The city of Carver has a long and rich history as one of the first communities in Carver County. Located on the Minnesota River, it was often the first place immigrants to Carver County visited. From there, they spread out to other towns and farms.
Norwegian immigrant Axel Jorgenson first lived at Carver in the winter of 1851-1852. In 1854, Jorgenson sold his land to a group of town site investors from St. Paul, called the Carver Land Company. Minnesota Territorial Governor Alexander Ramsey was part of this group. He suggested the name “Carver” for the town site after Jonathan Carver, who first explored the area.
By 1855, the town of Carver was already growing. It had a tailor, a hotel, a boarding house, a building designer, a carpenter, a livery stable, a blacksmith, two shoemakers, and a general store. By 1857, thirty-five buildings existed in Carver. The area was a main stopping point in trade and immigrant travel along the Minnesota River. In 1877, Carver was incorporated as the Village of Carver. By the 1890s, Carver was one of the biggest settlements in the county.
Carver’s future changed with the loss of river trade during railroad development. When railroads were built, they bypassed Carver, taking businesses with them. The Prohibition era (1920-1933) made this worse, as many saloons and hotels shut down. Carver became a poor town.
Widespread flooding in 1965 swamped parts of historic Carver. Simple lack of money, in previous years and during the flooding, protected historic structures from being torn down. There was no new building and growth. However, more was needed to stop future destruction of the historic town. On June 25, 1969 a non-profit corporation called Carver-on-the-Minnesota, Incorporated was created. Founders were Edith Herman, Anne Neils-Doerr, Mary Lee Dayton, and Helen McNulty. Still active in the twenty-first century, Carver-on-the-Minnesota’s goal is to stop the decline of Carver, a historically important early river town. The group began by raising money to buy buildings in need of repair. This was the start of the Carver Historic District.
Carver-on-the-Minnesota created restoration plans and design guidelines for restorations in Historic Carver. They also serve as a source for historic building research. Their work led to even more buildings being saved. In 1980, the old town of Carver was chosen as one of the first historic districts in Minnesota, thanks in part to the work of this organization. On January 4, 1980, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic Carver contains eighty-seven buildings and four other structures of importance. National Register signs mark many district buildings. They vary from private homes and businesses to churches and public buildings. Buildings range in time from 1852-1925. Many of them have been returned to their original look and style.
In February 1989, the city of Carver created a Heritage Preservation Commission. Their goal was to help the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Parks Department with preservation work. Preservation work continues in the twenty-first century. On October 26, 2005, Carver received Certified Local Government status from the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office. Local Historic District residents can go to a Carver office for preservation rules and signs instead of the main state office in St. Paul. Carver was named a Preserve America Community by the White House in 2007. It was only the eighth to be named in the state of Minnesota.
Turning Point: The founding of Carver-on-the-Minnesota in 1969 led directly to increased preservation and restoration efforts in Historic Carver, and its eventual inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
Chronology:
- Winter 1851-1852: The Carver area is first settled by Norwegian immigrant Axel Jorgenson.
- 1854: Axel Jorgenson sells his land to the St. Paul based Carver Land Company.
- 1857: Thirty-five buildings already exist in the growing town of Carver.
- 1877: The town is incorporated as the Village of Carver.
- 1920-1933: The Prohibition era causes loss of money in Carver with the closing of money hotels and saloons affected by banning of alcohol.
- 1965: Major flooding of the Minnesota River destroys parts of old Carver.
- June 25, 1969: Carver-on-the-Minnesota, Inc. is founded.
- February 1989: The City of Carver creates a Heritage Preservation Commission to help city departments with preservation plans.
- January 4, 1980: Historic Carver is one of the first districts placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- October 26, 2005: Carver receives Certified Local Government status from Minnesota State Historic Preservation office.
- 2007: Carver is named a Preserve America Community by the White House.
- 2009: Carver co-hosts the Minnesota Statewide Historic Preservation Conference.
Bibliography:
“Carver Historic District: Dakota Uprising Sesquicentennial Update, 1862-2012”. Walking tour guide to Historic Carver. Carver History. City of Carver. Accessed January 22, 2013. http://www.cityofcarver.com/carver-history/
Carver Historic District, National Register of Historic Places Nomination File (#80001960), State Historic Preservation Office, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.
Minnesota National Register properties, Carver County- Carver Historic District. Minnesota National Register of Historic Places, State Historic Preservation Office. Accessed January 22, 2013. http://nrhp.mnhs.org/NRDetails.cfm?NPSNum=80001960
Carver County, Historic Districts.National Register of Historic Places. Accessed February 8, 2013. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/mn/carver/districts.html
Preserve America Community: Carver, MN.Preserve America. Accessed February 8, 2013. http://www.preserveamerica.gov/11-23-07PAcommunity-carverMN.html
Von Walter, John. Email of Carver-on-the-Minnesota details to author, January 10, 2013.
Related Resources:
[Primary]
“An Evening of Carver History Planned Dec. 15”. Carver County Herald, December 7, 1977.
“Carver Revives Historical Preservation Committee”. Carver County Herald, June 23, 1988.
“Carver on the Minnesota Returns”. Chaska Herald, October 14, 2010.
“Dead End for ‘Suitcase Murder’ Investigation?” Chanhassen Villager, June 21, 2007.
“Flood Threat Looms as River Goes on Rampage”. Weekly Valley Herald, April 8, 1965.
“Historical Sketches of Townships and Villages: Part Twenty-One”. Waconia Patriot, April 8, 1976.
“Recognition on National register of Historic Places Possible for Several County Sites”. Waconia Patriot, January 19, 1978.
“Record Flood Hits Chaska-Carver”. Weekly Valley Herald, April 15, 1965.
[Secondary]
Hartley, Lucie K. The Carver Story. 2nd ed. Carver, MN: 1993. (self-published)
Holcombe, Maj. R.I., ed. Compendium of History and Biography of Carver and Hennepin Counties, Minnesota. Chicago: Henry Taylor and Company, 1915.
Lofstrom, Ted and Lynne VanBrocklin Spaeth. Carver County: A Guide to Its Historic and Prehistoric Places. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1978.
Tremblay, Ruth and Lois Schulstad. Images of America: Carver County. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2011.
[Website]
City of Carver Historic District walking tour. Carver County Historical Society. Accessed January 10, 2013. http://carvercountyhistoricalsociety.org/about_us/historypages/Historic%20District%202012%20Update.pdf
Our Communities: A Walk Back Through Time- Carver.Carver County Historical Society. Accessed January 10, 2013. http://carvercountyhistoricalsociety.org/150th/150th_local_gtky_carver.html
Images/Audio/Video
Photograph Collection, John Von Walter
Digital image; “1856 Gables”
Description: 201 Fourth Street East, Carver, Minnesota
Rights held by John Von Walter.
Photograph Collection, John Von Walter
Digital image; “1925 Mobile Gas Station”
Description: 200 Broadway, Carver, Minnesota
Rights held by John Von Walter.
Photograph Collection, John Von Walter
Digital image; “Hebeisen Hardware ca. 1870”
Description: 109 Third Street East, Carver, Minnesota
Rights held by John Von Walter.
Photograph Collection, John Von Walter
Digital image; “Springside, Greek Revival-Federal ca. 1860”
Description: 113 Fourth Street West, Carver, Minnesota
Rights held by John Von Walter.
Photograph Collection, John Von Walter
Digital image; “Hotel Luksenborg 1852”
Description: 309 Oak Street, Carver, Minnesota
Rights held by John Von Walter.
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