Title

Hermit's House

Creation Date

1871

Description

Half of a stereo view picture from Burton Picture Collection. Written on back of picture: "Home of 'Hermit of Minnetonka' [illegible] Halstead who purchased [illegible] house in which his brother [illegible] Halstead was burned to death on Halsteads Bay at the Goring [illegible] Place. "Hermit" Captain Frank William Halsted. He came to the lake in 1853 and lived at the Hermitage (house in picture) from the late1850's - June 23, 1876. Driving force behind Lake Minnteonka Improvement Commission--Lake Navigation--dredging of the Narrows. He was the first Justice of the Peace of Minnetrista Township performing the first marriage. He built the steamer Mary. Because of cost overruns, he tied 40lbs of rocks around he neck and cast himself overboard by Crane Island. Major George Blight Halstead was executor of Frank's estate and became "The Hermit", even though he was more social than Frank. He died in a fire in bed at the Hermitage on Sept. 6, 1902--it is thought he may have also killed himself. The Hermitage had a basement that was used as a bedroom with the walls signed by the visitors. The porch was added in 1880's. Mr. Albert Loring bought the property and built a house. Mrs. Stanley Partridge (daughter of Albert Loring) acquired the house in 1925 and sold it in 1946 to Gen.and Mrs. T. Terry Morrison who rebuilt original house.