Over a year ago, in November 2020, the Archer House River Inn in Northfield was destroyed by fire.
Going… (photo by cb)
This month, it has finally been taken down. It took over a year to set things in motion to dissemble this historic inn that was on the National Register of Historic Places. It took a few weeks for the demolition to be complete.
Going…
It was a sad sight to see on a daily basis in Northfield’s downtown. The area is now cleared out, but a “hole” remains on Division Street (the main street), and in resident’s hearts. What will replace the beloved hotel remains to be determined.
Florence would have been 100 years old Saturday, December 26, 2020.
She almost made it…She was still living by herself in her home of 52 years, where she died last Saturday…two weeks before her birthday.
Her house was one I always liked to go to, and she was a woman I always liked to visit.
She was like family to me…she was my aunt’s forever friend and they lived together since high school.
A photo of Florence on the left, and my Auntie Ag on the right, in 1997. Two remarkable women in my life.
She was there before I was born. She was there at our extended family Christmas’. She was there for the holidays, the confirmations, the graduations and the weddings. She was just always there, a part of the family.
Auntie Ag and Florence were dear friends. After my aunt died in 2004 we continued to keep in touch with Florence. Florence was an independent woman, and stubborn too, and insisted on staying in her own home by herself. Her mind was sharp and she took care of her finances until the end…but she was losing her hearing and that made communication difficult. But there are many fond memories.
My cousin, Florence and me. July 2020.
God bless you Florence. May you Rest in Peace. You will be missed.
The historic river inn in Northfield caught on fire last night, about 5 o’clock. This morning fire trucks continue to pour water on the building and smoke still billows in the air.
A landmark in Northfield MN: The Archer House. Photo taken morning of 11/13/20.
Fire damage to the treasured river inn in Northfield. Photo taken 11/13/20.
What a tragic loss for our town…the beloved Archer House, opened 1877.
