Gustaf House offers pleasant trip back in time

By Danielle Strenke
Visitors to Chisago County and its residents alike now have the opportunity to truly experience life as it was in the 1800s and early 1900s. The historic Gustaf House in Lindstrom is now open as a bed and breakfast, under the management of the Chisago County Historical Society.
The Gustaf House, located in downtown Lindstrom on Hwy. 8, was originally built by Gustaf and Helena Anderson in 1879. It remained in the family until it was sold in 1971 and converted to commercial use.
Recently, the property was for sale, but it was difficult to find a commercial business to move into the 1800s home. In December, it was donated by owner Marlene Messin to the Chisago County Historical Society.
Recognizing the significance of maintaining the home, the historical society was eager to take over the home.
The historical society officially opened the home to host community gatherings, guided tours and educational programs. At the same time, members wanted to find other ways to involve visitors in the history of the home and the Chisago County area.
ìWe wanted to maintain the integrity of the history here, but find a way to earn money to run the tours and keep up the property,î Sherry Sterling said. Sterling heads the Chisago County Historical Society.
She said it was important to maintain the history of the house by preserving its rooms much the same as it was when the Andersons lived there.
Opening up the two second floor bedrooms of the home as a bed and breakfast seemed like a natural fit.
ìIt truly is going back in time,î Sterling said.
The bed and breakfast is open 365 days a year. Visitors can stay in either the Alma Room or the Gustaf Suite. The Alma Room is named for the Andersonís daughter, Alma, who was 16 when the home was built. It features a double bed in a quaint room with a soft, simple decor.
The Gustaf Suite is a spacious room with a king-size four-poster bed, a sitting area and several authentic furniture pieces from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Sterling said perhaps the oldest piece of furniture in the bedrooms is a chamber pot chair in the Gustaf Room, which they believe is from the 1850s. She said it is a sturdy chair that they allow visitors to sit in, but naturally ask that it not be used as originally intended.
The most unique aspect of staying at the Gustaf House Bed and Breakfast is that a couple can rent one bedroom and have the entire house to themselves, with the exception of the other bedroom.
ìItís very casual and relaxed,î Sterling said.
Guests are checked in and then left alone during their stay. If only one of the bedrooms is rented out, those guests will be able to enjoy a quiet stay with the whole house to themselves.
For breakfast, an array of pastries, fruit, juice and coffee is left in the dining area in the morning. ìItís a continental-style breakfast,î Sterling said.
The second floor of the house includes the two bedrooms and a bathroom with an old-fashioned pedestal bathtub. For those who do not want to travel that far back in time, the bathtub is also equipped with a shower.
The main floor includes a large living room, two smaller rooms for dining and relaxing, and a powder room. It also has a four-season porch where visitors can relax on wicker furniture.
It also includes modern conveniences such as a microwave and small refrigerator. There is a television and VCR in the living room, which is available for visitors and tour groups to view several historical documentaries featuring the Chisago County area.
Costs of the stay are $109 for the Gustaf Room or $79 for the Alma Room. Sterling said it is reasonable because the historical society simply wanted a way to fund the societyís educational programs and all of its historical sites around the county.
While the Gustaf House is available for tours, it is by appointment only. Sterling said visitors are given information for a self-guided walking tour of 1894 Lindstrom when staying there.
The society attempted to replicate as many aspects of life for the Andersons through the furniture, decor and artwork.
Sterling said the goal is to have information compiled in a book at the home, explaining the significance of each antique or piece of artwork throughout the house.
Reservations to stay at the Gustaf House have been a little slow coming in since December, but Sterling is confident that it will get busy during the summer months. ìWe have so many tourists coming through Chisago County that need a place to stay, and why not go back in time,î she said.
For more information on the Gustaf House, call the Chisago County Historical Society, (651) 257-5310.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com