Daniel Piper came to Minnesota from New Hampshire with his wife and daughter in early 1877. Although he had been a successful lumberman out east, he decided to try his hand at farming in Minnesota. He purchased a tract of farmland near Medford and began building his New England style farmstead in 1877.
Piper believed the interconnected farm complexes popular back east would also be beneficial in Minnesota. He wanted only experienced Yankee builders to construct his new farmstead, so he hired four master carpenters from New Hampshire to come to Medford and complete the farm complex. Piper managed the entire operation, right down to hand-selecting the lumber that was to be used. It took workers only six months to complete and the Piper family moved into their new home in November 1877.
New England style farmsteads typically consisted of a set of interconnected buildings. Piper’s complex included a house, summer kitchen, wood shed, granary, and the barn at the back. He believed this setup was more efficient than the typical midwestern farm in which the house and farm buildings were all separate from one another.
The main floor of the Piper house consists of a front parlor, sitting room, guest bedroom, pantry, and a large kitchen. The kitchen was state-of-the-art in 1877 with a cistern in the kitchen floor that collected rainwater from the downspouts to be used for washing up and a wooden icebox lined with tin that could be sealed and lowered into the cool cellar through a door in the floor. The entire complex was heated with stoves.
Piper was known in the community as a loyal friend, a kind neighbor, and a man of vigorous intellect who was descended from sturdy Puritan ancestry. He died in 1913. His wife, Livonia, followed three years later.
The Piper house was occupied by various families until January 2017 when the most recent owner died. The farm was listed for sale and sat unoccupied for nearly two years. The barn has since fallen in on itself and the entire complex needs significant updates–but is livable. The property was finally purchased in October 2018. My hope was that the new owners would do all that they can to bring this unique piece of history back to life.
Updates
2019: The property went back on the market and has been sold.
2021: It looks like the property has been sold again for $145,000. The owner, Brad Price of GF Land Partnership and Right Size Storage in Iowa, has asked the city to change the zoning of this property so he can demolish the structure and build mini storage units on the site.
2024: In January the Iowa-based owner reached out to the State Historic Preservation Office about removing the property from the National Register of Historic Places. The request was denied because the historic integrity of the building remained. The barn collapsed in mid-November. Unofficial talk in town is that the owner is pushing the city for a permit to demolish the property.
2025: The owner has again reached out to the SHPO about removing the property from the National Register of Historic Places. The condition of the structure has deteriorated further.
2026: In February, the State Historic Preservation Review Board will remove the Daniel Piper house from the National Register of Historic Places. This move paves the way for the owner–who is based in Iowa–to demolish the property and expand his mini storage business. In the past, the city has refused his permit request unless the property was removed from the NRHP.
References:
LaFollette, Josh. “Historic Barn Collapses at Piper House Outside Medford.” Owatonna People’s Press. Southernminn.com.
Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office. Piper, Daniel S., House – Removal Documentation. National Register of Historic Places continuation sheet. Minnesota Department of Administration.
National Park Service. “Piper, Daniel S., House.” National Register of Historic Places. February 24, 1975.
“Medford Historical League Looks to Purchase Piper House.” Faribault Daily News. Southernminn.com.