Otsego_HistoricalDriveTour_2017CITY OF OTSEGO
Heritage Sites OTSEGO is one of the first areas in all of Wright County to be settled
permanently around the 1850s. “Otsego” is a Mohawk word for “meeting
place” and was likely named after Otsego Lake in New York. The properties
in Otsego described below and shown on the map on the reverse side of this
page have been identified as being significant in the community’s heritage
and development. We encourage people to tour Otsego to view these sites
and learn about the City’s past.
OTSEGO HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION is an advisory committee to the City Council whose responsibility it
is to promote Otsego’s heritage through preservation of historic sites and documents to foster community pride. The Heritage
Preservation Commission was established in 1994 and has over time researched and identified properties in Otsego with potential
historical significance. The Heritage Preservation Commission has also written several publications about Otsego’s history and its
founders, which are on display and available at City Hall.
09.2017
1 – Swenson Farm (9484 95th St. – CSAH 39)
Three barns built in 1944 designated as Heritage Sites
and one very large chicken coop. An early owner
farmed the land with 26 horses and no tractors. The
property was purchased from two former owners of
the Minnesota Vikings in 1968.
2 – Lily Pond School Site (NW corner of Kadler
Ave./95th St. – CSAH 39)
Land for a school was dedicated in 1870. This school
burned down in 1913 and classes were held in a church
across the road until a new school was erected.
3 – Spencers’ Studio (11088 95th St. – CSAH 39)
Now used as an artists’ studio, this was the home of
Willard and Alice (Holt) Mosman, married November
1883, where they raised 8 children. A treadmill pow-
ered by a dog was used to pump water from the on
site well.
4 – Ingersoll House (12188 95th St. – CSAH 39)
Settler David Look Ingersoll came here from Maine,
filed a land claim for 180 acres in 1860. He operated a
brick factory from the banks of the Mississippi River
and transported them on the water as far south as
Anoka. Many area farmers worked here part-time,
including Willard Holt.
5 – Holt Farm (12731 95th St. – CSAH 39)
Willard Holt kept a diary from 1877 to 1890 with brief
entries including “Oct. 3, 1884, Mrs. Thorp fired a shot
at Spencer’s store”, and “Oct., 3, 1884 Joe McDonald
had Mrs. Thorp arrested”.
6 – Anderson Farm (13118 95th St. – CSAH 39)
House was built for John McDonald’s widowed
sister-in-law and children. Northern States Power in
1912 considered a hydroelectric dam at this location,
but instead chose a Coon Rapids site.
7 – Otsego Town Hall (Nashua Ave./95th St. – CSAH 39)
This building was a former school house for District
10. This building was used as Township Hall until
Otsego became a City in 1991 and built a new City
Hall to the south.
8 – McDonald House (13620 95th St. – CSAH 39)
John McDonald was the first permanent settler in 1852
from New York. He was one of the first Wright County
Commissioners and operated a store, river ferry, post
office and sawmill. The house is no longer here.
9 – Otsego Cemetery (CSAH 39)
A designated Heritage Site dating to the 1850s.
John McDonald is buried here. Can you find the
grave of William E. Brandt, who killed his wife, alleged
lover and then himself on Jan. 15, 1906? He is buried
separately from the others by the little shed.
10 – LeFebvre Round Barn (8585 Parrish Ave. – CSAH 42)
Hay stored in the loft was thrown down to cows
encircling the feeding area.
11 – Lahn Farm (17685 53rd St. – CSAH 36)
Established business as Crow River Farm Equipment
in 1886. Yellow brick for the house came from the
nearby Vasseur brickyard.
12 – School District 12 (7005 Odean Ave.)
Original building remodeled as a modern single
family home, the original school is the portion with
the columns in the front.
13 – Pride of Otsego Barn (12996 77th St.)
Built by Alvin, Frank and Alfred Beaudry in 1914 using
concrete blocks made on site. The barn is 26 blocks
tall with footings 8 feet deep. The site was a working
dairy until 1998.
14 – School District 112 (11756 80th St.)
Known as the Richter/DeMars School, teachers
boarded at the adjacent farm.
SITE DESCRIPTIONS:
94
Lily Pond Park
KADLER AVE80TH ST
77TH STMASON AVENASHUA AVEODEAN AVE70TH ST
85TH ST
95TH S
T
City Hall
SchoolKnoll Park
VFWSoccer Fields
Rice Lake Preserve
FrankfortPark
MN DNRZimmerFarm Park
BeaudryMeadow Park
KittridgeCrossings Park
OtsegoCounty Park
WaterfrontEast Park
Prairie Park
39
19
39
42
37
38
101
42
42
42
36
18
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9
10
12
11
13
14
8
0 1,250 2,500 3,750 5,000
FEET
1. Swenson Farm
9484 95th St
2. Lily Pond School Site
Kadler Ave/95th St 3. Spencers’ Studio
11088 95th St
5. Holt Farm
12731 95th St
4. Ingersoll House
12188 95th St
6. Anderson Farm
13118 95th St
7. Otsego Town Hall
Nashua Ave/95th St
8. Otsego Cemetery
CSAH 39
9. LeFebvre Round Barn
8585 Parrish Ave
10. Lahn Farm
17685 53rd St
11. School District 12
7005 Odean Ave
12. Pride of Otsego Barn
12996 77th St
13. School District 112
11756 80th St
N
S
EW
8. McDonald House
13620 95th St