Overview

The Chadwick Cottages are unique houses near Minneapolis’ lakes.

•  Location: 2617 West 40^th Street West
• Neighborhood: Linden Hills

Historic profile

The Chadwick Cottages are unique houses near Minneapolis’ lakes. Loron L. Chadwick built these two cottages in 1902. 

Chadwick was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1860. He moved to southern Minnesota with his family when he was young. He lived in Minneapolis for the last 55 years of his life and worked as a builder. He also bought land and sold houses, and later in life, he sold paint. He passed away in 1939. 

These cottages are small, measuring 16 by 30 feet, and were originally meant for summer use. They cost $300 each and had porches with screens to let in the cool breeze from the nearby lakes (Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet/Bde Unma). For more than 10 years, people rented these cottages for the summer. They were later sold as individual units. In 1972, the two cottages were joined together with a rear addition into one house. 

The Chadwick Cottages stand out for their simple design. The Cottage style started in the mid-1800s in the United States. It describes houses that have irregular shapes, as found in nature, and are good for looking at nature. In the early days, many houses in Minneapolis' lake area were built in this style.