At the start of his professional career Mr. Chester Adgate Congdon was a school teacher in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin. In 1892 Chester and his family moved to Duluth Minnesota, entering a law practice in partnership with William Billson. They were joined by Judge Daniel Dickenson. After Judge Dickenson’s death the practice remained open until 1904 when Mr. Congdon retired from practice at the age of 54.
Mr. Congdon continued his efforts in a variety of enterprises and became a key figure in the development of iron ore mining in northern Minnesota. Along with his substantial portfolio of banking, and mining interests, he also invested heavily in farm land property in the north west. Throughout his life he was also involved in public positions as well, serving as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the district of Minnesota. He was also an active member of many civic minded organizations.
In 1905 construction of the new family home commenced on the shores of Lake Superior at the eastern edge of Duluth. A Jacobean style mansion with 39 rooms, Glensheen took 3 years to build. With a combination of late Victorian and Art Nouveau styling, Glensheen was completed with all the latest features available. Running hot water, electricity, and the grounds were irrigated from near by Tischer Creek. Complete with carriage house, gardener’s cottage and green house, the grounds of the mansion were maintained to a spectacular level. Growing all their own produce they were as close to self sustaining as possible.
Unfortunately Chester Congdon was able to enjoy Glensheen for only a bit beyond 10 year, he died November 21, 1916. The mansion continued to be occupied by the Congdon family with the final resident being Elisabeth Congdon, Chester’s youngest daughter.
Elisabeth Mannering Congdon, born April 22 1894, inherited the mining fortune of her father, Chester Congdon. Amounting to $40 million, he was considered the wealthiest man in Minnesota at the time of his death. Elisabeth remained single throughout her life and in 1932 adopted a daughter naming her Marjorie Mannering Congdon.
Marjorie had many problems and was diagnosed as a sociopath at an early age. In 1977 Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse Velma Pietila were found murdered in the mansion. Roger Caldwell, Margorie’s second husband was convicted of the crime. Though Marjorie was tried for aiding, and abetting, and conspiracy to commit murder, she was acquitted of all charges. Marjorie was convicted of fraud and arson in Arizona years later. Having served her sentence her latest brush with the law took place in May of 2007 when charges of computer fraud amongst other things were placed against her.
Roger Caldwell’s sentence ended up being over turned by the Minnesota Supreme Court, but 6 years later he confessed to the murders. He ended his life by suicide as his mental illness worsened.
After the death of Elisabeth, the last remaining child of Chester Congdon the mansion was turned over to the University of Minnesota. It had been willed to the University allowing Elisabeth to live out her life at the mansion before being turned over to them. At the time the University feared they had inherited a White Elephant as the cost to heat the mansion through a northern Minnesota winter amounted to $40,000. A sum they felt they couldn’t justify.
The mansion opened for public tours in 1979 and has remained open year around. To this day the gardens are maintained, and the mansion is kept as it was during the life of Chester Congdon. With many activities taking place throughout the year it has become a well visited attraction for tourists and locals alike. Year to year, repair and restoration continues, in 1992 the third floor was opened for tours as it had been closed since Elisabeth’s death. The tours don’t capitalize on the infamy created by the murders, they aim at displaying the life style of the rich and famous of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In 1972 the movie “You’ll Like My Mother” starring Patty Duke was filmed at the mansion giving some Hollywood celebrity to the structure as well.
When you come to visit in the summer the gardens will be in bloom and the grounds will showcase the beautiful setting in the woods on the shore of Lake Superior. Walk the grounds, imagine going for a sleigh ride from the carriage house. Take yourself back in time to a place where life was a little slower, and if you were the richest man in Minnesota, pretty comfortable.
www.wikipedia.org
