Complex sentence: In the 1930s, today's U.S. Route 12 had just reached Wayzata as a hard surfaced road, and realtor Sam Batson was praising the benefits of buying a summer cottage and modifying it for year-around living.
Split into simpler sentences: In the 1930s, today's U.S. Route 12 reached Wayzata as a hard surface road. Realtor Sam Batson subsequently praised the benefits of buying a summer cottage in the area and modifying it for year-around living.