Chubb House

            On the hill overlooking Lake Sisseton, the Chubb House was built in 1867 of brick made from the banks of Buffalo Lake.  It is the oldest brick house still standing in Fairmont.  It is of Greek Revival architecture and was home to Dr. Orville Chubb, the first county physician.  In 1992 a non-profit organization obtained the property as a local historical site.  It is located at 209 lake Avenue, Fairmont, just west of the Martin County Courthouse.  For tour information call 507-235-8585.

Decker Store

            The town of Tenhassen was just to the south of the Tenhassen cemetery on the north side of county road 8 going east out of Ceylon.  The original road going past the old town is approximately in the same location as the present road.  We know where the General Store – Hotel once stood.  This property is now owned by Tenhassen Township.  The township has agreed to put the building back in its original location.
            The General Store-Hotel is believed to have been built before 1880.  The building was owned by James and Catherine Decker.  The lumber that was used to build the General Store-Hotel is believed to have come from the woods around the town of Tenhassen.  Tenhassen had its own saw mill and the lumber may have been sawed right there.
            Several of the Decker descendants had been back in this area to see the old building.  Some have come from the state of Oregon.  The building is believed not to have changed from its original state.  The store front, of course, has been closed in and a bathroom installed.  The room partitions are believed to be the same up and downstairs as they were originially.

George Wohlheter Mansion

            Privately owned.  Located at 320 Woodland Avenue.  The mansion was built in 1899 for $35,000 and is Victorian style with four Corinthian columns and carved oak.  Rose mahogany paneling and woodwork, Italian marble, and colored and cut glass windows are found throughout the mansion.  There are six fireplaces and a third floor ballroom.

Heritage Acres

            Discover the rich agricultural history of the Martin County area.  The center has a variety of farm buildings, farm equipment, one room school house, country church, and more.  You will enjoy taking a stroll through yesterday on “Old Main street”.  Heritage Acres is host to public and private events throughout the year.  Call 507-235-5191 for more information.

History of the Bum Camp

            Along the railroad tracks just west of the 4th Avenue Pioneer Drive Historic Sidewalk Project is a plot of land known for many years as the bum camp or hobo jungle.  This camp was Fairmont's own Grand Central Station for the many bums, tramps and hobos who rode the rails during the 1920's, 30's and on through the 1950's.  Bum traffic mushroomed after the stock market crash of 1929 when millions of men were suddenly without suitable employment. 
            The most common method of transportation for them was the railroad, and during the 1930's Fairmont would routinely see twenty or more trains per day rolling through town.
            If hobos found a generous house they would mark the building, fence or a nearby tree to let others know they could get food there.  The hobo's marking system was thought to communicate basic information such as generous housewives, bad dog, mean husband or tough sheriff.  And Fairmont did have a tough sheriff back in the early 1930's. At that time it was a well-known fact that hobos were not welcomed by our local authorities who feared they might stay in town and end up on public assistance. 
            The Depression Era hobos were really just men who had lost their jobs and were traveling about the country looking for work.  As the Depression dragged on and hobos grew more destitute, it was the generosity of people in Fairmont and others like them all across America that sustained these men. 
The Fairmont bum camp was on a major westbound rail line and no doubt sheltered literally thousands of hobos over the years.  After World War II activities at the camp subsided considerably as jobs became available for all that wanted to work.
            The actual bum camp or hobo jungle, as some people called it, was located in a steep brush-cloaked ravine between the two railroad tracks just west of the trestles.  It was an ideal spot and well hidden from view as you traveled west out of town on old Highway 16.  It was not uncommon to have ten or fifteen hobos in temporary residence at the camp as men arrived and departed with the daily rail traffic.  Within the camp were a number of small crude shelters or lean-tos constructed of scrap lumber, cardboard, sheet metal or anything else that could be dragged in to build with.
            But without question the most attractive feature of the Fairmont bum camp was the existence of an underground fresh-water spring that bubbled to the surface providing safe, ice-cold drinking water for the hobos as well as a few brave Fairmont residents.
            I am pleased to report that the spring still does exist and continues to flow at a deceptively strong rate.  Most certainly this was the very heart of the old camp and it was still alive and pumping! 

Fairmont Opera House

            The Fairmont Opera House is an unique building which has enriched the architectural, cultural, and commercial life of the region for over 100 years.  When the Fairmont Opera House was built in 1901 nearly every person in town, laborer, as well as, capitalist, had directly or indirectly benefited from its construction.  The Fairmont Opera House was built not for profit, but for the use, benefit, pleasure, and entertainment of all the people.  This facility has seen and lived a number of different lives.  In its darkest hour, in the late 1970’s, the doors were chained and the building was days from being a parking lot.  A organization of citizens saved this beautiful piece of history and have been restoring it since 1980.  Today we have come full circle, the Fairmont Opera House is once again producing memories for the people attending shows whether they are part of the Opera House season, Opera House Children’s Theatre, Civic Summer Theatre, or a rental.  We provide a space where your imagination is your limitation.  The atmosphere, ghosts, and memories of great actors, great entertainers, and great shows are all here at the Fairmont Opera House.  For more information on upcoming performances or tour information contact Fairmont Opera House at 45 Downtown Plaza, P.O. Box 226, Fairmont or call 507-238-4900.

Livingston Log Cabin

            Located on the shores of Lake George in Lincoln Park.  Built in 1865 in Silver Lake Township and moved to Fairmont in 1953.

Martin County Courthouse

            Martin County was organized as a territorial county in 1857 and the following year saw the Spirit lake Massacre.  The massacre sent two thirds of the settlers fleeing, so that in 1860 the population of the county dropped to 151.  A stockade was built – it became known as Fort Fairmount – around the existing courthouse in 1862, just in time for the Sioux uprising.  After the Indian troubles subsided, the building was used as a courthouse, church, hotel, general store, and post office.  The present day courthouse was built in 1906 on the hill above Lake Sisseton and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.  The classical style building consists of Marquette rain-drop sandstone for the first floor and the second and third stories are made of Buff-Bedford limestone.  The magnificent dome extends 58 feet above the roof, making it 108 feet from the ground to the ball on the dome.  The painted murals in the dome represent peace, wad, inspiration, genius, sentence, and execution.  Special features of the courthouse are the grand woodwork, murals, and view of Lake Sisseton.  Many have concluded that it is in fact one of the most beautiful courthouses in the state.  The interior is well maintained with original metalwork, marble topped counters, and stained glass.  The building is open to the public on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  For more tour information call 507-235-8585.

The Old Post Office

            The early 1920’s was a period of great economic expansion in Fairmont. In 1925 when construction began on the building, Fairmont was home to the largest canning factory in Minnesota, was one of the largest producers of poultry and dairy products in the Midwest. The Fairmont Sentinel reported, “The year 1925 saw the start of the greatest building boom Fairmont has ever had. This includes the filtration plant, the Post Office, gas plant, and more than 100 private building enterprises.”
            The federal government had just instituted parcel post delivery, which caused the volume at the old post office building (located at the corner of Main and W First Street) to grow by leaps and bounds. Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Wards were huge users, but by far the largest volume came from the hatcheries that would send as many as twenty-two thousand chicks in a single day. This on top of the large volume of eggs and dairy products. These factors prompted the community to lobby hard for a new facility, and the location of the facility was of great importance because it would solidify the location of the commercial center. At the time the main business center was on Main Street, with newer stores opening on North North Avenue.
            Actual construction came close to beginning around 1915 as property had been optioned across from the Fairmont Hotel, but lack of funds halted the project. In 1925 funds were finally appropriated and the current site was selected from a number of options. Construction began in 1925 and was completed in 1926. A number of Fairmont businesses had donated the money for the land to secure its location, and the building itself was completed for a cost of just under $50,000. The Sentinel reported that the construction was quite an attraction. In addition to attracting a large number of spectators, the crew hit water. Work was delayed until deeper a deeper excavation and footings were approved.
            In the 1960’s a plan was put forth to expand and remodel the building. For the most part the expansion never took place except for loading docks and additional workspace which was added to the east side of the building. Over the years since there was talk from time to time about building a new building or doing a major reconstruction of the existing building, but nothing happened until 2000 when the announcement was made that the Post office was moving out to the south end of the Fairmall shopping center. After the move, the building was put up for sale by the United States government. The sale was contingent upon historical covenants being placed upon the building and acceptance by a buyer. This despite the fact that the inside of the building had been totally stripped. None of the characteristics that identified the building as a post office remained.
            Steve and Carol Pierce purchased the building in 2001 and accomplished a complete rebuild into office space. Much care was taken to preserve and protect the integrity of the building and many of its features. In addition, there is much memorabilia regarding the history of Fairmont displayed throughout the building. The basement serves as a gathering place for groups and events, and visitors are always welcome to tour the building. The building is in the process of nomination for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  

Pioneer Memorial Drive – The Sidewalk

            Around 1913, the Ladies Cemetery Improvement Association began an effort to replace a wooden sidewalk with concrete leading to Lakeside Cemetery.  A new bridge was in the process of being built to replace the old wooden bridge across the channel.  What has made this of historical interest are the names of individuals, businesses, and clubs whose names are imprinted on the cement blocks.
            The original contributors paid $2.50 per block to get the sidewalk completed.  In 1997, a committee was formed to restore the 80 year-old sidewalk with the original donor names, as well as, the names of current donors.  A historical marker is placed along the street to exemplify the importance of this area and the role played by Fairmont’s early pioneers.

Red Rock Center for the Arts

            The Red Rock Center for the Arts, 222 E. Blue Earth Ave., is a non-profit community center for visual and performing arts, meetings, entertainment, social gatherings and rentals for groups up to 200 people. There is a smaller room in the lower level for groups up to 30 people.  Both levels have kitchens. All rental fees and donations go toward supporting your local art center programs and maintenance. Visual art exhibits rotate monthly. Go to www.fairmont.org/redrock for a listing of events. The center’s Steinway Grand Piano is available for rent. We are a smoke free facility and handicapped accessible.  For more information contact: Red Rock Center at  (507) 235-9262 , Deb Ruschy, Managing Director (507) 236-9650, deb@masterguardcentral.com or Don Milbrandt, Executive Director (507) 238-1314.
            The Red Rock Center for the Arts was originally the First Church of Christ Scientist which was formally organized in Fairmont on October 1, 1891.  Finished in 1898, the building was designed by prominent Minnesota architect Harry W. Jones and is an excellent example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture.  The building was constructed of massive Sioux Quartzite (red rock) blocks which were quarried in southwest Minnesota.  The red stone was combined with contrasting buff colored limestone for a polychromatic effect.  The main level of the building features 19 restored stained glass windows.  The cornerstone came from Concord, New Hampshire and contains many artifacts of Christian Science teaching and the local church history.
            Martin County Preservation Association (M.C.P.A.) and other volunteers donated over 40,000 hours plus $600,000 in funds were raised and donated to save this historical building.  It was dedicated September 17, 2005 as the Red Rock Center for the Arts.  Martin County owns the building and has entered into an agreement with the M.C.P.A. for the lease and management of the Center throughout the life of the building.  Martin County Genealogical Society leases a portion of the lower level. 
            The Red Rock Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The M.C.P.A. has been selected to receive an award from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) for the preservation, rehabilitation and reuse of the First Church of Christ Scientist (which is now the Red Rock Center for the Arts). They have been selected for the 2007 AASLH Award of Merit Winner; this is the nation’s most prestigious competition for recognition of achievement in state and local history. There were only 72 selected to receive this award in the United States for 2007.
            Also restored and operated by M.C.P.A. is The Chubb House, a brick home built in 1867 that was the home of Dr. Chubb.  It’s located on the bank of Lake Sisseton at 209 Lake Ave.  For tours, meetings, dinners, rentals or for “High Tea” - please call Orel Barker 507-238-1340.