Submitted photo This historic Norseth House in Cottonwood is listed for sale by its owners, Steve and Robin Alm of Cottonwood.

COTTONWOOD — One of the foremost historical landmarks in Lyon County is part of the local real estate listings.

Steve and Robin Alm of Cottonwood, who have owned the historic Norseth House for 10 years, decided it was time to put the house on the market. Steve, a retired Cottonwood city maintenance director, said they purchased the house because of the potential to generate a combination of rental and lodging income.

“We’d invested in a rental property before, and it definitely worked out for us,” Steve said. “It made sense to try it again, especially because this time we also had an opportunity to own the Norseth House. We’ve always liked old historic homes and buildings.”

The Norseth House was the home of Martin Norseth, who played a vital role in the process of Cottonwood’s establishment as a town in 1888. Its incorporation corresponded with construction of the Great Northern Railroad.

The new railroad provided Lyon County with a diagonal-shaped rail line serving towns between Florence and Cottonwood, which became a counterpart of the east to west Chicago and Northwestern line and its spur line that branched out to the northwest from Tracy to Marshall and the Minneota area.

Norseth knew that he wanted a prime housing lot in Cottonwood, but didn’t want to sign up for a lot purchase without looking at the overall configuration of the city plat. He agreed to pay double the lot price in order to have his first choice after the plat was finalized.

His selection was a parcel that became, as expected, a residential location in the center of Cottonwood directly across the railroad tracks from the downtown business district.

Norseth’s decision resembled those made by town founders in many greater Minnesota communities, including Marshall, Minneota, Canby, Granite Falls and Slayton.

In Marshall, Marshall Milling Company owner William F. Gieseke had his home built less than two blocks from the mill. It later became an early 20th century site of Marshall’s hospital, and is currently owned by retired Southwest Minnesota State University business law professor and former Lyon County Commissioner Mark Goodenow.

Similar decisions were made by a Big Store owner O.G. Anderson in Minneota, John G. “Land” Lund of Canby, Andrew Volstead of Granite Falls, and the Dinehart family of Slayton. Alm said that based on feedback from potential Norseth House buyers, the location preferences of town founders have not been totally superseded in the 21st century.

“Most people haven’t asked about the location,” he said. “It’s more private to be farther away from downtown, but it offers advantages in terms of convenience and historical character. It’s still a great house.”

Features in the Norseth House include stained glass windows on the main staircase landing, a back stairs leading up to a small maid’s room, a butler pantry between the kitchen and formal dining room, and a parlor fireplace with a tile hearth. The Alms have also brought modern updates to the home with help from a $44,000 Minnesota Small Cities Development Grant.

Steve added that possibilities include any combination of rental units, bed and breakfast business efforts and owner occupancy. He said both rental and bed and breakfast accommodations have been working favorably. His current rental tenants are three students entering medical fields, all of whom are in the middle of clinical internships at hospitals in Granite Falls and Montevideo.

The city of Cottonwood previously owned the Norseth House for about 20 years. In its recent history, it has served as a site for activities such as a Coming Home Days lawn party and a heritage garden in its sideyard featuring heirloom plants brought to the United States by local families. When it was city owned, the house was open for tours seasonally on Sunday afternoons or by appointment.

“Eventually it reached a point that the city chose to sell the house to a private owner instead of absorbing long term costs for upgrades,” said Cottonwood City Administrator Charles Seipel. “Hopefully another private owner will buy it and keep it well preserved.”

He said there are few, if any, alternatives that could put the Norseth House back into public ownership. When asked if it might offer a good location for Cottonwood’s city library (with the same kind of historic character as the classic libraries financed by 19th century industrialist Andrew Carnegie), he said the possibility hasn’t been considered because of recent Bremer Foundation grant funding that went toward improvements to the current library next to the city office.

Lyon County Museum Director Jennifer Andries said long-term preservation of the Norseth House and other historic sites is valued by everyone who wants to keep local heritage at the forefront of 21st century cultural opportunities.

“It’s an important resource for Cottonwood and the surrounding area,” Andries said. “Hopefully it will be bought by a new owner who wants to keep it in good condition and preserve its historical integrity.”