home was the first property to be acquired by the Minnesota Historical Society in the late 1950s but sat empty until 2005, when it was acquired by the City of Hastings. The Dakota County Historical Society partnered with the city to provide programing and interpretative services. $1.2 million was raised to restore the home and grounds to their former glory.
Construction on the LeDuc house began in 1862 and was completed in 1866. Following LeDuc's service as Quartermaster in the Civil War, the family moved into the unfinished home in August, 1865. In March, 1865 he had been brevetted a brigadier general for "efficiency, intelligence and zeal in the discharge of his duties".
They chose a
Carroll Simmons, a friend of the LeDuc grandchildren, purchased the home in 1940 for his antique business. In 1958 he donated the home and outbuildings with 4 acres of land to the Minnesota Historical Society, with the agreement that he would continue using it for his antique business until he retired, which wasn't until 1986. Between 1986 and 2003 the future of the property was uncertain. Although it was the first property acquired by MHS, they had opened other house museums by the time they took possession. Needed repairs were done on the house and carriage barn, but the property stood empty.
Citizen groups actively sought out ways to fulfill Carroll Simmons' vision of having the LeDuc house open to the public. In 2002 the Minnesota Legislature apportioned 1.2 million dollars in bonding funds for MHS to preserve the house and bring it up to current building codes. Agreements were executed between the Minnesota Historical Society, the City of Hastings and the Dakota Country Historical Society, which resulted in city ownership and DCHS management of the site.
The site opened for tours on May 22, 2005. June 24, 2005, the Society deaccessioned the LeDuc House to the City of Hastings. As part of the agreement, the Society transferred $604,000 of net assets provided by Carroll Simmons for endowment, repairs and maintenance of the LeDuc House.
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places". unofficial site. 2007-10-12.
- ^ Le Duc, William G. (1963). Recollections of a Civil War Quartermaster. St. Paul, Minnesota: The North Central Publishing Company. pp. 31–41.
- Original Record (Civil War) I Vol. 52, Part I, pg. 663.
- This Business of War; Recollections of a Civil War Quartermaster, William G. LeDuc, Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1963
- Hastings Star Gazette, 3-20-2003
- Minnesota Historical Society Annual Report, 2005
Bibliography
- Le Duc, William G. (1963). Recollections of a Civil War Quartermaster. St. Paul, Minnesota: The North Central Publishing Company. OCLC 1836616.
- Werle, Steve (2004). An American gothic: the life & times & legacy of William Gates LeDuc (1823–1917). South St. Paul, MN: Dakota County Historical Society. OCLC 60562236.