The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-07-11

A house of nineteen rooms, built ir
a wilderness where Indians roved
many miles from large settlement
is today but ruin of stone anc
charred timber from which one looks
off on the hillside on which it lies
across the lowlands to the timbereC
banks of the Minnesota river. Eight
miles to the south is Sacred Heart
MINI. The region is that in which
are many relics of the Sioux massacre
of 1862, for it was then the imposing
home, the largest to be found in the
state outside st. Paul, ST. Anthony
and perhaps Duluth, was sacrificed
to the torch of the red marauders.
Joseph r. Brown, who in 1852 was
editor and publisher of the Minneso-
ia Pioneer in st. Paul, and for a
quarter of century was in public
service, had built the house in 1861,
and had occupied it hoping that am
ongest its comforts and beauty he
might rest at the close of life and there
provide literally the hospitality which
his generous heart yearned to prof
fer without stint.
Of three and one-half stories, the
dwelling was constructed of granite
quarried and lime kilned on the site
It was built into the hillside so that
at the rear, entrance was through a
doorway at the level of the second
story. On the front were two porches
extending the length of the house. The
lawn sloped gently downward toward
the lowland of the valley. A foun-
tain and flowers and shrubbery were
to enchance the foreground in the
view of the valley from the porches
Furnished Luxuriously.
Also within the house the depart.
ure from the crude dwellings of the
settlers was apparent in the smooth
hard alabaster finish of walls and
ceilings; in the furnishings-he
upholstered chairs and sofas Of an.
tique style then prevalent in the East
dining service of finest wares, mas
sive candelabras in the parlor anc
dining room and priced brass candle.
sticks elsewhere.
The square piano and the melodeop
the what-nots laden with albums ant
curios, the family portraits and fran.
ed notices worked with needle anc
colored yarn; the finest of carpets
the tall hall clock, and the stoves, al
for the burning of wood and the best
to be had in those days, completed the
provisions made for home comfort.
On the upper floor the large room
where already trophies of the chase
were being hung and where stood q
large secretary or desk filled with
papers, one could have learned, wa.
contain also billiard table wher
it arrived from the East. For here
was to be the den of Major Brown
Leopohl Wohler was the builder Of
the dwelling. The strength of TIT
portions of the walls still standing at
test his workmanship and the dur
ability of the materials he used Thu
furniture and many of the other fur
nishings were bought in New York BY
Major Brown.
Travellers passing through the coun
try, government officials having bust
ness at the Redwood or Yellow Medi
cine Indian agencies, between which
Major Browns home was situated, ant
settlers who were beginning to &C
uuire the rich agricultural lands o.
the Kandiyohi country, found in thu
mansion on the hillside the whole
hearted welcome so generally extend
ed by the folk of the frontier.
Young army officers and agency
employees, were guests at many fes
tivities taking place there, and for |
year, before the Indian outbreak, tn,
spirit of the home was as JOSEPH
Brown had dreamed it should be- Blu
as for his own participation in thi!