The house located at the southwest corner at the junction of County Road 83 and Eagle Creek Blvd. Shakopee, Minnesota was once the home of Peter F. Duffy. The property had been in the Duffy family for over a hundred years.

Back in 1827 Peter, who was born in 1809, West Meath, Ireland left his home in Ireland and came to America. He stayed in Philadelphia for several years, staying with his brother who was a priest. Sometime in the early 1840s he made his way to New Orleans and found employment with a hardware firm. From there he changed careers and became a police officer in New Orleans. He remained on the police force for six or seven years and then decided to come north. In 1853 he traveled up the Mississippi with his wife, Margaret and son Timothy, first stopping in St. Paul, and then to Shakopee. In June of 1853 he made a claim of 160 acres at the edge of the timber line in Eagle Creek and settled on it as a preemption claimant. He sold this property in 1866 and bought the farm on the prairie where this house is located. Peter Duffy died in 1879.

His funeral was from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee and burial at the Calvary Cemetery in Eagle Creek

The farmstead stood on a ridge of the prairie, looking down on prairie lands to the north and to the south. The farmstead has been slowly dismantled for further development. At present it is surrounded by cityscapes: a pharmacy, restaurants, banks, motels, medical facilities, manufacturing business, home improvement business, office buildings and a horse racing establishment.

At one time this was a stately farm house surrounded with native trees, prairie grasses and shrubbery with multiple outbuildings consisting of a huge dairy barn, granary, chicken coop and garage.

The first floor consisted of a kitchen with a huge pantry off of the kitchen, a dining room, living room and a formal parlor. Off of the dining room there was a staircase that led to a bedroom for hired hands. The second floor contained four large bedrooms and the third floor contained the attic, big enough to house more bedrooms if needed. And of course the sanitary facilities were housed outdoors.

After Peter’s death his son, Timothy Duffy, who was born in Louisiana in 1846 took over the farm. Timothy came to Minnesota from Louisiana with his parents in 1851. The Duffys settled on one hundred sixty acres as previously stated, located in the southeastern part of Eagle Creek Township, Scott County, Minnesota, later moving to this location where the house stands.

In 1863 Timothy served as a Private in Company L, Second Regiment Minnesota Cavalry volunteers. He married Caroline Stemmer in 1867. Caroline was born in 1850 in Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of Francis and Mary Ann Beisang. At the age of two she came to Minnesota with her parents. They also settled in Eagle Creek Township.

Together Timothy and Caroline had eleven children. Andrew died as a young man, their son William F. Duffy taught in the rural schools of Scott County. In 1925 William became the owner and publisher of The Shakopee Argus newspaper in Shakopee, Minnesota. He also served as clerk of district court and was the secretary-treasurer and manager of the Shakopee Telephone Company.

In 1926 he purchased the Shakopee Tribune and consolidated that publication with the Shakopee Argus-Tribune until 1945 when he sold it to Mr. James Hall and Frank Strunk.

Another son was Judge T .E. J. Duffy of Prineville, Oregon. Timothy’s son Walter took over the operation of the farm after Timothy died.

Three daughters were married: Mary Kinghorn, Margaret Huber, Florence Feldmann, Anna, Gertrude, Helen and Katherine lived at home with their parents.

Timothy farmed and owned approximately 500 acres of farm land in Eagle Creek Township. Some of the land was located on the north end of Dean’s Lake. Besides farming his son Walter dealt in livestock and maintained stud draft horses that supplied many farmers in the surrounding area with their work horses. His daughter Margaret married into the Huber family who also were big land owners in Eagle Creek Township. Mr. Timothy Duffy was instrumental in the beginnings of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee, and was active in public affairs, associated with the schools and township government, serving as county commissioner for the Third District of Scott County for several terms. He died in 1917. His funeral was from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee, Minnesota, burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery on Eagle Creek Blvd. His wife Caroline died in 1919. Her funeral was from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee, Minnesota, burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Descendants of Peter Duffy and his children live in Carver County, Minnesota, the state of Oregon and Indiana.

It is with mixed emotions when we see the fading of our past. Make way for progress but yet keep the past in mind.

Article originally published in the Spring 2013 Shakopee Heritage Society newsletter.

Shakopee has a long history of festivals and rodeos. Many were held in the former rodeo grounds at what is now Huber Park.

The former rodeo grounds is now known as the “Pat Thielen Recreation Area,” named for past chief of police Pat Thielen, who constructed the rodeo and was active in other volunteer youth projects, as well.

Below is a listing of past rodeos (along with notes) and festivals that have taken place in Shakopee.

The railroad was coming to Shakopee in the mid 1860s. Knowing this, Anna Endres bought a lot facing the railroad tracks and had a hotel built to house the many immigrants that were expected to come by rail. The second floor had a dance hall and opera house, as well as a balcony.

In 1872 Jacob Thomas bought the hotel and called it the “Merchants Hotel.” An article stated that all the rooms had new furniture and a fire (stove?) in every room.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Huss bought the hotel in 1916 and renamed it the Pelham Hotel. Originally the Pelham was in another building, but the business was moved to this building and the name followed.

In 1921 they sold the hotel to their daughter and son-in-law, John J. Cavanaugh. He had Fred Rolfs, a well-known carpenter, build an addition to the side of the hotel in 1924. It was also two stories and had running water, bath, and lights throughout.

There was a telephone booth in the office and the hotel was heated by steam. Mr. Cavanaugh was Mayor of Shakopee and held that office for a long while.

Mr. Cavanaugh sold the Pelham to Alex J. Stang in 1945. The hotel had 30 rooms at this time. Mr. Stang added a dining room and bar area.

In 1957 Ray Siebenaler bought the Pelham hotel. He took out the bar and made the area into an office. He owned a real estate and insurance business that moved into the new office.

The Pelham Hotel closed for business in 1985. It must have ceased hotel operations some years earlier, but until 1985 it served as an emergency shelter for homeless people. It was soon closed for fire code violations. The homeless paid $45.00 a week to live there.

The Pelham was on the National Register of Historic Places, and the owners wanted to fix it up for efficiency apartments, but that never happened and in 1987 it was razed. There is, however, a nice parking lot in place today.

2001 anticipating the new library expansion

The Shakopee Library System is expanding once again to keep up with the community’s needs. A public funded entity today and since 1959 when it got the first publicly funded home of its own, the library originally struggled as did many of the early pioneers.

Previous to 1959 the library existed on the gracious help and cooperation of many local businesses, clubs, and organizations. As early as 1857, three years before Abraham Lincoln ran for president, there was a literary society in Shakopee trying to get a local library established. In 1881 a new literary society was formed and by 1882 was in the process of establishing a library for Shakopee. In 1900 a library was operating in the Deutsch Drug Store where Mr. Deutsch donated the space and services required. This kind of effort by local businesses was repeated many times before a permanent home for the library was funded.

By 1903 the library had outgrown the available space in the drug store and moved to the Busse Millinery Shop where it was housed for awhile, then moved to the Economy Store until 1912. In 1912 it was moved to the Stelten Confectionery store where it remained until 1915. In 1915, room for it had been made in the Union School (High School) building. When the Union School became too short on space, sometime in or before 1924, it moved once again to the Deutsch Drug Store where it remained until 1930. In 1930 the library was moved to a new addition to the public high school, and the first long-term home for the library was found, lasting until 1959 when The City of Shakopee supplied funding and a budget.

It appears that all of the early businesses mentioned above contributed the space rent-free, and their services as librarian, or keeper, at no charge, thereby assuring the community a library. During this period the Book Lovers Club and other organizations donated books, initiated drives for financing, and found means to supply other miscellaneous needs for the library as they arose.

After its public funding in 1959, the library had made a number of moves expansions and improvements, keeping up with technology and the needs of the community. The Rahr Foundation supplied the largest ($40,000) grant for the library expansion in 1970 and sustained the tradition of involvement from local businesses.

This latest expansion will again keep us current with the times and maintain the rich heritage enjoyed in the past. We wish the library continued support and excellence in its new home, and a future to rival its past.

Shakopee Heritage Society, 2001
Donald Wagner

John H. Heinen, Proprietor, was born in Shakopee June 12, 1873. His parents emigrated from Holland and he was one of the younger members of a family of eleven children. He was educated in the Shakopee schools and as a young adult went to St. Paul to learn the grocery business. For 14 years he remained in St. Paul and then went to North Dakota. He came back to Shakopee in 1914 and entered the confectionery and grocery business located at 119 East First Avenue.

On June 15, 1915 he married Anna Angelsburg in New Ulm and brought her to live in the apartment above the store. There their two daughters Janet (Strunk) and Marion (Caron) were born.

In 1920 he purchased the building at 120 Holmes Street changing the name to Heinen Confectionery. The family again lived in the upstairs apartment. Mr. and Mrs. Heinen worked in the store and Susan Hentges joined the staff in 1928 and became almost a member of the family. The daughters also joined in working as they grew older.

The store was open 7 days a week 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and sold items such as tobacco products – all kinds of candy in bulk quantities, as few things came packaged (penny candy) – the soda fountain and all the ice cream cones you could imagine – besides what was packed in quart containers for home consumption. The store’s front window was always a huge display of fresh fruit – according to seasons and always a big banana bunch which hung from the ceiling and from which was sliced off bunches with the “banana knife”. They had a line of which was referred to as “light groceries” and did not handle meats until into the 30’s when a cooler was purchased to display mostly luncheon items. There were magazines, stationery, school supplies which in the fall drew myriads of off-to-school kids who spent “like forever” picking out THE tablet with the greatest picture on it. They had greeting cards – Heinen’s was the first Hallmark distributor in Shakopee. Also gifts – dolls, figurines and such. In the early 20’s you could buy things seasonally such as – the store would be turned into Santa’s toy store. Shelves would be built across the back and those shelves and all the ice cream tables would be stocked with every toy a child could want. The seasons would rule throughout the year. At Easter time and on Mother’s Day they would bring car loads of blooming plants from Bachmans – and later from Marshall Greenhouse. Then came the 4th of July and there would be every kind of fireworks available. Halloween – treats for the kids.

John died in 1940 and his wife, Anna, operated the store until she sold the business in 1944. She still owned the building. In 1950 the business returned to the family when the older daughter bought it. Later she turned it into “Jan’s Card Shop” and operated it until 1963. It had been home to them for over 40 years.

A quote from The Shakopee Story:

“Undoubtedly many romances blossomed into fruition, and the way of many young loves smoothed by his soda fountain delights and hot chocolate with vanilla cookies.”

Submitted by Harriet Pink

(Information for article supplied by Janet Strunk, a daughter of John Heinen)

Photos donation Harriet Pink

John Heinen, 1938

Newspaper Photo: Heinen’s

John and Anna Heinen, Heinen Confectionery, 1920s

John Heinen, Father Savs, Susan Hentges, 1920s

John and Anna Heinen on Right, 1915, Heinen’s Confectionery

RESTORATION IN PROGRESS

This building was built in 1893 and was originally a bank and hotel. This corner that is being restored was “The People’s Bank” and was in business from 1893 to 1923. You are looking at the original architecture of the bank. The original vaults still exist inside and extend to the second level (now used for storage). The original stained glass window which fit above the entrance (to the left, at corner) was just found after going missing for 35 years. The stained glass window is displayed in our display window to the right of Bill’s Toggery’s entrance.

William N. Wermerskirchen, Sr. opened “Bill’s Toggery” in 1931 from this corner and gradually expanded it into what you see today.

Please come inside to view original pictures of our building and enjoy a cold rootbeer.

Bill’s Toggery Restoration Page

While at Derby Days in Shakopee this year, my wife and I got the chance to have a personal tour of Bill’s Toggery from Bill Wermerskirchen. He is committing a lot of thought, energy, and money in the restoration of the old People’s Bank Building at 2nd and Lewis Street. Originally a bank and hotel in 1893, it was purchased by Bill Wermerskirchen, Sr., in 1931, and became Bill’s Toggery. Bill’s exuberance was evident as he took time from his busy day to show my wife and me around and describe and point out the work that was just commencing. He also described some of the other original facets that would be reworked during the process. On display in the window of Bill’s Toggery was the original stained glass window that had been removed from above the entrance and sold about 35 years ago and luckily, recently re-discovered. I am a bit passionate about saving and maintaining some of the old Shakopee sites and am also aware of the expense of doing it right. Bill must be given credit for not only doing it right but going the extra measure of getting a very well qualified restoration company into the process at the start. Like all such projects there probably will be some setbacks and a few modifications necessary but from what I heard and saw this will be a pretty accurate replication dated to its turn of the century appearance. More history and details were noted on a handwritten sign that Bill had on display that day as well as photographs from a couple of different periods noting the changes to the facade.

I do not go downtown now without going past and viewing the progress. It is a promising start and one I hope is repeated more often in the downtown area as well as around older Shakopee and the First Avenue corridor. This is a direction that, if built on, will make Shakopee a more desirable area to stop and shop, tour, and spend time in, rather than having to suffer the “Lets take the bypass, if you have seen one rubber stamp river town you have seen them all” syndrome. I am afraid that is what is coming for all the old riverfront towns that are jumping on the bandwagon to tear down their heritage and build all new areas. Rubber stamping them is the craze now. Shakopee will be what we make it and that is being decided a piece at a time in Shakopee right now. Kudos to Bill!

The Shakopee Heritage Society is working with some local volunteers by direction of the city council to look into the pros and cons of a local ordinance that would give Shakopee a certified local government (CLG) status. The State of Minnesota (Minnesota Historical Society) and the Federal Government support and hopefully provide some aid and regulations that would allow other buildings, businesses, and older homes in Shakopee to more easily follow this example. This ordinance would be based on Shakopee’s local requirements and needs, but must fit in the federal guidelines to qualify. We hope to supply more information on this and that process later.

Donald Wagner
President, Shakopee Heritage Society

Photos donation Don Wagner.

Bill Wermerskirchen, Proprietor

Lewis Street Looking North, 1907

Bill’s Toggery Restoration Sign Text

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Mr. Spier Spencer, one of the most prominent of Shakopee’s early settlers, passed away on January 26, 1907.

Spier Spencer was born in Elizabethtown, Spencer County, Kentucky, January 22, 1827. In 1841 he moved with his parents to Boone county, Indiana. At the age of 22 he and his brother, John B. Spencer moved west to St. Paul, MN. working as carpenters and farming. In 1853 he sold his farm and came to Shakopee. That same year he purchased from Thomas Holmes and David L. Fuller one third of the townsite for $4100.00. This property was nearly all in the first ward and he at once began the building of a store on the river bank where he sold dry goods and groceries, and afterwards put up several good houses.

Mr. Spencer was the owner of the steam boat, Clara Hinds, plying between Shakopee and Dunleith. He served as the county as its third treasurer and was conspicuous and active factor in the affairs of the rapidly growing village. In February of 1856 with Samuel Hibler, H.P. Constans and J.B. Wakefield, Mr. Spencer organized the county of Faribault and located its present county seat, Blue Earth City, returning to Shakopee very soon after.

In 1855 Mr. Spencer took a claim just south of town which was afterwards owned by Major Strait and is now the home of James Shea.

In 1862 at the age of thirty five he lost the sight of left eye. He sold his farm soon after to Major Strait and bought a house from Nathan and Daniel Storer and opened a boarding house. He then learned the broom making trade at which he worked until 1895 when failing health compelled him to relinquish this occupation.

Services were held at his home with Rev. G.W. E. Hill officiating, and the funeral was under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge of which Mr. Spencer was a member.

From the Scott County Argus, February 1907

John Goenen died suddenly at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. A. Smith, of St. Paul where he was visiting.

Mr. Goenen was the oldest white settler of Shakopee. He was a native of Prussia where he was born August 22, 1831, and came to Shakopee as a young man of twenty-one. For many years he drove the stage between St. Paul and Shakopee, and also operated the old ferry across the Minnesota River when this country was practically unsettled by white men.

He was buried from St. Mark’s Catholic Church. Interment at the upper Catholic Cemetery.

From the Scott County Argus, Jan. 20, 1911.

Fuller Street, the street west of Holmes, is indebted to David L. Fuller for its name.

The Fuller boys, three of them came to St. Paul from Connecticut. David was at Shakopee for a short time in the summer of 1851, and the next spring came back and secured from Mr. Holmes a half interest in the town site which they platted as the town of “Shakapee City.”

They donated block 56 as the site for county buildings, and which is now known as Court House block.

In 1856 we find reference where David is the owner in St. Paul of the Fuller House, (later the International Hotel) inaugurated and kept by his brother Alpheus G. Fuller. The hotel stood on the northeast corner of Jackson and Seventh streets. The land was given to the brothers and $12,000 was raised as a bonus. The hotel was a five story brick building and cost $110,000. It was destroyed by a fire February 3, 1869.

David Fuller was a large and lymphatic man. All three brothers were enterprising men and their sister was an able poetess. David returned to Connecticut, where he died in December of 1856.

From the Scott County Argus, Oct. 22, 1909